influence of the faction

• The influence of the faction

  • the church and the Pope did not strongly oppose the Acts of Parliament due to mutliple reasons
  • many believed that the break with Rome was temporary and would be reversed
  • Charles V's control over the Pope hindered any effective opposition from Rome
  • Bishops in the House of Lords, dependent on the King, were relevant to oppose Henry
  • the concept of factions: groups based on interests or beliefs, supporting or opposing Henry's policies
• Cromwell and the management of Parliament

  • legislation from the Reformation Parliament managed by Cromwell to favor Henry
  • Cromwell aimed to reduce the Catholic Church's power, increasing state and royal authority
  • manipulated anti-clerical sentiments to support a break with Rome
  • as Henry's principal adviser, Cromwell refocused efforts on establishing an independent state
  • his influence secured his position as chief minister in 1534
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  Supporters of Change

  • Thomas Cranmer: key in justifying Henry's annulment, gethering support from various universities and promoting the Collectanea Statis Capiosa
  • papal approval was initially sought but intellectuals arguments eventually led to legislative actions asserting English authority over Rome

  Opponents of Change

  • Act of Supremacy (1534): made failure to swear allegiance to Henry and Anne's marriage an act of treason, punishable by death
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  Aragonese faction

  • Eustace Chapuys: ambassador to Charles V, supported Catherine and opposed Henry
  • Thomas More & John Fisher: opposed the divorce and break with Rome
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  Sir Thomas More

  • appointed chancellor in 1529, promised not to be involved in negotiations with the Pope
  • resigned in 1532 after the Submission of the clergy
  • refused to attend Anne Boleyn's coronation in 1533, leading to his downfall
  • refused the oath of succession, was tried and executed for treason in 1535
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  Bishop John Fisher

  • openly opposed the divorce, arrested post-1533 secret marriage of Henry and Anne
  • refused the oath of succession, executed in 1535 after public outcry moderated his sentence to beheading
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  Elizabeth Barton

  • prophesied against Henry's divorce, initially protected due to her sainthood
  • dicredited and executed in 1534 for alleged treason
  • visions supported catholic orthodoxy, initially backed by the government
  • opposed Henry's marriage to Anne used by anti-reformation factions to pressure the king
  • executed after being discredited in 1534
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  Carthusian Monks

  • strict monastic order, opposed Henry's policies
  • 5 monks refused to recognize Anne's children, executed brutally, showcasing Henry's determination
• The supporters and opponents of change & the king's responses

  The King's responses

  • Henry classified opposition to his policies as treason
  • executions of More, Fisher, Barton, and the Carthusian monks deterred further resistance
  • emphasized his authority and determination to secure his marriage and succession
• Anne Boleyn's coronation

  • a lavish event aimed to cement Anne's position and ensure the Tudor dynasty's continuity
  • celebrated with processions, banquets, and religious ceremonies
  • symbolized the acceptance of Anne by both political and religious establishment