Charles V had fallen out with Henry and had the Pope as prisoner.
The Pope refused to grant a divorce.
The church was too weak to resist
Anne Boleyn knew exactly how to manipulate henry
Martin Luther had started the Reformation in Germany
Thomas Cromwell provided the method of achieving a break – i.e. through statutes in parliament
Radicals such as Cranmer, Boleyn, Gardiner, Foxe and Anne Boleyn taught henry about the idea of caesaro-papism
The English people were violently anticlerical before 1529 and wanted Henry to Break with Rome
Cromwell was a master of propaganda and used standard letters saying that all JP’s were hand selected for the task
Conservatives such as More, Norfolk and Fisher opposed the break
Catherine was the symbol of a failed Spanish alliance
The printing press was disseminating new ideas far and wide
Foxe and Cranmer produced the collectanea
The concept of universalism was being undermined by new ideas of nationalism, localism and particularism
Books such as Tyndale’s obedience of a christian man and Simon fish’s supplication of the beggars developed the idea of an independent nation state
There was a growth of heresy in England
Parliament was extending its competence and effectiveness in matters of religious and political significance
It was felt to be England’s destiny to break with Rome – e.g. the statute of praeminure.
“ancient histories” had given Henry moral justification – e.g. the statute of praeminure, the council of nicaea, leviticus
