Henry VIII Becomes Church Head: Reformation Begins
Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy on November 3, 1534, declaring Henry VIII 'the only Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England.' The break with Rome had nothing to do with theology. Henry wanted to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon because she had not produced a male heir. Pope Clement VII, under pressure from Catherine's nephew Emperor Charles V, refused. Henry's solution was to remove the Pope's authority entirely. Thomas More, the Lord Chancellor, refused to take the oath acknowledging Henry's supremacy and was beheaded. The Dissolution of the Monasteries followed, transferring enormous wealth from the church to the crown and its supporters. England's religious identity was permanently altered not by a reformer but by a king who wanted a divorce.
October 30, 1534
492 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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