Henrician Reformation

To What Extent Was The Henrician Reformation Inspired By The Political And Dynastic Consideration Rather Than Religious Ideology? The Henrician Reformation posed many religiously inspired ideology as well as both political and dynastic considerations. Evidence shows all three played their particular part in successfully inspiring the Henrician Reformation. From various acts being passed in 1533 and 1534, with one of them being The Act of Supremacy, in which Henry’s dynasty becomes more powerful than it was before.

However, religiously the reformation was inspired by such things as, the break from Rome and the Pope due to Henry’s need for a divorce form Catherine of Aragon. Also the denominational faith of England being changed to the new ‘Church of England’ faith. Henry’s dynasty was in tact right up to the point in which he died. This was due to, The Supremacy Act. He got what he wanted in terms of wealth, divorce, etc. and the people were fine with his power as it didn’t per say affect until he began closing the monasteries. Henry used parliament and politics to make known his growing supremacy over the Church of England faith.

He did initially do this to allow the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In the 1540s, as Henry’s health go down hill and was not very substantial, William Paget and Co. rallied a successful overthrow against the conservatives. This in turn allowed them to not only control the king’s will but also seize power in the next reign. The Henrician Reformation did however become inspired by religious ideology. The pregnancy of Anne Boleyn ignited Henry’s already urgent plea to be granted a divorce from his current wife, Catherine of Aragon.

The pregnancy itself was a social faux par and id not please the Pope and the divorce proceedings would only make the issue worse. This was the first religious inspiration, which could be said to have inspired the Henrician Reformation, which eventually resulted in the break from Rome and the Pope, giving England its new Protestant faith, The Church of England. Once Henry had succumbed to the inevitable loss of his money he and Thomas Cromwell devised a plan to close the monasteries. This would allow Henry to gain money form the tithes and annates.

In 1536 the Ten Articles were published. The Ten Articles declared that ‘Christ’s body and blood were actually present ‘substantially’. This statement meant that it could be used by Catholics or Lutherans as well. It was done in the thinking that it would justify the articles which proclaimed that ‘sinners attain the justification by contrition and faith joined with chanty’. This was a Catholic fixation. 3 years later, in 1539, The Act of Six Articles was published. It was published as it came to light that England was not as protestant as hoped and still remained substantially Catholic.

Denial of transubstantiation was made punishable by burning. Politically and dynastically the reformation was inspired but evidence shows that without the religious ideology, it wouldn’t have become such a famous reform. Religious ideology initially started off the reformation, with Henry wanting a male heir to the throne of England. Dynastic and political considerations only back-up the initial fact. The Henrician Reformation began with religion and although it was inspired by politics and dynasty, this can’t take away from the fact that religion had a profound effect on the Henrician Reformation.