Was Henry VIII Justified in Divorcing Catherine?

            The reign of King Henry VIII of England is a very disputable one. So many things he did were very controversial, causing some people to love him, and others to think terribly of him. One of these things, for example, was his divorce of Catherine of Aragon. He went around the ruling of the church just so that he would be able to divorce her. Is this right? Was this an acceptable thing for him to do, as king of England?

            Catherine of Aragon was a very loyal wife to Henry. When Henry was away at war or on other trips, she would, in a way, hold down the castle and send him letters with the news about what was going on. She would always sign these letters “Your humble wife and true servant, Katharine.” (http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter2.html). However, Catherine never did have a male son. That was all that the king wanted- a male heir to the throne. The king got more and more worried as Catherine got older and there was still no male heir. When he meets young Anne Boleyn, he decides to make her his wife, for she is young and has a chance of giving birth to a male heir. However, when he tries to divorce Catherine, things go awry.

            King Henry goes to the pope to get a legal divorce from Catherine, but the pope refuses. Henry is outraged, and, because of this, he splits England from the church. Through the Act of Supremacy, he makes himself in charge of the whole church. “Albeit the king's Majesty justly and rightfully is and ought to be the supreme head of the Church of England.” (http://www.thenagain.info/Classes/Sources/ActSupremacy.html). He continues on to marry Anne, and they have a beautiful coronation for her, which is described by Thomas Cranmer: “where we received the Queen apparelled in a robe of purple velvet, and all the ladies and gentlewomen in robes and gowns of scarlet according to the manner used before time in such besynes; and so her Grace, sustained on each side with two bishops, the bishop of Lincoln and the bishop of Winchester, came forth in procession unto the Church of Westminster...” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/cramner-hen8.html). Cranmer was the one to place the crown onto her head. Now, once again, the king has his hopes up, praying that Anne will bear him a son.

            The King’s divorce of Catherine seemed to be a little inhumane. All he wanted from her was a son, and when she did not give that to him, he got rid of her. Out of sight, out of mind. He does not worry about her or miss her at all. He seems to have a very hard personality, and does not care about many people. I believe that the king is entirely justified in wanting a male heir, but he should not have mistreated his wives in the way that he did. Later in life, Anne is not able to bear him a son either, so he has her imprisoned. “Your grace's displeasure and my imprisonment are things so strange to me, that what to write, or what to excuse, I am altogether ignorant.” (http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter10.html). Not long after, he is remarried and Anne Boleyn is executed.  

            The King was not justified in divorcing Catherine of Aragon. Nor was he justified in making himself head of the church. If he had just had patience with his wife, and cared a little more, he could have been fine with their daughter ruling the kingdom. Also, he did not need to separate from the church, just for his own personal desires. Overall, King Henry shows a bad example of being king- he uses his power too much for his own personal advantage.

Works cited:

Katherine of Aragon. Letter from Katharine of Aragon to her husband, King Henry VIII- 16 September 1513. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter2.html.

King Henry VII. The Act of Supremacy. 1534. http://www.thenagain.info/Classes/Sources/ActSupremacy.html

Cranmer, Thomas. Letter of Thomas Cranmer. 1533. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/cramner-hen8.html

Boleyn, Anne. Letter to her husband, King Henry VII. 6 May, 1536. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter10.html