Changes

===First marriage: Katherine of Aragon===

===First marriage: Katherine of Aragon===

His brother Arthur in 1501 married [[Katherine of Aragon|Katherine]] (1485–1536), the daughter of [[Ferdinand and Isabella]] of Spain.  After Arthur's death in 1502, when Henry was ten years old, for reasons of state it was decided to marry Henry to his brother’s widow, who was several years his senior.  This raised the question of whether it was moral and legal for Henry to married his late brother’s wife?

His brother Arthur in 1501 married [[Katherine of Aragon|Katherine]] (1485–1536), the daughter of [[Ferdinand and Isabella]] of Spain.  After Arthur's death in 1502, when Henry was ten years old, for reasons of state it was decided to marry Henry to his brother's widow, who was several years his senior.  This raised the question of whether it was moral and legal for Henry to married his late brother's wife?

For her part, Catherine stated and always affirmed that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated and she was therefore able to marry Henry.  Because her parents wanted the marriage, they did not want there to be any doubt and so they petitioned the Pope to grant a dispensation allowing Catherine and Henry to marry - a dispensation that was granted.  These matters would be of great significance later.

For her part, Catherine stated and always affirmed that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated and she was therefore able to marry Henry.  Because her parents wanted the marriage, they did not want there to be any doubt and so they petitioned the Pope to grant a dispensation allowing Catherine and Henry to marry - a dispensation that was granted.  These matters would be of great significance later.

Henry started as a staunch Catholic and wrote ''Assertio Septem Sacramentorum'', a treatise in which he defended the Church against [[Martin Luther]] and asserted the primacy of the [[Pope]].  The Pope gave Henry the title Fidei Defensor [[Defender of the Faith]], a style still used by the English monarch today.   

Henry started as a staunch Catholic and wrote ''Assertio Septem Sacramentorum'', a treatise in which he defended the Church against [[Martin Luther]] and asserted the primacy of the [[Pope]].  The Pope gave Henry the title Fidei Defensor [[Defender of the Faith]], a style still used by the English monarch today.   

However, Henry broke with the Pope on two issues, the divorce, and control over the Church inside England, as he declared himself head of the Church in England. Disagreement with Henry on religious issues was a political affront, and he could not tolerate it.  Some wealthy or intellectual Catholics fled to France; others stayed quiet. Moderate reform took place in the 1530s because Queen Anne and top aides Thomas Cranmer and Cromwell had the king's ear and carried out attacks on the old religion. Queen Anne patronized and promoted clergy and bishops of a reforming turn of mind; Cromwell (1485?–1540), the Earl of Essex, was a convinced reformer and in effect the ruthless and unpopular prime minister from 1532 until he fell from favour and was beheaded in 1540. Cranmer (1489–1556) was archbishop of Canterbury after 1533.<ref>After Henry's death Cranmer wrote much of the first ''Book of Common Prayer'' (1549, revised 1552), the centerpiece of the Anglican Church.</ref>  Henry persecuted of those who still held to Papal Supremacy,  and encouraged Protestant ideas to flourish. Protestantism was officially established during the reign of Henry’s son, [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]].

However, Henry broke with the Pope on two issues, the divorce, and control over the Church inside England, as he declared himself head of the Church in England. Disagreement with Henry on religious issues was a political affront, and he could not tolerate it.  Some wealthy or intellectual Catholics fled to France; others stayed quiet. Moderate reform took place in the 1530s because Queen Anne and top aides Thomas Cranmer and Cromwell had the king's ear and carried out attacks on the old religion. Queen Anne patronized and promoted clergy and bishops of a reforming turn of mind; Cromwell (1485?–1540), the Earl of Essex, was a convinced reformer and in effect the ruthless and unpopular prime minister from 1532 until he fell from favour and was beheaded in 1540. Cranmer (1489–1556) was archbishop of Canterbury after 1533.<ref>After Henry's death Cranmer wrote much of the first ''Book of Common Prayer'' (1549, revised 1552), the centerpiece of the Anglican Church.</ref>  Henry persecuted of those who still held to Papal Supremacy,  and encouraged Protestant ideas to flourish. Protestantism was officially established during the reign of Henry's son, [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]].

==Power and authority==

==Power and authority==