Key moments in Henry's reign
Here you get to learn and explore the key moments during Henry VIII's reign as King of England.
The Reformation
The English Reformation was the process of converting England into a Protestant country from a Catholic one.
He made hiself the head of the Church of England after his divorce with Catherine of Aragon. This meant that the English Church would not be controlled by the pope. Subsequently, the religion in England changed, and Henry gained more power than ever over both the church and the government.
Act of Supremacy
Henry the VIII is very well known for the first Act of Supremacy in 1534. It was a major moment in the English Reformation and was the process of converting England into a Protestant country. The Act stated that Henry the VIII was the supreme head of the Church of England. That gave Henry the upper hand of the church's authority, wealth and power.
Following the Supremacy Act was the Treason Act of 1534. People who denied the king as the head of the English Church were punished severely, and even beheaded.
Dissolution of the Monasteries
Henry the VIII is known for is the dissolution of the monasteries. He wanted to diminish the Popes power and enlarge Protestantism. He began shutting down the smaller monasteries but in 1540 around 50 monasteries were shutting down a month.
Lots of people lost their homes and jobs, which is the main uprising for the Pilgrimage of Grace protest. From selling the land the monasteries were on Henry managed to gain around £1.5 million. The dissolution ruined a lot of beautiful architecture and many valuable manuscripts.
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