Pope Clement VII

The Reformation was sweeping Europe, but England had remained staunchly Catholic. In fact, Henry VIII had written a book in response to Martin Luther's work, and been granted the title "Defender of the Faith" by Pope Leo X for his efforts.

Now Henry wanted an annulment from his wife. In the preceding centuries, popes had granted annulments to kings on the flimsiest of excuses, and Henry -- not to mention several theological scholars -- felt he had good cause. If Pope Clement VII granted Henry his wish, then England would continue as a valued ally of the papacy.

Why, then, did Pope Clement VII not grant Henry a divorce?

• Start at the beginning of The Tudor Dynasty: A History in Portraits
• Go directly to Pope Clement VII

The image is from a portrait of Clement by Sebastiano del Piombo, c. 1531, and is in the public domain.

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