Henry VIII was an accomplished person. He was highly educated and an intellectually impressive man. He wrote some elegant poetry (I've read it) and composed some wonderful music (I've played it!) He was a dedicated and lifelong supporter and patron of the Arts. He was also politically adroit, and although forced to marry his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, he almost succeeded in his divorce sham.
History shows us that the Pope was about to grant Henry his divorce from Catherine but that a war in Europe, between the authority of the Pope and that of the Holy Emperor was paramount. The Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine uncle, had surrounded the Vatican, and his price for withdrawing was that the Pope refuse Henry's request for divorce.
This was reluctantly agreed. We recall, also, that this Pope had honoured Henry VIII, earlier, with the illustrious title, 'Defender of the Faith', which every British monarch flourishes, to this day. This actually meant the defender of the Catholic Faith, make no mistake, as a reward for Henry's issuing an intellectually elegant rebuttal to Martin Luther, which the Pope rewarded with this splendid title.
Whereas I'm not completely secure in defending Henry as an honourable man, I am very conscious that at his time, The Monarch was generally believed to have been personally anointed by God, and everything follows from that one, singular premise. It's difficult for us in these days of universal suffrage and voting to understand the prevailing social imperatives of 500 years ago.
Still, the greatest gift which the very clever Henry VIII gave to the world was his daughter, the incomparable and very brilliant, Elizabeth.
Even her enemies envied her intellect and political success.
