King Henry VIII - Pioneering English Reformation, His Priests, His Paramours

 

Reformation in England

In England, right from the 12^th c, there was a strife between the state and the church.

Europe was divided on the issue of Papacy and Reformation. Reformation was established in England at the time of Henry VIII. England was ripe for Reformation, through the works of people like the Oxford and Cambridge scholars.

But, the immediate situations for English reformation was far from religious.

HENRY VIII (1509 – 1547)

 Henry VIII: The Person: succeeded his father Henry VII to the throne of England in 1509 at the age of 18, and ruled till 1547.

(Comment: H 8 as a young and charming gentleman: p 154)

Favoured learning and scholars.

Dislike for monks, image and relic worship

Encouraged study of the Bible

Not frugal like his father

Diplomat and despot (these skills helped to build up the treasury)

 

HENRY VIII & the Reformation:

Henry’s reign can be considered as two periods: the time he was a devout Catholic, and the anti-papal period.

Refuting the doctrinal claims of Martin Luther, Henry VIII wrote a treatise defending the Pope and the Catholic faith. Pleased with this, the Pope Leo X bestowed upon him the title of “Defender of the Faith”.

Immediate Cause for Reformation in England: not religious or political, but the King’s personal matrimonial problems. Henry VIII was married to Catherine of Arragon (Spain), who was the widow of his brother, Prince Arthur. (Refer p. 138 of the text.) All their children except Mary did not survive infancy. The King was infatuated with Anne Boleyn, the maid of honour to Catherine. Pope Clement VII did not allow divorce, as it was against the rule of the church, and also because he was afraid of the displeasure of Charles V of Spain, the nephew of Catherine. With the sanction of the Parliament and church heads appointed by him, the King divorced Catherine and married Anne Boleyn.

The parliament summoned by the king, known as the Reformation Parliament, sat between 1529 and 1536. It took several measures to control the church and remove it from the clutches of the Pope. (P 152)

Acts of the Parliament:

Act of Succession: Kingdom to pass to the heirs of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

Act of Supremacy: King to be the supreme head of the church, which is to be known as the Church of England

Act of Treason: Anyone who dared to criticize the king would be tried for treason and executed

Act of Six Articles: (proving that Henry VIII was not against any doctrine of the church): to deny any of the six articles of the Catholic Church was a crime

Henry VIII’s Approach to Religion: A faithful Catholic, Henry VIII opposed the waves of Reformation. Later, he turned against the Church as it didn’t sanction his desire to divorce Catherine. 

          Reformation Parliament

          Prosecution of clergymen who were against his wishes / who supported Wolsey

          Attack on monasteries (support of Thomas Cromwell)

Henry VIII’s Relation with Other Lands: Henry’s Welsh blood gave him the loyalty of Wales. The Council of Wales was given immense powers. Though the same policy was tried upon Ireland, the Irish remained firmly Catholic. In Scotland, Henry arranged a marriage of his son Edward and Mary Stuart, but the alliance did not take place. The Calvinist and Protestant leanings of the Scots kept them on good terms with HENRY VIII. Relation with Other European Rulers: P 156

Henry VIII’s interest in the Navy: (p 161) – port holes

Henry VIII & His Chancellors

Cardinal Thomas Wolsey:

Made chancellor even at the time of Henry VII. Henry VIII also let Wolsey to play a major role in keeping the balance of power among the European countries.

Wolsey tried to keep Spain and France in mutual dislike.

Tried to bring in an alliance between England & France through a diplomatic marriage (Henry VIII’s sister with the French king)

Disapproved by Charles V of Spain and Netherlands. (Netherlands was England’s partner in wool trade.)

Charles V was nephew to Queen Catherine of England

Unknown to Wolsey, Henry enters into an alliance with Spain; sends army to help Spain in a battle against France. Though England defeated France, this battle was not approved by the people of England. The war was also a failure in Wolsey’s statecraft.

Wolsey didn’t support Henry VIII’s desire to annul his marriage with Catherine. Wolsey was stripped of power and wealth.

          Page 157: Wolsey: an estimate

Sir. Thomas More

 (The author of Utopia)

More reluctantly took up office as Chancellor. A humanist scholar who wanted purification of the church from within. Did not approve the Act of Supremacy, and cheerfully accepted execution.

“…the king's good servant, and God's first” (Quoted as More’s words at the scaffold)

Archbishop Thomas Cranmer

 Gave an intellectual backing to the king’s desires. Initiated discussions in the Universities on the need of reformation. One topic: king should be given chance to lead a blameless life by divorcing Catherine (incest). Cranmer broke off all connections with the Pope. He was free from the king’s paranoia.

Henry VIII & Thomas Cromwell

 A man of humble birth, Cromwell was a person through whom Henry VIII could fulfil his cruder wishes. He was instrumental in the execution of people who refused to accept the King as the supreme head of the church – this includes Sir. Thomas More and Bishop Fisher. He was elevated as Vicar General, and had power to enter any monastery – a step that helped in the dissolution of monasteries. In this process, there was widespread destruction of libraries and beautiful buildings. Cromwell earned the name: Hammer of the Monks. He also fell out of favour with the king when he attempted to bring in a marriage between the King and Anne, the sister of the Duke of Cleves (Germany/ Protestant). But the King took an instant dislike for Anne. Thomas Cromwell suffered the King’s wrath, and was executed.  (p 159, 60)

 Henry VIII & His Wives

Henry was first married to Catherine of Aragon, who was the widow of his brother, Arthur. Later he wanted to divorce her, as she was not able to give him a male heir. The only child who survived infancy was Princess Mary. Henry VIII’s infatuation with Anne Boleyn also prompted this divorce. Catherine submitted to the orders to go into retirement, as the King’s ‘honourable sister in law’.  

Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn in 1533, with the support of Cranmer. She too was not able to give him a son. A daughter was born to them, named Elizabeth. The people of England were sympathetic to Catherine, whom they considered as having been wronged by Henry. In 1536, the Queen was arrested for misconduct, tried and executed.

Cranmer permitted Henry to marry again, and his new wife was Jane Seymour, who had been lady in waiting to both Catherine and Anne. Sweet tempered and pleasant, she put up with Henry’s tantrums. A son, Edward, was born to them, but the Queen died in child birth.

Thomas Cromwell brought in an alliance for the King with Anne, the sister of the Duke of Cleves (Germany). Henry took an instant dislike for the Lutheran princess, and quickly divorced her. He gave her a house and a pension and called her his royal sister.

HENRY VIII’s next wife was Catherine Howard, the niece of the Duke of Norfolk. She was cousin of Anne Boleyn. The King looked upon his young wife with suspicion. Accused of infidelity, she was beheaded.

The last of HENRY VIII’s wives was Catherine Parr. She knew how to pacify the King. She was firmly with the reformers whose position in court was established with her support.

Henry VIII’s children:

Mary, daughter of Catherine of Aragon

Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn             

Edward, son of Jane Seymour

An amusing feature of history: these three step siblings become monarchs of England.

Henry VIII breathed his last in 1547, after a brief illness. He was succeeded by Edward, his only son and heir, who became Edward VI of England.