Historical Significance of Henry VIII
Henry VIII is often remembered just for his tendency to trade in wives. Six wives are absolutely a lot for any ruler to go through. However, Henry VIII is much more than his romantic blunders. Unfortunately for England, Henry VIII left the country in shambles. He left behind a minor as king, a divided country, and a massive royal debt. All the money that his father, King Henry VII, had spent years building up and saving was spent on wars of little significance to gain honor for England. His search for glory from war just left the nation in immense debt. He also had a bad tendency of promising pardon or clemency to rebels and uprisings, then would go back on his word and execute them. Out of all the Tudor line, Henry VIII was the one who would kill the opposition or threats to his throne more often. While other Tudor rulers would imprison the troublemakers, Henry VIII often went for executions, many without trial.
But while there are a lot of negatives to focus on, especially later in his reign, Henry VIII did many good things for his country, or at least actions that affected the entire course of his nation. First, Henry VIII made peace with many countries. While he certainly picked more fights than necessary, he also made many treaties and gained political allies through marriages or peace agreements and negotiations.
Henry also set the stage for the English Reformation, which not only changed religion completely in England, but domino effect went in place throughout Europe and into the United States of America. Even though Henry VIII only split from the papacy of Rome and the Catholic Church to get the divorce he wanted, the point is that he did separate from them. This was a gateway for Reformers and Protestants to be able to get a chance at the national religion. It also led the way for many theologians to help commoners and the working class feel like they had a place in faith as well. The separation from Rome led way to the Anglican Church. While Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth, was the one that nurtured and spread this Church, Henry’s actions created it and the opportunity for it to spread. He definitely did not know what the ramifications of his actions would be and the permanency of the Church is definitely credited to Elizabeth, but breaking away from Rome was the first big step.
Henry’s reign was turbulent, but effective. He managed to take a tiny country and begin to shape it into a major world power. He also brought Wales into the kingdom of England, which gave the country a huge chunk of valuable land. And while Henry was often engaged in wars elsewhere, due to a foreign policy he had, England remained untouched and stable, as well as prosperous. He managed to hold off huge wars with France and Spain by making alliances with them or someone that could affect them. He kept England safe and at peace on home soil. Henry is also known for the commissioning or improvement and fixing of several palaces and cathedrals. Henry VIII, like his second daughter, was invested in the arts. He could play several instruments and supported the arts as well. He also redistributed land to his nobles that used to belong to the Catholic Church, so more major properties were available. Overall, while Henry VIII had many faults as well as fickle loyalty to his wives, he was a great king and succeeded in many treaties foreign and domestic, as well as many acts of Parliament that began to make England a world power, as well as changing the entire Catholic Church and people’s view of its supremacy.
Weir, Alison. Henry VIII: The King and His Court. New York: Ballantine Books, 2001.
Ackroyd, Peter. Foundation: The History of England from Its Earliest Beginnings to the Tudors. 2nd ed. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2013.
Weir, Alison. The Six Wives of Henry VIII. New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1991.
Moorhouse, Geoffrey. The Pilgrimage of Grace: The Rebellion That Shook Henry VIII’s Throne. London: Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2002.
