The King's Annulment

Cromwell and the King's Annulment

The case for the annulment had stalled after 1529. Leading nobles did not have the skill to find a solution to Henry’s problem. Henry’s new Lord Chancellor Thomas More actually opposed the annulment and resigned in 1532 over the issue.

Cromwell challenging the Pope

Cromwell realised the Pope would never grant the annulment, so proposed that parliament should pass a law transferring the power to grant an annulment from the Pope to Henry himself.
To challenge the Pope like this was shocking at the time, and Parliament’s powers would be dramatically extended.

Anne Boleyn's pregnancy

By January 1533 Anne Boleyn was pregnant, and Henry had to marry her quickly to ensure the child would be legitimate.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, secretly married them.
But in the eyes of the Catholic Church Henry was still married to Catherine.

Act in Restraint of Appeals

In March 1533 parliament passed the Act in Restraint of Appeals which stated that England was not subject to foreign rule and made Henry the Supreme Head of England.
He could now grant his own annulment.

Cranmer and the annulment

In May, Cranmer led the annulment case and announced that the original papal dispensation for Henry and Catherine’s marriage was not valid, so they had never been legally married, and therefore his marriage to Anne was the legal one.
Anne was crowned Queen a week later during huge celebrations.

Gaining Henry VIII's favour

Securing the annulment gained Cromwell the role of Chief Minister for Henry, taking the lead on legal, religious and financial issues.
However, he was never as rich or powerful as Wolsey.
Henry had grown up and took more of a role in government, so wanted Cromwell to carry out his wishes, rather than make decisions for him.
Cromwell was never given the title of Lord Chancellor.

1Henry VIII & Wolsey, 1509-1529

1.1Henry VIII & Wolsey, 1509-1529

1.1.1Henry VIII, Renaissance Prince

1.1.2The Rise of Wolsey

1.1.3Wolsey's Domestic Reforms

1.1.4Wolsey's Foreign Policy

1.1.5Evaluating Wolsey's Foreign Policy

1.1.6The Succession & Annulment

1.1.7Fall of Wolsey

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Wolsey

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Wolsey 2

2Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1529-1540

2.1Henry VIII & Cromwell, 1529-1540

2.1.1The Rise of Cromwell

2.1.2The King's Annulment

2.1.3Cromwell & the King's Marriages

2.1.4Cromwell & Government

2.1.5Cromwell & Parliament

2.1.6Fall of Cromwell

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Cromewell

2.1.8End of Topic Test - Henry VIII & Cromwell 2

3The Reformation & its Impact, 1529-1540

3.1The Reformation & its Impact, 1529-1540

3.1.1The Break with Rome

3.1.2Opposition to the Reformation

3.1.3Impact of the Reformation

3.1.4Role of Religious Houses

3.1.5Dissolution of the Monasteries

3.1.6Impact of Dissolution

3.1.7The Pilgrimage of Grace

3.1.8Evaluating the Pilgrimage of Grace

3.1.9End of Topic Test - The Reformation

3.1.10End of Topic Test - The Reformation 2

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