2007-01-21 19:05:08 · 9 answers · asked by Sublime 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
So he could divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. Catherine had given him a daughter and he was wanting a son. Anne Boleyn also gave him a daughter, so he had her charged with witchcraft and adultery and beheaded.
2007-01-22 04:39:58 · answer #1 · answered by dragonmomof3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was a power-mad, vicious man and wanted to divorce his wife so he could marry Anne Bolyn. The church would not grant an annulment and he was not in a safe position to kill his wife. The Catholic Church at that time wielded enormous power over the monarchy. By his wish for a divorce, he could get rid of 2 burdens: his wife and the church. BTW, Anne did not bear him any sons either and he entered a string of ever-shorter marriages.
2007-01-22 10:27:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, he wanted a divorce, and only the Pope could give him one, and was refusing to do it.
But why did Henry want a divorce so much? It was because he wanted England to have an undisputed male heir to the throne, and his wife didn't seem to be able to give him one. Henry knew enough of England's history over the previous couple of centuries to see what a disaster it would be for the country if the heir to the throne was his daughter. Every noble in the land, and every monarch in Europe, would be scheming how to get his son married to her.
So Henry's argument was that the Pope's total control over divorce amounted, in this case, to dictating the English line of succession, and he decided that he wouldn't have it.
2007-01-22 06:05:42 · answer #3 · answered by bh8153 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically, Henry wanted to control the church, as well as the other institutions in Great Britain. he also wanted to divorce Catalina of Aragon his Spanish, Catholic wife (she also was his elder brother's widow!) because she hadn't given him a son and because of political reasons (England and Spain being on the verge of war).
2007-01-22 06:24:01 · answer #4 · answered by alsvalia_jackson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The church refused to allow him a divorce. He wanted to remarry because Catherine had not given him a son to secure the succession.
2007-01-23 12:05:52 · answer #5 · answered by john b 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He wanted a divorce, and the Catholic church wouldn't allow it.
2007-01-22 03:12:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because this was the only way he could end his marriage and get rid of his wife without actually killing her. This king made a mockery of marriage and a very sad story ending for all of his wives.
It would do you good to read the book, it has many sides - just like the coins we use today. "Heads or Tails?"
2007-01-22 03:17:41 · answer #7 · answered by Ms-No-It-All 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Divorce it was! And believing himself to be the highest human authority in Britain, I imagine - Divine right and all that.
2007-01-22 03:45:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
So he could get a divorce.
2007-01-22 03:09:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋