King Henry VIII

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. He was preceded by his father, Henry VII, and succeeded by his son Edward VI.

He is largely remembered as a defining monarch of the Tudor dynasty, and for his conflict with the Papacy, and his reforms of the Church of England.

Split with the Pope

Despite being theologically very similar to Roman Catholicism, he believed that God was punishing him for marrying the widow of his brother; Arthur. For this reason he petitioned the Pope for an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. When this failed, he had Parliament reject the authority of the Pope over the affairs of the Church of England. Then, he had the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, annul his marriage.