r. Henry VIII (jan 1, 1509 – jan 1, 1547)

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King Henry VIII is most remembered for his causing the break with England and Rome.

Henry wanted to divorce Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, for not producing a male heir. He requested an annulment, planning to mary his court lady Anne Boleyn, which normally would not have been a problem. However, Charles V's troops had essentially taken Pop Clement VII prisoner when they invaded Rome, and Charles was opposed to the annulment since he was the nephew of Catherine. In response, Henry removed the English Church from papal jurisdiction. He made himself the supreme head of the church of England. He beheaded opposition, including Thomas More, and later Anne Boleyn when she failed to give him a male heir. His third wife Jane Seymour produced Edward but died shortly after, and he went on to have three more wives.

The English Church retained some traditional Catholic practices. The theologically conservative King ended monasteries. Most people accepted the change but did not quietly acquiesce. Dissenters partook in teh Pilgrimage of Grace, a massive rebellion that was the most serious in Tudor history. They accepted a truce but their leaders were executed. Throughout Hnery's domain, there was a combination of resistance, acceptance, and collaboration. There was more resistance in Ireland.

Him and his aides Thomas Cromwell and Thomas Cranmer oversaw a growth of the modern centralized bureaucratic state by centralizing the king's household, hte council, the secretariats, and the Exchequer.

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