Act of Supremacy 1536

Henry VIII and the Act of Supremacy 1534

Henry wished to divorce Katherine of Aragon as he was conscious that the Old Testament forbade a man from lying with his brother's wife. Henry saw his lack of male heir by Katherine as a judgement from God as to his sinfulness.

The first discussions concerning the subject had taken place in secret in May 1527 but, by July 1529, the Pope had declared that the matter could only be settled in Rome. After further inquiries, Clement VII refused to grant permission for divorce, so Henry began the process of a split with the Catholic Church.

In May 1533, his marriage to Katherine was annulled - although, the previous January, he had bigamously (and secretly) married Anne Boleyn. Aided by his new chief administrator, Thomas Cromwell, Henry was confirmed as 'Supreme Head of the Church of England'following a parliamentary Act of Supremacy in November 1534.