The Reign of King Henry the VIII
...ailed in his invasion of France his greatest achievement came with the reformation of the Catholic Church by destroying the greatest institution in medieval Europe thus Anglican Church was born. Anyone who threatened his authority would be put to death and if someone could not be executed legally he would formulate new charges. After committing his first act as king by killing his father’s tax collectors, he was facing a big problem so he resorted to judicial murder charging the men with constructive treason. A fictitious charge which no one quite understood. To prove that he was in charge whether he was in England or away fighting war. In 1513, he executed Edmund de la Pole his Plantagenet cousin who was held prisoner in the tower since his father’s reign. This he did to remind those who dare to challenge his authority to refrain from doing so just before leaving for war in France. Henry VIII was a womanizer who had a lot of mistresses as any other king, but as King the sole purpose of marriage was get a legitimate male heir to the throne. Henry’s first wife was Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of Ferdinand, king of Spain. Henry was only eighteen years old when he married twenty-three years old Catherine. Catherine, being the daughter of the king of Spain would be any king’s reason for marriage. What made it even more worthy for a king with such stature as Henry was that, at the time Spain was at the height of wealth and prosperity and certainly the most powerful country in the world. This was great politics for Henry if he married the Princess, he could be allied with Spain and what country to be allied with than the most powerful country. The early years of Henry’s marriage to Catherine was wonderful. Henry would throw elaborate parties and of course king’s parities was over the top with great music and food. But as time went by Henry’s love for Catherine was diminishing. In those days the wife of a king duty was to produce healthy male heirs to the throne in order to carry on with the dynasty. Now Henry being a Tudor had to follow through if he is to keep the Tudor dynasty going. This was the area in which Catherine had failed and it would split their marriage. Their first child a girl had died and a year later a healthy boy name after Henry was born this was a glorious occasion for Henry, but it would be short lived with the death of his son. To get away from it all, he rage war against France with the aid of Ferdinand of Aragon. Henry VIII was getting frustrated because Catherine had not bore a male heir to the throne. But why should a king go through such predicament, after all, he is the king of England. In order for Henry to get rid of Catherine he had to get a divorce, this would not be easy. In those periods, if you were married you had to stay married forever even in heaven you were still married. To get the divorce Henry went to the highest king of England the Archbishop of Canterbury. He told the Archbishop that on the night of their wedding Catherine was not a virgin. He also argued that the wedding was not of God, and so they’re paying through the death of their children. The marriage off course was politically motivated, it wasn’t a marriage of two individuals; it was a marriage of two countries, Spain and England. This decision would not be easy for the Archbishop, if an agreement was made for a divorce there would be an up roar from Catherine supporters especially those who were working for her. On the other hand, if he decided to forfeit the divorce Henry would be angry. In the end the Archbishop ruled that they should divorce. Now since the Archbishop was the head his authority stands but he did not have the final words, the only person that could overrule his authority was the Pope. And that was what happened, the Pope wrote a letter to Henry saying you’re married to Catherine forever. Therefore once you are married there was nothing he could do about it. Of course, Henry was furious, he was a king who did not like dictation and would do anything in his power to get what he wanted. So Henry passed a law, the Act of Supremacy, which his delegates even encouraged. The Act stated that, in England, the head of the church is the king not the Pope. England was no more a part of the Catholic Church. Ironically Henry was an outstanding Catholic member, his fathers intension was for him to be the highest churchman in all of Europe, which he felt, would be enough to rule all Englishman. Thomas Moore was a great political figure and wealthy, he was also a good friend of Henry but that would soon come to an end. Thomas was not pleased with the decisions that Henry had made, to disassociate England from Catholic, by passing the Act of Supremacy. Henry did not like the fact that anyone should dare challenge his authority, Henry was the law and if you cross him you were out, and that goes for every Englishman under his control. Thomas Moore would not be speared, Henry had him beheaded, sealing the deal by making it clear to every English man, no matter their status no to disapprove of the king’s orders. Henry would go to any length to gain absolute power and exercised it without apology, and therefore should be feared. Breaking ties with Rome would make England wealthier and most assuredly the king. And why not, after all he is the king who controls every financial aspect that England engaged in. England had to pay the pope from whatever was earned from the Catholic institutions. Members of Parliament supported Henry’s decision, since this would be a good economically for England. This would make every Tudor king and Queen that would ascend the throne experience sole control of England and therefore ultimate sovereignty. Henry VIII had done what no other king had ever done in the history of England’s monarchy by declaring himself head of the church and England. Henry was free to do what ever he wanted without answering to the pope. He now could divorce whenever he wishes and Catherine would be the first wife to be divorced. Catherine was forbidden to write or see her daughter Mary again and in 1556 she died. Now that Catherine was out of his life he could marry who ever he so desires. Henry was in love with Anne Boelyn and no later wed her. Anne Boelyn got pregnant but the same misfortune that plagued his first marriage would return. Anne had lost her first baby so he had to try again to produce an heir for his throne that was the purpose of the queen. This time Henry had high hopes that this would be a boy, he got the news that a healthy baby was born he rushed to room but disappointment would continue to beset him, unfortunately it was a girl. Their next baby a boy would die at birth, had it not been the death of the male baby; Henry would have had affection for Anne. The baby that could have saved the marriage died and so they hated each other. But Anne would not divorce; she was determined to save the marriage so that Elizabeth could remain Princess. Henry would not allow Anne to decide what was best; Henry told the court that Anne committed adultery. To prove this Henry had to find someone who would be alone with Anne. This would be easy; Anne music teacher was the only person that could possibly be alone with her. Henry came up with a crafty idea, it seems as if Henry had all the perfect plans in store for any predicament he his faced with. He had the music teacher tortured until he finally agreed to sign to such accusa...