Pope Threatens Henry VIII with Excommunication

On this day Pope Clement VII sent a letter to King Henry VIII of England forbidding him to remarry under penalty of excommunication. Henry wanted his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled, partly because she seemed incapable of producing an heir to the throne and partly because he had already become infatuated with Anne Boleyn. Although originally a staunch Catholic, Henry decided that excommunication was the lesser of two evils and issued a series of decrees ending the supremacy of the Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England. It was a move that would bring about centuries of political, religious and military conflict in England and Europe.

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987. View all posts by Tony