It is unlikely, in 1509 when Henry VIII came to power, that his intention was to destroy the establishment of the Church in England as it had existed for centuries. His decisions were influenced by his failure to produce a legitimate male heir, the Pope's refusal to grant the King what he wished, and the desire for the wealth that he knew was held by the Church in his kingdom. The Break with Rome during the reign of Henry VIII was not a planned split but more a series of events that gained momentum, culminating in the creation of the Church of England.
Henry had married Catherine of Aragon, his deceased brother's wife, sanctioned by Papal Bull, in 1509. The marriage lasted eighteen years and produced one daughter, Mary, before Henry showed signs of being discontent. Catherine was a devout Catholic, as was Henry's father, and Henry himself was raised in this faith, which was the accepted religion for England and Wales. Henry's father had not had any conflicts with the Pope during his reign and for almost two decades neither did Henry. In fact, Henry had been given the title of 'Defender of the Faith' in 1521 for his attack on the work of Martin Luther.
Henry was told, or he himself had concluded, that Catherine would not be giving birth to any more children and he would not be getting a male heir. Henry had fallen for Anne Boleyn and decided to get an annulment from Catherine so that he could re-marry. This would need the consent of the Pope, which was refused. Cardinal Wolsey tried to negotiate on Henry's behalf, but as divorce was not allowed in the Catholic Church Henry would not be allowed to marry Anne. Also, Catherine fought the annulment, not only because she would no longer be Queen, but also for the sake of their daughter, who would be considered illegitimate if the annulment went through. More negotiations failed as Pope Clement VII would not waver from his original decision and Henry would not back down.
