3.3.2 Henry VIII and the Church of England

Henry VIII is one of the most famous kings in English history. He is best known for having six wives and for breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church. When the Pope refused to grant Henry a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Henry declared himself the head of the Church of England in 1534. This event is known as the English Reformation.

Henry VIII's six wives were: Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (executed), Jane Seymour (died after childbirth), Anne of Cleves (divorced), Catherine Howard (executed), and Catherine Parr (survived). The break with Rome led to the dissolution of the monasteries, where Henry seized the wealth and lands of Catholic monasteries across England.

The establishment of the Church of England was one of the most significant events in English history. It meant that England was no longer under the authority of the Pope in Rome. Henry VIII also united England and Wales through the Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1542. Ireland was also declared a kingdom with Henry as its king.