Section D

• What reasons did Henry want an annulment?

  -he wanted a healthy male heir

  -saw Catherine's failure to produce a son a sign of God's displeasure

  -found evidence in Leviticus stating if a man marries his brothers wife they will be childless

  -in 1525 henry met Anne Boleyn who was charming, witty and charismatic
• Henry's attempts to gain an annulment:

  -in 1527 Henry gave Wolsey the task of gaining the annulment

  -required popes approval, Wolsey was cardinal and papal legate so should be easy

  -Catherine was Charles V aunt who had pope prisoner

  -pope didn't want to upset Charles or Henry so delayed making decision for as long as possible
• Wolseys challenges gaining annulment:

  -counter argument to Leviticus; from book of Deuteronomy suggesting a man could marry brothers widow

  -wolseys argument only worked if Catherine and Arthur's marriage had been consummated

  -Catherine insisted it was never consummated

  -Catherine refused to renounce marriage and become a nun

  -Wolsey asked pope to hear case in England, which would leave decision up to Wolsey

  -pope sent cardinal campeggio who was instructed not to make decision

  -he didn't arrive until October 1528

  -didn't open hearing until June 1529

  -broke up court for summer in July without decision made

  -Clement stated it had to be heard in Rome after all
• opposition to annulment:

  -Clement VII the pope found it politically impossible to support

  -Catherine of Aragon deeply opposed as she was a devout Catholic and wasn't prepared to accept marriage and Mary as illegitimate

  -Catherine had powerful supporters and public support
• who were Catherine's powerful supporters?

  -John Fisher Bishop of Rochester

  -Thomas More kings advisor
• reasons for Wolseys fall from power:

  -Wolseys divorce strategy had failed

  -In October 1529 Henry stripped wolsey of power and possessions and exiled him to York

  -November 1930 Wolsey summoned for trial on charged on praemunire (treason putting pop above king)

  -wolsey died on journey

  -Henry's faith undermined by; Amicable Grant failure, Alliance against Charles V failure, and Annulment failure
• Influence of Boleyns on Wolseys downfall:

  -argued that wolsey favoured Catherine and was deliberately trying to slow divorce proceedings

  -Anne hated Wolsey, and so did maby other nobles who sided with her