Why did Henry VIII break from the Roman church

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Why did Henry the VIII break from Rome?

 

 Henry the VIII broke from Rome because of four main reasons: money, control and power, religion and succession. Some of the four main reasons are linked together as one is important for the other; 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.

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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 ...

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