Changes

The king used every power at his disposal to persuade the Pope that his marriage to Catherine was void, based on her previous marriage to Arthur, Henry’s late brother.  When the Pope refused nullify Henry’s marriage to Catherine, the king, aided by powerful nobles following the reformed or protestant faith, eventually declared the Church of England separated from the Church of Rome, with the king as the head of the church.  Henry, himself a staunch catholic who had been given the title Defender of the Faith by a former pope for a treatise in which he defended the church from the attacks of the reformers, did not actually change the religion; that would come during his son’s reign.  However, by declaring himself head of the Church in England, he empowered himself to annul his marriage, setting himself against a stubborn and resolute Catherine, who had the backing of the pope and of her nephew, the King of Spain.  

The king used every power at his disposal to persuade the Pope that his marriage to Catherine was void, based on her previous marriage to Arthur, Henry’s late brother.  When the Pope refused nullify Henry’s marriage to Catherine, the king, aided by powerful nobles following the reformed or protestant faith, eventually declared the Church of England separated from the Church of Rome, with the king as the head of the church.  Henry, himself a staunch catholic who had been given the title Defender of the Faith by a former pope for a treatise in which he defended the church from the attacks of the reformers, did not actually change the religion; that would come during his son’s reign.  However, by declaring himself head of the Church in England, he empowered himself to annul his marriage, setting himself against a stubborn and resolute Catherine, who had the backing of the pope and of her nephew, the King of Spain.  

In 1533, Henry married [[Anne Boleyn]], and Thomas Cranmer, the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], formally declared the marriage with Catherine void and the marriage with Anne valid. Henry then broke with Rome and declared himself head of the [[Church of England]]. Catherine lost the dignity of being queen and became Princess Dowager of Wales. Mary was deemed illegitimate, and her place in the line of succession transferred to her half-sister, the future Elizabeth I, daughter of Anne Boleyn. She was styled "Lady Mary" rather than princess because of her illegitimate status.

In 1533, Henry married [[Anne Boleyn]], and Thomas Cranmer, the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], formally declared the marriage with Catherine void and the marriage with Anne valid. Henry then broke with Rome and declared himself head of the [[Church of England]]. Catherine lost the dignity of being queen and became Princess [[Dowager]] of Wales. Mary was deemed illegitimate, and her place in the line of succession transferred to her half-sister, the future Elizabeth I, daughter of Anne Boleyn. She was styled "Lady Mary" rather than princess because of her illegitimate status.

Despite his intense annoyance, Henry could not afford to harm Catherine or Mary, although he stripped them of their royal titles.  Mary was expelled from Court, her servants dismissed from her service, and she was forced to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth. Mary was not permitted to see her mother Catherine, nor attend her funeral in 1536.  For the next few years Mary’s fortunes would wax and wane.  Her status reached a low when Anne Boleyn was crowed Queen, and particularly after Princess Elizabeth was born in 1533, but at least two of Henry’s subsequent wives pleaded her case; Katherine Parr, particularly, did much to reconcile the family.  By that time Henry was older and had a legitimate son and heir, and Catherine was dead.  Princesses Mary and Elizabeth were eventually reinstated in the line of succession, behind Edward.  

Despite his intense annoyance, Henry could not afford to harm Catherine or Mary, although he stripped them of their royal titles.  Mary was expelled from Court, her servants dismissed from her service, and she was forced to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth. Mary was not permitted to see her mother Catherine, nor attend her funeral in 1536.  For the next few years Mary’s fortunes would wax and wane.  Her status reached a low when Anne Boleyn was crowed Queen, and particularly after Princess Elizabeth was born in 1533, but at least two of Henry’s subsequent wives pleaded her case; Katherine Parr, particularly, did much to reconcile the family.  By that time Henry was older and had a legitimate son and heir, and Catherine was dead.  Princesses Mary and Elizabeth were eventually reinstated in the line of succession, behind Edward.  

Anne Boleyn lost royal favour and was beheaded in 1536. Within two weeks of Anne Boleyn's execution, Henry married Jane Seymour, who died shortly after giving birth to a son, the future King Edward VI of England. Mary was allowed to be godmother to her half-brother Edward and chief mourner at Jane Seymour's funeral. In return, Henry agreed to grant her a household, and Mary was allowed to reside in Hatfield House, the Palace of Beaulieu and Richmond,. She was later awarded the Palace of Beaulieu as her own.  

Anne Boleyn lost royal favour and was beheaded in 1536. Within two weeks of Anne Boleyn's execution, Henry married Jane Seymour, who died shortly after giving birth to a son, the future King Edward VI of England. Mary was allowed to be godmother to her half-brother Edward and chief mourner at Jane Seymour's funeral. In return, Henry agreed to grant her a household, and Mary was allowed to reside in Hatfield House, the Palace of Beaulieu and Richmond,. She was later awarded the Palace of Beaulieu as her own.

 

==Edward VII==

==Edward VII==

In 1547, Henry died and was succeeded by his son, [[Edward VI]]. Since Edward was still a child, rule passed to a regency council. Young Edward and his advisors realised that there was a distinct danger to having Mary as Edward’s heir.  She, like her mother, remained a Roman Catholic, with allegiance to the pope as the legitimate head of the church.  By this time, Protestant ideas had taken firm hold in England; in addition, unlike his father, Edward had officially declared Protestantism the faith of England, and the practice of Roman Catholicism illegal.  It was only after Mary appealed to her cousin [[Charles V]] that she was allowed to worship the Roman Catholic faith.

In 1547, Henry died and was succeeded by his son, [[Edward VI]]. Since Edward was still a child, rule passed to a regency council. Young Edward and his advisors realised that there was a distinct danger to having Mary as Edward’s heir.  She, like her mother, remained a Roman Catholic, with allegiance to the pope as the legitimate head of the church.  By this time, Protestant ideas had taken firm hold in England; in addition, unlike his father, Edward had officially declared Protestantism the faith of England, and the practice of Roman Catholicism illegal.  It was only after Mary appealed to her cousin [[Charles V]] that she was allowed to worship the Roman Catholic faith.