First Henry VIII moved to break away from the Catholic Church because the Pope would not grant him a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. He claimed it was because she had not produced him a son. They did have a daughter, Mary, together. Everyone knew the only reason he wanted it was because he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. He broke away and started the Church of England. The King was the Head of the Church of England, so he could grant himself a divorce. This act resulted in him being excommunicated (kicked out and not allowed to practice in the Catholic Church). It also would set off a crusade by Spain and France to overthrow him and his Protestant descendants. They felt it was their Holy Duty to return England to the "true" faith of Catholicism.