by Jaye Green

Created on: May 11, 2009   Last Updated: May 16, 2009

Often an action, preformed for a less than laudable reason, takes on curious proportions. So it is with Anne Boleyn. The desire of Henry VIII was to divorce his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry Anne Boleyn Had the Pope conceded, it is unlikely that the Anglican Church would exist.

The Pope, having permitted Henry to marry Catherine, (who had been betrothed to his brother) was now asked to reverse himself. This was not very likely.

As many of Henry's advisers had long desired to break from the Catholic Church, this conundrum was seized as a useful vehicle.

Henry was a man often ruled by his gonads and hence, he was not considering the full ramifications of his actions. He had been a devout Catholic. His only 'problem' with Catholicism is that it prevented him from marrying Anne Boleyn.

Thomas Wolsey, who had been the highest ranking cleric was dismissed from office, allegedly at Anne's request and replaced by the Boleyn family chaplain, Thomas Cranmer. He was appointed the Archbishop of Canterbury who subsequently proclaimed that the marriage of Henry and Catherine was null, the marriage of Henry and Anne, valid.

The Pope passed sentences of ex-communication against Henry and Cranmer. As a result, the Church of England broke with Rome and came under the King's control.

By splitting from the Catholic Church Henry gained his desire to marry Anne, and his advisers, the chance to create a church of their own. To create their own liturgy, their own Bible, and gain high place in the structure of their invention.

Anne became pregnant soon after the marriage, and at first Henry was pleased with the birth of Elizabeth. However, he wanted a male heir. When Anne miscarried a male child in 1536 the marriage was virtually over, Henry claiming that Anne had bewitched him and caused him to leave his wife, Catherine, who was now safely dead.

To avoid religious questions and permissions, Henry had Anne tried and found guilty of treason and beheaded.

Anne became a martyr to the English Reformation, and many legends developed about her. Her daughter, Elizabeth, became Queen and ruled alone, many believing that the murder of her mother and the subsequent of Catherine Howard made her quite reluctant to put herself in any but a superior position to a man.

Anne Boleyn is the catalyst which caused the creation of the Anglican Church. Hence, for that her 'influence' has lasted to this day.

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