Why Did Henry Break with Rome?
Why Did Henry Break With Rome? Henry the VIII broke from Rome because of four main reasons: money, power, religion and succession. Some of the main reasons are linked together, one example is succession which is linked to power. By having a son he thought it would maintain his power at the throne when he was no longer ruler. I think that power was the most important reason. I think this because if he broke away from the Church of Rome, he could take control of the church.
This meant that he could unlock the riches that the church held. By doing this he could pay for the wars he fought and the power he had over his people. He also would have more money to leave in the treasury, not only for himself but future generations. The money would lead to power; his greatest desire. To carry this power on he wanted it to be entrusted in a son. All the reasons link together to show his need for power as king. One of the reasons why Henry broke from the Roman Church was because he needed money.
When Henry was made king he was short of money because he had fought lots of expensive wars. Henry then noticed that the church had a lot of money. If he took over the church all of its treasury would be his. Source 1 states that “monasteries were very rich and owned about a quarter of the land in the country”, so he could then close down the monasteries, take their money and sell of the land. Henry needed the money for power so that he could then build a stronger army and fight more wars.
This would then show that he was a powerful king. Money is not the most important reason but it is an important reason. Another reason he broke from the Roman Church is because he wanted power and control over his people. Henry wanted to make sure that he was in total control of England so he needed to get rid of anyone that might threaten his position including the pope. In 1534 the pope announced that Henrys marriage to Anne Boleyn was invalid. So Henry reacted by saying that the pope no longer had authority in England.
