In search for one, he had myriad affairs with the women of his court until he met and fell in love with Anne Boleyn. Henry attempted to state that his marriage to Catherine was invalid. The king sent Wolsey to Rome in order to argue his case. His attempt failed and he was replaced with Sir Thomas More. More obtained the assistance of scholars throughout the European Continent in order to support Henry's case. The odds were against Henry since Catherine's nephew was the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V. Knowing that the pope wouldn't take sides against the emperor, Henry attempted to find other means to accomplish his task. In 1529, the Parliament started to apply pressure on the pope. They voted to ban payment of bishops to Rome and the end of the independence of the clergy. Henry eventually had the power to appoint his own bishops. At this time, he placed Thomas Cranmer as the archbishop of Canterbury.
When Anne became pregnant, the king could no longer await the papal authority's approval. Thomas Cromwell, one of the king's advisors, with numerous high position politicians finally got Henry VII to consent breaking ties with Rome in 1532. This was all while the Parliament was in progress of shifting religious authority to Henry. The Parliament passed a law abdicating the pope's power in martial affairs. Cranmer in turn annulled the marriage to the king with Catherine and legally married him to Anne Boleyn, making her queen. Later that same year, Anne gave birth to Princess Elizabeth (soon to be Elizabeth I). In immediate reaction to the divorce, the pope excommunicated the king and the entire nation. This had little effect but angered loyal Catholics. Following the break, Henry proceeded with major reconstruction of church and state. He was named the head of the Church of England and all payments once sent to the pope were now sent to the crown.
Though Henry's beliefs remained Catholic, many others adopted the Protestant faith.
