The King's Great Matter

The King's Matter 1527-9

  • Central Idea:

    • The King's Matter 1527-9

  • Main Branches:

    • Causes:

      • Henry VIII's desire for a male heir

      • Catherine of Aragon's failure to produce a male heir

      • Henry's infatuation with Anne Boleyn

    • Events:

      • Henry VIII's request for an annulment from Catherine

      • The Pope's refusal to annul the marriage

      • The Act of Supremacy declaring Henry as the head of the Church of England

    • Consequences:

      • The break from the Catholic Church

      • Establishment of the Church of England

      • The beginning of the English Reformation

    • Key Figures:

      • Henry VIII

      • Catherine of Aragon

      • Anne Boleyn

      • Thomas Cranmer

  • Sub-branches:

    • Henry VIII:

      • Known for his multiple marriages

      • Established the Church of England

      • Influenced by political and personal motives

    • Catherine of Aragon:

      • First wife of Henry VIII

      • Mother of Mary I

      • Refused to accept the annulment

    • Anne Boleyn:

      • Second wife of Henry VIII

      • Mother of Elizabeth I

      • Executed on charges of adultery

    • Thomas Cranmer:

      • Archbishop of Canterbury

      • Supported Henry's divorce

      • Played a key role in the English Reformation

Wolsey’s tactics for annulment:

1. Persuading the Pope that his predecessor had exceeded his powers by overriding divine law

2. Arguing that the original dispensation was incorrectly worded and therefore void.

3. Persuading the Pope to delegate the decision to his representative in England – guess who!

As legate a latere Wolsey had the power to make the necessary judgement in the name of the Pope. However, this decision would not be binding and final. Should Katherine choose to appeal to Rome a Papal commission would be established to investigate the controversy.

Factors which affect Henry’s ability to obtain a divorce:

  1. France and Spain fighting over Italy- led to prevarication

  2. Emperor’s control over Rome made it more likely that the Pope would decide in Katherine’s favour

  3. Henry attacking the power of the Pope directly and persistently forced the Pope into a standoff, making it impossible for Wolsey to assert his usual influence

  4. Katherine’s refusal to submit

  5. Popularity of the Queen

  6. The factional nature f court politics which prevented any coherent policy being drafted

  7. No genuine grounds for the annulment

  8. Doctrine of the Catholic Church