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King Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church of England

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547.

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. After the pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry passed legislation that severed England and Ireland from the Roman Catholic Church and established the monarch as Supreme Head of the Church of England, initiating the English Reformation. He subsequently married five more times; two marriages were annulled and two wives were executed.

Henry was born in Greenwich as the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. His elder brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales, was heir apparent until his death in 1502, after which Henry succeeded him. Originally intended for an ecclesiastical career, he instead received an education suited to kingship.

Historical Significance

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547.

Key People

Henry VIII

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Events Before

  1. French explorer Jacques Cartier claims for France the lands around Gaspé by erecting a 30-foot cross at Pointe-Penouille

    French explorer Jacques Cartier claims for France the lands around Gaspé by erecting a 30-foot cross at Pointe-Penouille [1]

  2. English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, making Henry VIII and all subsequent monarchs the Head of the Church of

    English Parliament passes the Act of Supremacy, making Henry VIII and all subsequent monarchs the Head of the Church of England

  3. Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent occupies Baghdad

    Suleiman I (6 November 1494 – 6 September 1566), commonly known as Suleiman the Magnificent, was the Ottoman sultan from 1520 to 1566.

  4. French King Francis I signs classified treaty with Landgrave of Hesse

    French King Francis I signs classified treaty with Landgrave of Hesse

  5. Pope Paul II affirms George van Egmond as Bishop of Utrecht

    Pope Paul II affirms George van Egmond as Bishop of Utrecht

Events After

  1. Anne Boleyn, second wife of English King Henry VIII, is beheaded at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest a

    Anne Boleyn, second wife of English King Henry VIII, is beheaded at the Tower of London on charges of adultery, incest and treason

  2. England's King Henry VIII marries Jane Seymour, his 3rd wife

    Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547.

  3. Buddhist monks from Kyoto's Enryaku-ji Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokke Distu

    Buddhist monks from Kyoto's Enryaku-ji Temple set fire to 21 Nichiren temples throughout Kyoto in the Tenbun Hokke Disturbance (Traditional Japanese date: July 27, 1536)

  4. Swedish king Gustav I (40) marries his second wife Margaret Leijonhufvud (20) at Uppsala Cathedral

    Swedish king Gustav I (40) marries his second wife Margaret Leijonhufvud (20) at Uppsala Cathedral

  5. François Rabelais is absolved of charges of apostasy by Pope Paul III

    François Rabelais is absolved of charges of apostasy by Pope Paul III

More from the 1530s

England's King Henry VIII marries Anne Boleyn, his 2nd wife

Anne Boleyn (1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII.

Lisbon hit by Earthquake; about 30,000 die

The 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon earthquake, hit the Iberian Peninsula and Northwest Africa on the morning of Saturday, 1 November, Feast of All Saints, at around 09:40…

English King Henry VIII's divorce request is denied by Pope Clement VII

English King Henry VIII's divorce request is denied by Pope Clement VII

King Henry VIII is recognized as the supreme head of the Church in England by the Convocation of Canterbury

King Henry VIII is recognized as the supreme head of the Church in England by the Convocation of Canterbury

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on January 15, 1535?
Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. After the pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry passed legislation that severed England and Ireland from the Roman Catholic Church and established the monarch as Supreme Head of the Church of England, initiating the English Reformation. He subsequently married five more times; two marriages were annulled and two wives were executed.
Why is King Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church of England significant?
Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547.
Who was involved in King Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church of England?
Key figures include Henry VIII.

Explore More

January 15 in HistoryYear 1535