Final answer:
During the time of Henry VIII in England, he sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to understand why marriage required papal dispensation, we need to look at the historical context. During the time of Henry VIII in England, he sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. An annulment declared a marriage null and void, but it required the approval of the Catholic Church. However, when the pope refused to annul their marriage, Henry declared the English church no longer bound by the pope's authority and established the Church of England with himself as the head. The archbishop of Canterbury eventually granted the annulment, but this whole process highlights the need for the papal dispensation since it was the pope's authority that the king was seeking to challenge.