the king's great matter

• Henry's religious beliefs

  Henry's interests:

  • Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon were both deeply interested in theology and supported the Catholic church while also sponsoring Renaissance learning
  • both were influenced by Humanist ideas, aiming to remove superstitions and return to original church teachings
• Henry's religious beliefs

  Obedience to the Pope:

  • Henry saw himself as obedient to the Pope in religious matters
  • his kingship was legitimized by the church through coronation ceremony
• Henry's religious beliefs

  Religious Practices:

  • Henry was deeply committed to his Catholic faith
  • he attended Mass daily, went on pilgrimages, and celebrated major religious feasts
  • he feverently opposed Martin Luther's 15 theses
• Concerns over succession

  Impact of the Wars of the Roses:

  • Henry VIII was conscious of the need to secure succession to avoid civil unrest
  • by 1527, after 18 years of marriage, Catherine was unlikely to bear more children

  Need for a male heir:

  • only one surviving child, Mary, from their marriage
  • the idea of a female heir was considered unacceptable due to historical precedence (Queen Matilda's disputed claim)
• The case for divorce

  Biblical Justifications:

  • Henry argued that his marriage to Catherine was invalid as she was his brother's widow
  • he used Leviticus to support his case, which was contested by scholars suppporting Catherine

  Catherine's Defense:

  • Catherine claimed her marriage was valid, citing a papal dispensation
  • she had strong support from her nephew Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who influenced the Pope
• Catherine of Aragon and her supporters

  Public and Court support:

  • Catherine had strongly public support and some key allies at court, including Thomas More and John Fisher
  • her defense was bolstered by international scholars and her nephew's influence over the Pope

  Challenges at Court

  • Anne Boleyn's faction, led by the Duke of Norfolk, pressured court members to side against Catherine
  • Catherine's resolve in defending her marriage added complexity to Henry's efforts as he had hoped she would be more submissive
• Cardinal Wolsey & Anne Boleyn

  Wolsey's role:

  • cardinal Wolsey supported Henry's desire to annul his marriage to align with his foreign policy aims
  • Wolsey aimed to shift alliances from Spain to France leveraging Anne Boleyn's connections

  Anne Boleyn's determination:

  • Anne refused to be Henry's mistress unless she became queen, leveraging her uncle and father's support
  • her resistance and influence led to Wolsey's downfall and Thomas More's rise as chancellor