Henry VIII and the King's Great Matter
I can explain why Henry VIII became dissatisfied with the Roman Catholic Church.
Henry VIII and the King's Great Matter
I can explain why Henry VIII became dissatisfied with the Roman Catholic Church.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Henry VIII trying to get a divorce from Catherine of Aragon was known as the 'King's Great Matter'.
- Henry wished to marry Anne Boleyn because he needed a son for an heir.
- The Church did not want to give Henry an annulment.
- The failure of Wolsey to secure an annulment led to his fall from power.
Keywords
Heir - a person who expects to inherit the property or position of another when that person dies
Annulment - to declare something invalid
Common misconception
Kings have the power to do whatever they want in their own countries.
For a great deal of English history, the power of the kings has been restricted by English laws and religious laws issued by the pope in Rome.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
Starter quiz
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