Henry Tudor, King Henry VIII (1491 – 1547) was King of England from 1509 until his death.Henry is known for his six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled.His disagreement with Pope Clement VII about such an annulment led Henry to initiate the English Reformation, separating the Church of England from papal authority.Henry VIII appointed himself Supreme Head of the Church of England and dissolved convents and monasteries, for which he was excommunicated by the pope.The King’s break with the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England marked the beginning of the English Reformation, a pivotal event in British religious history.

The monarch brought radical changes to the Constitution of England, expanding royal power and ushering in the theory of the divine right of kings in opposition to papal supremacy.Henry also is credited with modernizing the English navy, expanding the fleet and investing in warships, which laid the groundwork for England’s naval supremacy.

More about King Henry VIII can be found at https://www.royal.uk/henry-viii and  https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/henry-viii.