Henry VIII - 2

In 1509, he also married Catherine of Aragon, the widow of his elder brother Arthur. This was a powerful political marriage because of her links with the Spanish Royal family. However, their marriage soured because of her inability to give birth to a male heir – an heir that Henry VIII desperately wanted.

Also, during the early years of his reign, he was active in foreign policy. Through his able minister Thomas Wolsey, he fought both the Scottish and French. Initially, these were successful, but the French campaign became increasingly bitter and costly – a war which proved a great drain on the nation’s finances.

Henry VIII turned on his minister Wolsey when he failed to persuade the Pope to grant an annulment of his marriage to Catherine. Henry decided to go ahead with the divorce anyway. With the help of Thomas Cromwell, his new right-hand man, he had his first marriage annulled and married his new love – Anne Boleyn.

The divorce meant Henry VIII was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church. But, Henry did not mind and just announced himself head of the Church of England. He also demanded the clergy declare the loyalty to him and not the pope.