Reformation during the Reign of Henry VIII

Besides his six marriages, Henry VIII is known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

Henry VIII was impelled to quarrel with the Papacy owing to the desire to dissolve his marriage with Catherine of Aragon. The divorce issue exemplified the problem but was not itself the cause of the problem.

Henry VIII wanted to prevent the interference of foreign powers in the national and international affairs of the country. By initiating the Reformation, Henry intended to change the organization of the Church, its doctrines and methods regarding worship. Historically Henry VIII was the first to resist the Catholic Church.

The reformation in England was the religious revolution that had lasting effects on the life of the people. The condition of the Church had deteriorated and its representatives had become worldly, corrupt and immoral. The power of the Papacy was used for personal advantage and benefit. Besides, the higher clergy had a wealthy and pleasurable life whereas the lower clergy led a life of misery and poverty. This amounted to a feeling of resentment against the church.

Henry VIII took bold and major steps during his reign to put an end to growing power of the church. He took measures to curtail the power of the clergy in the English church by destroying monasteries and passing laws that were to be followed by the church authorities. Henry never formally repudiated the doctrines of the Catholic Church, but he declared himself Supreme Head of the church in England in 1534. This, combined with subsequent actions, eventually resulted in a separated church, the Church of England.

Elizabeth I (1558-1603)

Elizabeth became queen at the age of 25. Her 44 years on the throne provided welcome stability for the kingdom and helped forge a sense of national identity.

Elizabeth’s reign is considered the Golden Age in the History of England. For she ushered in political stability and with it trade, commerce and fine arts flourished. The English language was also polished and tempered at this time.

Elizabeth was not in a hurry to solve the question of religion. She wanted to solve this very delicate problem with the help of the Parliament who represented the people. She took the advantage of the popular public feeling and acted accordingly. With suave diplomacy, she adopted the policy of ecclesiastical compromise. She founded a National Church i.e. the "Anglican Church," which borrowed principles from both the Roman Catholic and the Protestant faiths. Thus, she won the hearts of the followers of both faiths.

The English Parliament acquired a special place during the reign of Elizabeth. The Parliament acquired the right to vote and the right against unwarranted arrest of its members. It also acquired the power to punish those who gave bribes during elections.

Elizabeth was a true politician. She framed her foreign policy with the intense ambition that England emerge as an important nation, socially, politically, religiously and even economically. Elizabeth's foreign policy was largely defensive. Only through the activities of her fleets did Elizabeth pursue an aggressive policy. This paid off in the war against Spain, An element of piracy and self-enrichment drove Elizabethan seafarers, over which the queen had little control.

To maintain the illusion of peace and prosperity, she increasingly relied on internal spies and propaganda. In her last years, mounting criticism reflected a decline in the public's affection for her.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29