Outside of present day monarchy, common man recognizes only a few names from British history, Henry VIII being one of them. What is not commonly realized about Hal is how, and why, he changed the religious history of Britain. Hal was not the born heir to the throne, he had an older, sickly brother Arthur, who was betrothed and then married to Catherine of Aragon (daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Christopher Columbus fame). Arthur passed away soon after the wedding and Catherine swore there had been no consumation of the marriage. King Henry VII was too cheap to send her and her dowry back, and Hal, young (17) and heroic had fallen in love with Catherine and married her himself. She had several miscarriages and still-births and their only living issue was Mary (Bloody Mary). Meanwhile Hal, now King, met Anne Boleyn, and had fallen out of love with Catherine. Anne said basically, "No cha-cha until I have a ring" and Hal, desparate, came up with the "biblical" excuse that any man who weds his brother's wife shall be childless", and tried to divorce Catherine. He was reminded he had a daughter, but being King demands a son, and the Pope said, "No, no divorce". In order to marry Anne, and beget sons, Henry VIII basically fired the Pope, had a holy war against Catholics, confiscated their property for his own use, locked up Catherine, divorced her, married Anne, still didn't get a son (until the next wife - more on that later) and England became primarily Protestant until Mary took the throne and being VERY Catholic tried to turn the tables of religion back. What a tangled web!
Posted by Maura at March 11, 2004 01:12 PM