feb 11, 1531 - Henry VIII Ends Papal Authority in England

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Henry was married and, as was important at the time, wanted a male heir. This was important because female heirs generally couldn't take over the crown. When his wife had a girl, not a boy, Henry though that it wa a sign that God didn't approve of this marriage so he wanted to annul the marriage. However, the Pope was under control of Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor, so he denied Henry the annulment. In response, Henry asked Parliament to support a secession from papal authority. Parliament agreed with the Act of Supremacy, and the ties between England's church and the pope broke. The link was reformed and re-broken a couple times after that, but eventually the Anglican Church became England's official church. It remains as such today.

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