Hnery+the+Eigth


 * Henry The Eigth was a Devout Catholic and was given the title Defender of the Faith by the Pope.
 * Henry needed a son to continue his line, but his Wife, Catherine, instead had a daughter Mary.
 * Convinced that it was Catherines' fault that they were unable to have a son, Henry asked the Pope to annul his marriage.
 * The Pope refused to annul because of Catherine's political connections, and Henry decided he had to split off from the Church.
 * The King went to Parlaiment and had England's ties to the Church severed. In the process, Henry became the head of Religious affairs in England.
 * Henry used his new power to take remove the monastery's from England, thereby taking the land and wealth held within them.
 * Henry married his long time mistress Anne Boleyn, who he was with for three years. In that time Anne had a daughter, Elizabeth, but did not have a son.
 * In response, Henry had charges of incest and infidelity brought against Anne. She was beheaded, and Elizabeth was named a bastard.
 * Henry finally had a son, Edward, with his third wife.
 * After Henry's death, Edward became King. During Edward's six year rule, the Protestants were very strong, as Edward was a Protestant himself. He was a sickly child though, and his reign ended early.
 * Mary came after Edward. Mary was a fanatical Catholic, and during her reign Protestants were oppressed and often burned at the stake.
 * Mary was unable to produce and child, which shook her sanity somewhat.