Henry Viii

Henry VIII

Historical Background

Henry VIII was the second son of Elizabeth York and Henry VIII. He was born in 1491 and was the most outstanding of all the Tudors. Great changes were produced during the reign of Henry VIII in England which included the conversion of England to Protestantism. He is famous for his six marriages. Henry was busy in dissolving the ties between England and Church in Rome so that he is able to divorce Catherine. He wanted to marry a woman who would bear him s son. Henry VIII and his ministers subjugated the dislike influenced by his father's vigorous quest of royal rights by sacrificing some of the men who have served him and some of the non-popular institutes. Henry was more determined to get into military adventures. Henry went to join Ferdinand II of Argon, his father-in-law against France knowing that it was against the advice of his experienced councilors. Henry won a real victory at Flodden against Scottish invasion by the Earl of Surrey in 1513, though his contribution was not at all as a military person. Henry VIII had never deserted the positive tasks as a king and often he interfered with the business. Though, it might seem that England was under Cardinal rule, the King knew that he has the possession of control perfectly and can anytime assert it and that Wolsey sometimes mistook the opinion of the worlds as the right one.

However, Henry VIII supported the Cardinal's ambition for the papal tiara. Selection of Henry VIII to the royal crown in 1519 altered the situation of Europe. The crown of Austria and Spain were united because of overwhelming complexity of power which reduced the European dynasties except of France, to an inferior level. Henry VIII became outpost of imperial power of Charles V from 1521. This action, for the moment destroyed the rivals of France. Wolsey's efforts to reverse the coalition at this unfavorable situation brought retaliation against the English trade with the Netherlands and so had lost the advantage that the coalition with the victory of Pavia may have got. Henry concluded that Wolsey's might not be useful anymore as his actions were provoking reactions in England. Henry gave permission to translate Bible in English in the year 1536. By taking these actions, he was trying to move the church towards Protestantism. A team of officials were sent in 1535 to find out what was happening in the monasteries and he closed down 376 monasteries after analyzing the reports.

In the year 1540, Henry VIII gave the permission to destroy the shrines to saints. At this point, Henry decided to get married once again. Anne was suggested as an important supporter for Roman Catholic attack on England. The suppressions later on turned to contribute in creating resistance in the English people. Henry then asked the rebels to stop and he would spare them free. But later the rebels felt that