June 28, 1491 - Henry VIII
Henry VIII reshaped English religious and political life through a combination of personal will and institutional force, breaking from Rome not on doctrinal grounds but to secure a marriage annulment — then building an entire church structure around the crown's supremacy. The dissolution of the monasteries, the execution of ministers and nobles who fell from favor, and the fates of two of his six wives reflect how thoroughly he wielded the new powers he had consolidated. His reign is a study in how personal authority, when structurally unchecked, can redirect the course of a nation.
From Wikipedia
Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was the monarch of England and Ireland from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. He is known for his six marriages, his break with the Roman Catholic Church, and his establishment of the Church of England.
Born in Greenwich, Henry was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. This placed him second in the line of succession to the throne, behind his elder brother Arthur, Prince of Wales. Arthur's sudden death in 1502 made Henry the heir apparent, and he was created Prince of Wales in 1504. He was trained in languages, history, religion, hunting, and music. Henry inherited the throne at 17 years old, after the death of his father. He was granted a papal dispensation that allowed him to marry his brother's widow, Catherine of Aragon.
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