Why Henry VIII Dissolved The Monasteries

Why Henry VIII Dissolved The Monasteries

There were a number of reasons for closing the monasteries including

political, economic, social and religious but what links them all was

Henry VIII character. He was always a feared and admired ruler who

liked being in charge, and allowed nothing to stand in his way. If

getting his way meant lying or misleading people he would do it.

The political reason was Henry's immediate problem of needing a male

heir and in order to get one he needed to divorce and remarry. The

Pope refused to give permission and this led to Henry splitting with

the Catholic Church. As the monasteries were Catholic and controlled

from Rome, Henry had to get rid of them to show that he was now in

control and not the Pope. They were a sign that the Pope still had

power in England and by closing them Henry showed he was in charge and

a strong monarch.

The economic reason was bankruptcy due to Henry's expensive wars with

France and his expensive lifestyle. Raising taxes would be unpopular

but the monasteries were wealthy. They took up large amounts of land

and were filled with valuables. By closing them down, their land and

contents could be sold. They also had large amounts of money which

they got by charging rent on land they owned:

"Rents of assize with the rents and farms of tenants in divers,

lordships, vitas, hamlets and parishes."

Both the religious and social reasons for closing monasteries down are

closely linked. The Catholic Church and its monasteries were very

powerful in England and affected peoples lives greatly. Henry hated

the idea that they were loyal to Rome and not to him. To show the

Church Of England was now the official church he shut the monasteries

down and so removed symbols of the Catholic church.

The source pictures of the monastery's ruins and the artists

impression of their insides show that they were magnificent buildings

and the monks did have comfortable lives. At the time some people were