Question

This English monarch ruled from 1509 to 1547 and is best remembered for breaking with the Catholic Church and establishing a Church of England under his direct control in order to secure the annulment of his first marriage so that he might produce a legitimate son.

a) Henry VII
b) Henry VI
c) Henry VIII
d) Edward VI

Answer 1

Henry VIII, who ruled from 1509 to 1547, broke with the Catholic Church to create the Church of England, primarily to secure an annulment of his first marriage and seek a male heir.

Step-by-step explanation:

The English monarch who ruled from 1509 to 1547 and is known for establishing the Church of England under his control is Henry VIII (Option c). Henry VIII's desire for a male heir and the refusal of Pope Clement VII to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon led to a significant religious and political shift in England. After the annulment was denied, Henry, with the support of figures like Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell, broke away from the Catholic Church.

Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy in 1534, which declared Henry the Supreme Head of the Church of England. This shift had dramatic effects on religious practice in England and laid the foundations for religious conflict and reform in subsequent reigns.