The Henrician Reformation

The Henrician Reformation The Henrician Reformation had much more political purpose than

religious principles and to understand this much of the motives and

changes of the reformation need to be considered. Reformation itself

suggests that the events were all clearly linked together as a part of

religious reform however, according to C. Davies "most of those

involved in bringing about the reformation, included the King himself,

had little understanding of the implications of what they were doing."

Both Cromwell and Cramner also had a great influence on the changes

within Englandbetween 1534 and 1546 and they themselves inclined the

religious decisions which revolved around the Kings principles. Those

principles were mostly political with power, money and an heir being

best at the heart of Henry.

One must remember the beginning of the reformation in England was King

Henry VIII's desire to have a male heir. When it became apparent that

Catherine could not produce another child Henry demanded a divorce and

this was rejected by the Pope because of Catherine's relation to

Charles V whom at that time was in control of Rome. From Henry's

desperate appeal for a divorce we can see that straight away Henry's

intensions are not religious but political. Due to Henry's priority to

produce a male thrown he conferred with Thomas Cramner, an academic

who told Henry that he should be allowed to divorce and that Henry

should also consult the English universities. It was then in order to

solidify his hold on power, Henry had Cramner named archbishop of

Canterbury and for...

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...d to have achieved much

religious change by 1546 and they accomplished this by giving Henry

the power he desired.

From the study of the motives behind the English Reformation I believe

that the Henrician Reformation was much more political than it was

religiously. Henry achieved much authority and financial gain through

the reformation and also attained a divorce. The key reason for

breaking with Rome was Henry himself and his greed and selfishness.

However, the reformation did see some religious change from the

Protestant influence from both Cromwell and Cranmer. It is clear that

whilst flattering Henry with political and financial benefit they

managed to force religious change into the reformation. In conclusion

Henry used religion as an outward motive but inside the King wanted

what was beneficial for himself.