The Reformation in England is often mistakenly attributed to King Henry VIII, but in reality, the association between Henry and Martin Luther was not friendly. Despite breaking with Rome, Henry continued to persecute, torture, and execute reformers who challenged his Catholic beliefs.
The Reformation in Europe was not solely driven by spiritual disagreements with the Catholic Church, but also by political factors. Local leaders sought more autonomy and protection for religious reformers against the Church’s involvement in politics. While this could be seen in Henry VIII’s actions, his main concern was foreign control over his court rather than doctrinal differences.
Reformation Europe
In the early 15th century, Jan Huss initiated the Bohemian Reformation, intertwining papal politics with European state affairs, particularly within the Holy Roman Empire. Huss openly criticized certain aspects of Catholicism, supported by local leaders aiming to reduce the papacy’s influence on their territories.
Invited to defend his beliefs at the Council of Constance in 1414-1418, meant to resolve the Western Schism, Huss was betrayed by the rival popes who revoked his safe conduct pass, convicted him of heresy, and executed him by burning at the stake. Despite being a means to suppress dissent, Huss became a symbol of local reform and martyrdom.
When Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in 1517, it marked the beginning of Protestantism. Despite previous instances of suppressed dissent like that of Huss, Luther received local protection and was later summoned to the Diet of Worms in 1521 to defend his beliefs under a safe conduct pass.
Rather than facing immediate punishment, Luther was given time to reconsider his views after standing firm at the Diet of Worms. This was a surprising turn of events compared to the fate of Huss, who was burned at the stake for similar actions.
Luther’s ideas spread rapidly due to the printing press, leading to his temporary isolation rather than martyrdom. He is often credited as the father of the Protestant Reformation because he survived this ordeal and continued to advocate for his beliefs.
Following Luther’s example, other reformers emerged, establishing local interpretations of Christianity with the support of political authorities. This protection shielded them from the fate of past heretics who were condemned by the Church.
Henry VIII
In 1521, Henry VIII, aged 30, had been ruling for a decade as the second Tudor monarch. The Tudors rose to power in 1485 after winning the War of the Roses, a thirty-year civil war among English royal cousins. Henry’s father, Henry VII, emerged victorious over Richard III, who had a strong claim to the throne. To solidify his position, Henry VII sought support from the Catholic Church.
Upon Henry VII’s death in 1509, 18-year-old Henry VIII ascended the throne and immediately married Catherine of Aragon, who was previously married to Henry’s brother, Prince Arthur. Despite debates about the legality of the marriage due to biblical law, which prohibited marrying a deceased brother’s widow, a Church dispensation eventually allowed Henry VIII to marry Catherine.
The issue of whether Arthur and Catherine consummated their marriage was a point of contention for seven years until Henry VIII became king and the Church, eager to maintain the alliance between England and Spain, ruled in favor of the unconsummated marriage, allowing Henry VIII to marry Catherine.
The couple had multiple pregnancies, but only their daughter Mary, born in 1516, survived. Henry was the second monarch of a dynasty that emerged victorious from a prolonged civil war where the rightful king was disputed. With no legitimate son of his own, Henry VIII feared England would fall back into chaos. The historical precedent of a daughter inheriting the throne, like King Henry I and his daughter Matilda during the Anarchy, added pressure on Henry to produce a male heir.
During the 1510s, Henry had various mistresses, including Elizabeth Blount, who bore him a son named Henry FitzRoy in 1519. Although acknowledged by Henry, his illegitimacy posed challenges similar to those of a daughter inheriting the throne. However, it did offer Henry hope that he could father a legitimate son with another woman.
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Aside from his extramarital affairs, Henry also focused on religious matters, particularly combating the Lutheran “heresy.” He strongly opposed the Reformation and even wrote a treatise called the Defense of the Seven Sacraments against Luther. This led to a theological dispute between Luther and Henry, earning the King the title Defender of the Faith from the papacy as they stood united against Lutheranism.
When Henry contemplated setting aside his wife Catherine due to her age and their failed pregnancies, he argued that their marriage violated Levitical law. He believed the Church should acknowledge God’s disfavor and issue a new dispensation to annul their marriage.
In 1527, the papacy was unable to support Henry VIII’s desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon due to conflicts with Catherine’s nephew, Emperor Charles V. Charles had troops in Rome, causing threats to the Pope’s safety. Charles also had strong opinions on Catherine’s premarital purity and used force to support his stance.
By 1532, Henry was aging, and although Anne Boleyn seemed like a suitable replacement bride, the Church refused to annul Henry’s marriage to Catherine. Despite Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s efforts, the annulment could not be granted, leading to Wolsey’s downfall.
Henry, as the protector of England, found himself unable to protect the kingdom due to the Church’s refusal to grant the annulment. When it was suggested that he take matters into his own hands for the kingdom’s sake, Henry agreed.
The Act of Supremacy
The Act of Supremacy in 1534 declared Henry as the head of the Church of England, breaking ties with the Church of Rome. The Treasons Act followed, labeling anyone who did not support the Act of Supremacy and Henry’s divorce from Catherine as traitors punishable by death. Sir Thomas More was one of the most notable individuals convicted under this Act.
The religious changes during Henry VIII’s reign did not alter English religion, but rather focused on politics. As king, Henry became the head of the Church of England instead of the Pope, leading to the redistribution of Church property which enriched a few and angered many others.
Under Henry VIII, over 60 people were condemned to death for Protestantism or heresy, often after being tortured. The Church of England remained largely similar to the Church of Rome in terms of ecclesiastical practices.
Henry’s sixth wife, Catherine Parr, briefly faced trouble for expressing Protestant ideas at court, but she adjusted her beliefs to avoid conflict with her husband’s views and brought relative calm to the end of his reign.
Protestantism After Henry VIII
It was not until Edward VI succeeded Henry in 1547 that Protestantism gained more ground in England. Edward’s advisors, mainly his maternal Seymour uncles, furthered the Protestant cause by eliminating the remaining Catholic influences from Henry’s era. However, Edward fell ill and passed away at the young age of 16, delaying the establishment of Protestantism in England.
The Protestant leaders in power were motivated by fear of a return to Roman Catholicism, which led them to take actions to prevent Princess Mary, the Catholic daughter of Catherine of Aragon, from becoming Edward’s successor. This resulted in a coup d’état where Lady Jane Grey, a royal cousin, was briefly made queen before being executed to prevent her from becoming a Protestant symbol.
Mary’s reign, known for her execution of over 200 Protestants, earned her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” After her death, Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn and a staunch Protestant, became queen in 1558. Elizabeth faced numerous plots to overthrow or assassinate her by Catholic supporters, leading to increased hostility towards Catholicism during her 45-year reign.
Elizabeth’s statement that she would not interfere with her subjects’ beliefs as long as they remained loyal to her did not prevent the government from becoming more hostile towards Catholicism. Elizabeth’s survival against these threats helped solidify Protestantism in England.
Henry VIII’s reformation, driven more by authority than religious ideology, aimed to secure his kingdom’s future rather than adhere to Protestant beliefs. His intolerance towards any suggestion of him being a Protestant reflected his devotion to Catholicism until his death.
