Changes

===Anne Boleyn===

===Anne Boleyn===

By 1527 Henry had fallen for [[Anne Boleyn]] (1507–1536), whom he married in 1533 after the divorce. Anne failed to produce a son, but did have a daughter in 1533 (the future Queen [[Elizabeth I]]). In terms of  shaping policy, Anne, who was strongly committed to Protestantism, was the most influential wife. Historians have vigorously debated explanations for the trial and execution of Anne in 1536. One school emphasizes contentious court factions in which Queen Anne was an innocent pawn. G. W. Bernard (1991) argues that she and the five men executed with her were probably guilty of incest and adultery as charged. Both points of view were also expressed by contemporary diplomats reporting from London, who may have been misled by rumors and deliberate government misinformation. Use of traditions of courtly love to explain Anne's relationship with the other accused (opening herself to slander) is speculative. Direct evidence for actual guilt is not convincing. Warnicke (1993) offers a controversial explanation: Anne gave birth to a deformed fetus in January, 1536, provoking in Henry, who learned of the miscarriage and its circumstances after some delay, both rage and fear, as well as a certainty of his consort's adultery and witchcraft, an explanation necessary not only to his psyche but to the preservation of the reputation of his kingdom and the schismatic church that he headed.<ref> G. W. Bernard, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn." ''English Historical Review'' 1991 106(420): 584-610. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/573258  in Jstor]; Retha M. Warnicke, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn Revisited." ''English Historical Review'' 1993 108(428): 653-665. Issn: 0013-8266 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/574751 in Jstor]</ref>

By 1527 Henry had fallen for [[Anne Boleyn]] (1507–1536).  Anne was not content to be a mistress, which set about a chain of events that shook up the nation.  Henry sought papal consent to have his marriage to Katherine annulled since she had previously been married to his brother.  The papacy, which was under a great deal of pressure from the Spanish not to grant the request, refused.  This brought about the downfall of Cardinal Wosley in Henry's sight since he had virtually guaranteed their acceptance.  Henry then made the decision to break from the Catholic Church who he claimed had no right to interfere in the political succession of England, which he stated was occurring since he had no male heir through Kstherine.  Catholic clergy then had to sign an oath to the king over the Pope.  Many could not sign -- and died.  With Henry now head of the Church, his divorce was granted and he married Anne in 1533 - a very unpopular queen with the people who had loved Katherine. Anne had a daughter in 1533 (the future Queen [[Elizabeth I]]) and not a son like Henry desired.  She became pregnant again, but her son was stillborn. (In terms of  shaping policy, Anne, who was strongly committed to Protestantism, was the most influential wife. Historians have vigorously debated explanations for the trial and execution of Anne in 1536. One school emphasizes contentious court factions in which Queen Anne was an innocent pawn. G. W. Bernard (1991) argues that she and the five men executed with her were probably guilty of incest and adultery as charged. Both points of view were also expressed by contemporary diplomats reporting from London, who may have been misled by rumors and deliberate government misinformation. Use of traditions of courtly love to explain Anne's relationship with the other accused (opening herself to slander) is speculative. Direct evidence for actual guilt is not convincing. Warnicke (1993) offers a controversial explanation: Anne gave birth to a deformed fetus in January, 1536, provoking in Henry, who learned of the miscarriage and its circumstances after some delay, both rage and fear, as well as a certainty of his consort's adultery and witchcraft, an explanation necessary not only to his psyche but to the preservation of the reputation of his kingdom and the schismatic church that he headed.<ref> G. W. Bernard, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn." ''English Historical Review'' 1991 106(420): 584-610. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/573258  in Jstor]; Retha M. Warnicke, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn Revisited." ''English Historical Review'' 1993 108(428): 653-665. Issn: 0013-8266 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/574751 in Jstor]</ref>

 

===Later marriages===

===Later marriages===

In 1536 the death of Katherine of Aragon freed Henry for an unquestionably lawful marriage. In 1536 he chose [[Jane Seymour]] (1509-1537), who died the next year of natural causes after providing a son, the future King [[Edward VI]]. In 1540, Cromwell's Protestant policy involved marriage to [[Anne of Cleves]] (1515–57), whom Henry disliked from the first and soon divorced. In August 1540 Henry made a love match with [[Catherine Howard]] (1521–1542), but being far younger than him, she did not share a mutual attraction; she was beheaded for adultery. Finally in 1543, he settled for a more placid consort in [[Catherine Parr]] (1512–48).

In 1536 the death of Katherine of Aragon freed Henry for an unquestionably lawful marriage. In 1536 he chose [[Jane Seymour]] (1509-1537), who died the next year of natural causes after providing a son, the future King [[Edward VI]]. In 1540, Cromwell's Protestant policy involved marriage to [[Anne of Cleves]] (1515–57), whom Henry disliked from the first and soon divorced. In August 1540 Henry made a love match with [[Catherine Howard]] (1521–1542), but being far younger than him, she did not share a mutual attraction; she was beheaded for adultery. Finally in 1543, he settled for a more placid consort in [[Catherine Parr]] (1512–48).