The Middle Ages

Henry VIII

The Middle Ages in England are usually known from the 12th to 16th century. This was an era of royalty, music and Henry.

Henry VIII was one of the kings that marked a before and after in England. After wedding his older brother's wife, Catherine of Aragon, he became king.

He was a man that enjoyed hunting. He was a king, born to be one. Many historians say that he was a far much better king than his potential brother.

As all kings desire, he wanted a legacy for the throne. They believed in the forever nation of kings and rulership. Therefore, in 1511, Henry had a son. This was the beginning of a long journey for his wife, Catherine.

The heir died of 7 weeks. After that, as usually on those times, the fault resided on Catherine. Henry and the queen tried and had 4 miscarriages, until Mary was born.

Mary was going to be known as "Bloody Mary", but that is in a distant future from the starting point. Mary was born on 1516. But being born as a woman was not an advantage, not even to a princess. Henry wanted a son, and Catherine had no positive results on delivering one.

Henry then began an idea that he was responsible for the negative results; not because he had any problems, but because it was a divine punishment from God, for marrying his brother's widow. The idea that a man could marry his brother's widow was something that was prohibited by the Bible and the Vatican resolutions; but the Pope at that time granted a special permission. And since he Pope was the voice of God on Earth, he gave in to the act.

Henry wanted to do something about it. So he decided that the marriage was going to be annulled. This could only mean two things: that all the kids that Catherine and Henry had were not going to be official, therefore, only known if he wanted, and that he had the chance to marry someone else. By this time, on court, whispers of a mistress rising to take the throne arose, and Catherine fell into despair.

Henry asked the Pope to annul the marriage. However the Pope would not co-operate. (He could not because Catherine's uncle Charles V of Spain had captured Rome and the pope was his prisoner). Of course, Henry was not going to rest easy on that. He created a court of ecclesiastical people, and the head of this court would be his advisor until that time, Cardinal Wolsey and next to him cardinal Campeggio.

But they were not successful, and in autumn of 1529, Henry sacked and vanished Cardenal Wolsey to York. In 1530 he was asked to go back into court to answer for the crimes of treason but hi mysteriously died on the way. Some say that he killed himself either with poison or with a knife.

Thomas Moore, a philosopher and dedicated catholic replaced him as chancellor. He was ruthless with the protestants, who were just beginning to get known in England. He, although philosopher and creator of concepts like utopia, was a firm believer that heressy should be punished. But his energies were worn out when, in 1532 he was replaced by Thomas Cromwell.

The whispers became true as in 1527, Henry began a relationship with Anne Boleyn. He was sure he was going to get the marriage annulled, so he could marry Anne. Many called Anne witch, saying that she was capable of hypnotize and control men around her. They also said that he had bewitched Henry, so he could fall into her hand.

Henry became desperate, and cut the relationship with the Vatican. He decided it was time to "Reform" church, and therefore, got the nillity from Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. He had already married in secret Ann, and now he could make it official. In 1534 the Act of Supremacy, making Henry the head of the church, was passed. After this, the Act of Succession was also passed, making Anne Boleyn's child heir to the throne.

Although Henry had broke the relationship of the Vatican, he maintain the religion intact. It was Thomas Cromwell that made some small reforms. In 1538 he ordered that every church should have an English translation of the Bible.

Nevertheless, in 1539, Henry passed the Act of Six Articles, which laid down the beliefs of the Church of England. The Six Articles preserved the old religion mainly intact. In 1545 latin was replaced by English on services. Then, on 1536, monasteries began to be dissolved. The monks inside the monasteries were given pensions and many of them married and learned trades. The monasteries were used as houses, or were demolished and the stone used for other buildings.

The statues and art inside the monasteries were sold in order to buy materials to construct castles around the coast, in any case of foreign invasion. But all these changes came with discontent from some people. A small rebellion started in Lincolnshire, on 1536.

-To Be Continued-