Question

16. What was the main reason for Henry's break with Rome

Answer 1

The main reason for Henry VIII's break with Rome was his desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Henry sought an annulment because Catherine had not produced a male heir, which he believed was crucial for the stability of the Tudor dynasty. When Pope Clement VII refused to grant the annulment, primarily due to political pressures from Catherine's nephew, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Henry decided to assert his authority by breaking away from the Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England. This break allowed him to annul his marriage and marry Anne Boleyn, with whom he hoped to have a male heir. The shift also reflected broader political, religious, and economic changes in England during the Reformation.