(Reposted) Was Henry VIII justified in divorcing Catherine and making himself head of the Church of England?

The powerful King Henry VIII was ruler of the nation of England during the years of 1509 and 1547. He was a strong man who had desires to see England strong. In order to do this though, he needed to have a son which would be his successor. He married Catherine of Aragon who was of Spanish royalty (Hapsburg). She was a devote catholic as was mostly everyone else in Spain. Catherine and Henry VIII tried many times to have a son. But as history would have it, they were unable to produce a male successor. Because of this dilemma, King Henry VIII had an idea that if he could divorce Catherine, then he would be able to marry another women and have a son with her. In order to do this though he needed permission from the Pope in the Holy Roman Empire (Letter). Since Henry VIII was Catholic at the time, he was not justified in divorcing Catherine and then marrying another women. However, because of his advisers King Henry VIII justified in making himself the head of the Church in English. Henry VIII was not justified in divorcing Catherine because of his religion, he only wanted to marry again for a chance to have a son, and in order to make himself head of the Church of England.

King Henry VIII was Catholic and so was his wife, Catherine of Aragon. Because of their religion they were not able to get a divorce because it was non catholic. However, they could get an annulment which is the was the Church says they did not recognize the marriage in the first place. But in order to get an annulment, they had to get permission from the Pope. At the time the Pope was under house arrest by the Holy Roman Emperor who was Charles V (Hapsburg). Charles V happened to be the nephew of Catherine of Aragon. Because of his position of having the Pope under house arrest, the Pope would not agree to Charles V or Charles would not even want Henry VIII and Catherine to get an annulment (Hapsburg). Either way, Henry VIII did not receive an annulment which means his divorce was not recognized and not justified.

Not only did Henry marry but he did it six more times. He is also thought to have ordered the deaths of at least two of his wives (Contemporary). This pushed Henry VIII even further from the Catholic church and the Vatican in Italy. His main desire was to get a male heir, and because of this he went to such great lengths to marry a women who would be able to have a son. Henry VIII wanted to get rid of Catherine of Aragon because it was said that he who marries his brother's wife was "blighted in Gods eyes"(Contemporary). This means that he would never be able to have a son with Catherine. Not only was it with Catherine, but Henry VIII could not father a son from any of his other wives. In the end with so many wives and deaths, Henry VIII was and could not be justified with divorcing his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

On the other hand, Henry VIII was able to justifiably make himself the head of the Church in England. Through the Act of Supremacy was he able to pass laws making himself head of the church. Because he took the legal route, he was able legally make himself the head of the church. It went through parliament, and because of Henry VIII's advisers, made it seem as if the people and other political figures were having a say in the matter of Henry VIII becoming head of the Church (The Act of Supremacy). Henry VIII made it seem like it was the will of the people that he would become head of the Church. Because of his conniving schemes Henry was able to land himself in the position of one of the most powerful monarchs in the world (The Act in Restraint of Appeals).

King Henry VIII of England was a very intelligent man. He knew that if he wanted to keep the Tudor line, he would need a male heir. But his first wife could not give him what he needed, so he decided to have her divorced. This was not legal because he was of the Catholic Church. Henry VIII wanted and pleaded for an annulment but was not granted one and took matters into his own hands. He divorced Catherine of Aragon which was not justified and made himself the head of the Church in England which was justified through legal means. Overall, Henry's actions seemed right to him, and if things had been different, the future would not be the same.



Works Cited

"The Act of Supremacy." Then Again. . . Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

"Habsburg History - European Monarch Genealogy." Welcome - European Monarch Genealogy. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

"The Act in Restraint of Appeals." History Learning Site. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

"Medieval Sourcebook: Letter of Thomas Cranmer, 1533." FORDHAM.EDU. Web. 03 Oct. 2010. .

"Primary Sources: A Contemporary Description of Henry VIII, 1515." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 04 Oct. 2010. .

Anne Boleyn

It is unknown when exactly Anne Boleyn was born, but now most historians agree that it was in 1499. Anne spent her childhood in France, and returned to England in 1521. She was not a ravishing beauty, even with her long dark hair and dark brown eyes that looked almost black. However, she used her looks to her advantage, and even got the king to notice her. She refused to be his mistress—she would only settle for being his wife. However, Henry VIII was married to Katherine of Aragon at the time, and the Church refused to let him divorce her. However, Henry broke from the Church, and they were married in 1533. Sadly, Anne was unable to bear a son, and Henry, growing impatient, found another mistress. Anne was then charges with incest, treason, and adultery, locked in the Tower, and finally executed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Boleyn

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/boleyn.html

http://www.tudorhistory.org/boleyn/

Some Primary Sources

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letters.html

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/ab-percy.html

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/prianne1.html

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/prianne2.html

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/exanne.html

Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was born on December 16, 1485 and died on January 7, 1536. She was the first wife of Henry VIII. First she was married to Prince Arthur but he died within a few months of major and so she married his brother, King Henry. Henry and Catherine had a daughter together, Mary. Henry divorced her so he could marry Anne Boleyn. When Henry divorced Catherine she was banished from the court. She was forced to live in small castles and had very few servants. She died three weeks after her fiftieth birthday.

used sources: http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/aragon.html

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letters.html

http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter2.html

Thomas Wolsey

Thomas Wolsey was born in the years between 1471- or 1475 and died on 29 November 1530. He was an English political figure and cardinal of the Roman Catholic church. Thomas' main legacy is from his interest in architecture in particular his old home of Hampton Court palace which still stands today. He became an archbishop of York and held the second most important seat in England. He started send letters to princes and orators in Rome reproaching the king. After a year, the king finally had enough and order the cardinal to be arrested. The King then order Sir William Kingston Knight to bring the cardinal to the Abby of Leicester. Here, Thomas Wolsey was weak and ill and subsequently died on the second night there.

sources: http://englishhistory.net/tudor/priwols1.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Wolsey

The War of the Roses, Richard III, and the Rise of the Tudors Assignment

Part I: Historical background on War of the Roses

King Henry V was born Sep 1387 at Monmouth, England and died 21 Aug 1422 at Bois de Vincennes, France. He ruled from 1413 to 1422 and was known for his success of the Battle of Agincourt and regaining territories that his ancestors lost

King Henry VI was born 1421 and died 21 May 1471 at London, England. during his reign, he lost all of the English lands in France and lost the Hundred Years War. He ruled from 1422 - 1461 and 1470 - 1471. He fought Richard in the Hundred Years war and was murdered in a tower after being captured by Edward IV.

King Edward IV was born 11 Feb 1442 at Rouen, France and died 9 Apr 1483 at London, England. Edward ruled from 1461 - 1470 and 1471 - 1483. He became king and fought against the Lancastrians. He had Henry VI executed and had two sons, Edward V and Richard who would later die in a tower.

King Edward V was born 1470 and died in 1483 after ruling for only that year. He was not married. He was only 12 years old when he became King but his uncle, Richard III, put him in a tower with his brother and they were both murdered.

Richard III was born Oct 1452 at Fotheringhay Castle, Northamptonshire, England and died 22 Aug 1485 at Bosworth, Leicestershire, England, He ruled from 1483 - 1485. He had fought for Edward but after he died took control of his children and put them in a tower to die. He died fighting King Henry VII.

King Henry VII was born 28 Jan 1457 at Pembroke Castle, Wales and died 21 Apr 1509 at Richmond Palace, England. He ruled from 1485 - 1509. He was the first King of the Tudor line and fro mthe House of Lancaster. He fought off the Yorkists and when he became king married Elizabeth of York to strengthen his ties to the throne.

Part II: Richard III:Fact and Fiction

Shakespeare portrayed King Richard III the way he did because of the time period. He was under the influence of Queen Elizabeth I who was the granddaughter of Henvry VII and many other people had reason to look at Richard as a cold blooded murderer and as a hunch back. It was of public opinion that Richard III was a bad man. Sir Thomas More and Shakespeare were of the House of Lancaster while describing Richard III. Since Richard was of the House of York and they hated eachother it was only reasonable to denote Richard as a horrible man doing terrible things to his people. However, even today people think of Richard has a hunched back man who did terrible things even though he may not have been.

Traditionalist: Something that is traditionalist takes on the value of Tradition. Back in Europe there were many traditions that peopled followed as there are still today. The historians and authors take this into account when writing their works. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traditionalism
Revisionist: Is used to describe the format of a document. In relation to historical documents, a Revisionist is a person who creates historical documents based soley on fact and not tradition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/revisionist
Lancastrian: Is the term used to define the house of Lancaster. When something is Lancastrian it is taking the views of the House of Lancaster and what it stood for. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lancastrian
Ricardian: Is the term used to define Richard III and the House of York. Richard was a king from the York line and so Ricardian is referring to the House of York. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ricardian

Polydore Vergil

He writes of Richard III in the Lancastrian point of view. He portrays Richard to be wicked and mean. "And so was thinnocent chyld pullyd owt of his mothers armes. Richard having by this meane obtaynyd almost his hartes desire, convaighed his nephewys from the bysshop of Londons howse unto the Towr" shows of how despicable Richard was to take from the arms of its mother just a young boy and throw him into a Tower to be killed. It is said that Richard also knew of what he was doing but decided to do it anyway, "This doone, Richerd, whose mynde partly was enflamyd with desire of usurping the kyngdom, partly was trubblyd by guyltynes of intent to commyt so haynous wickednes". The Lancastrians hated Richard and the Yorks so they decided to portray him in anyways necessary to make him look bad to everyone who saw him. Not only did he lock his nephew up in a tower but he devised and carried out a plan to kill Lord Hastings, "when he showld geave a signe they showld suddaynly rushe owt, and, compassing about them who should syt with him, to lay handes specyally uppon William lord Hastinges, and kill him forthwith". Vergil does an excellent job in describing Richard and how terrible of a man he was. This is due to the fact that it is written in a Lancastrian point of view.


Horace Walpole

The very beginning sentence "With regard to the person of Richard, it appears to have been as much misrepresented as his actions" shows that this is written in a Ricardian point of view. The author immediately starts to defend Richard and his actions. Not only does he defend Richard but also writes compliments about him, "The old countess of Desmond, who had danced with Richard, declared he was the handsomest man in the room except his brother Edward, and was very well made." The Lancastrians wrote of how he was deformed, but Horace Walpole writes of how he is handsome and attractive. Walpole goes further to back up his information about Richard not being hunched back by explaining how a lancastrian painter painted a picture in which he was not deformed.



Part III: The Battle of Bosworth Field


Richard III Point of View

I am a noble man

And of royal blood I have found

I have created a plan

To gain the crown [4]

I captured my nephew

Who now reside in a tower

They will soon die in a few

And I will have the power [1]

I am at last the king of England

None shall stand in my way

The one and only who rules the lands

And ruler to all those who have to pay

The houses of York and Lancaster fight

But only one shall be victorious

Following the darkness of the night

We shall see who will be glorious

I will kill Henry of Tudor

But it shall not be

For I am the loser

And I can only blame no one but me [2]

On the field of battle I was slain

By none other than Henry of Richmond

With my fall it was the end of my reign

And now Henry VII now rules England [3]

I now lay defeated

Having partook in the deadly battle

It is revenge for how I mistreated

My fellow vassels [3]

I am glad they had the decency

To have me buried in Leicester

Even though they may have done it gleefully

It was still a noble gesture [3]

Many good knights

Had lost their life

In that notable fight

Which caused much strife [2]

Even though I was much hated

I left my mark on the world

With my legacy I have stated

And the truth has been unfurled

sources:

[1] Region, By. "Parishes - East Wickham | British History Online." British History Online. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. .

[2] "Richard III Society- Ballad of Bosworth, Text." Richard III Society - American Branch. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. .

[3] Region, By. "The City of Norwich, Chapter 22 - Of the City in Richard III's Time | British History Online." British History Online. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. .

[4] "Richard III." Richard III Society - American Branch. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. .


Henry Tudor

I am Henry Tudor of the Lancastrian house

I was once in exile but now I arise

To fight for my right to be the king and douse

All those who dare appose my prize [1]

I will stand stead fast in the face of danger

And never back down from a fight

And those who fight for me as a stranger

Will know the bounds of my delight [3]

I much prefer peace than war

But I will not back down

And you shall hear my victorious roar

When I have my crown [3]

That which is the crown of England

I shall obtain

Once I have exercised my plan

And crush my enemies whom I will have slain

On one fateful day

I meet my adversary Richard III

On the battlefield filled with hay

And on the fight did spur [2]

The clash of swords rung through the air

And Richard the third did fall

And so Henry did swear

That he would be king above all [2]

His forces gave up such a shout

Once they saw that they were victorious

They had no doubt

That they had would become meritorious [2]

He married the fair Elizabeth to be his wife

And to unite the warring house

Which caused the end of the strife

And now had a powerful spouse [1]

sources:

"Primary Sources: The Obituary of King Henry VII, 1509." EnglishHistory.net. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. .

"Henry VII." TudorHistory.org. Web. 27 Sept. 2010. .

"A Description of Henry VII." TudorHistory.org. Web. 26 Sept. 2010. .

DBQ #2

During the late middle ages the Black Death had major consequences on the inhabitants of Britain. This catastrohpe which killed roughly 25 million people caused the destruction of the serf system and redefined the social roles, the rebellion of peasants, and started a religious war agaisnt the Jews.
Before the Black Death, the social classes were well established. People were nobles or people were laborers. However, after the Plague, it seems the peasants grew bolder and decided to take matters into their own hands to make more money. In this way, they demanded more money to do the same jobs as before. The only reason they were able to do this was because so many laborers had died that serfs were now needed. It is like a supply and demand economy. There were plenty of serfs to work so Nobles could pay them less, but after the Plague there were a lot less which the peasants realized and understood that they could now ask for better wages. This shows that European society is evolving into the early stages of todays economy.
The people of Europe were a respectful group. But after the Plague, a group of peasants got together that numbered a hundred strong and decided to kill off the Nobles because they "shamed the realm". They went to the houses and castles of knights and squire and systematically killed, raped, and tortured the inhabitants. This group of people got followers until they numbered several thousand strong. They then proceeded to commit heinous crimes such as rape, burning at the stake, and forcing wives to eat their husbands. This happened mainly in France and devastated the country.
In history it seems that no one can go without blaming the Jews for something and end up killing thousands of them. The people of France, Switzerland, and Italy all believed that the Black Death was caused by Jews poisoning wells. Because of this they captured and tortured Jews for confessions. Many Jews confessed that they had indeed poisoned wells just to stop the torture. This would never had happened if it wasn't for the Jews being so rich and having nobles owing them money. The Nobles did not want to pay back the Jews so they went along with the scheme of Jews poisoning wells inorder to kill them off and not have to pay them back. Eventually many cities burned the Jews at the stake and expelled them. After many years the Jews were allowed back into some cities. Becuase of the Black Death, the Jews were blamed and killed and a religioius extermination started.

Views on the Scots

During the 1300's, the English and Scottish faced great enemies in eachother. The English and Scots had extremely different views about the latter. English viewed them as savage, cruel monsters, while the Scots thought of themselves as strong willed relativly decent folks that kept to themselves.

The English see the Scots in the eyes of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce and how they act. William willing lets his people die by the sword and wuns off to save his own life. English see William as a robber, homicide, man who kills children in school houses and churches.

Robert the Bruce is another man of cruelty. He betrays men and tries to assassinate them. The English heard of how he performed wicked and inhumane acts and sacrificed a priest.

The Scots view themselves extremely differently. They think of themselves as an extremely strong willed race who has survived many different countries and people to set up their own country with kings of their own royal stock of one hundred and thirteen. They pray to their God to help them out survive and gain freedom from their oppressors, the English.

The views of the two could not be any more different. The English think of them as hated crual savage beings that need to be brought under rule, while the Scots just want to be left alone and live their own lives.