He insisted that the papacy should have never given him dispensation to marry Catherine. Henry turned to Wolsey for assistance in securing a divorce.8 Three years of negotiations and a papal tribunal ensued, but the English court set up to hear the case could not come to a decision. The case was moved to Rome, against Henry's wishes. The negotiations and case continued until 1533, with Henry turning his personal battle into a full-scale public war, making the issue about the sovereignty of a secular state vs. The authority of the church.9 Despite the national issue, Henry had to move cautiously for his reform of the Church of England. Several factors forced King Henry VIII to move carefully forward in his split from the Catholic Church. First, there was still loyalty to Rome within the English church. Rebellion was also a common threat, in general, for Tudor England, and Henry did not wish to give any rebels lurk in the wings ammunition such as a rebellion in the name of the holy church. Lastly, there was a threat that Scotland, the king of France, the Catholic emperor, and other Tudor opponents could band together, to overthrow Henry.10 However, Henry could not wait on the church forever.

In defiance of the Roman Church, King Henry VIII married Anne Bolelyn in 1533. That year, she gave birth to a daughter, Elizabeth, who was declared to be heir to the throne, with Catherine's daughter, Mary, now being considered illegitimate.11 Parliament had already begun to chip away at the papal power structure in England, and passed the Act of Appeals, formerly severing the legal ties between the Catholic Church and English church. Henry was declared supreme head of the Church of England in 1534 "and require all Englishman of consequence to take an oath disowning Rome." 12 This would allow Henry to marry his other wives, including: Jane Seymour -- who would give birth to Edward VI, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr.13

As Henry dismantled the monasteries in his country...

In addition, the wealth he seized in the process wasn't used for education or the betterment of his people, but instead to fund further war.14 There were other accomplishments, however, that Henry achieved during his reign.
Other Achievements:

King Henry VIII, although infamous for his marital escapades and bloodthirsty nature, brought to England an 'imperial' monarchy. He commissioned grand building projects, including the palaces of Whitehall and Nonsuch in Surrey. He brought political unity to the country, with Wales finally incorporated into the political life of England and a renovated rule of Italy. Henry was also the 'father of the English Navy'.15

Conclusion:

With the death of King Henry VIII in 154716, England saw the death of a great and sometimes frightening ruler. His warring nature was slightly curtailed by Thomas Wolsey, but even Wolsey could not stop the private battle regarding Henry's desire to divorce and the papacy's refusal to allow it, which would eventually lead to the severance of ties with the Catholic Church and the formation of the national Church of England. Henry brought more to England than simply an ecumenical revolution, he also built on a grand scale and brought unity to a previously fractious society. Although not as sensational, these achievements were also significant to the history of England.

Endnotes

1 Lemberg, S. "Henry VIII, King of England," Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, (2009) (database online); available from Grolier Online.

2"Henry VIII (England)," Encyclopedia Americana, (2009) (database online); available from Grolier Online.

3 Lemberg.

4 "Henry VIII (England)."

5 Lemberg.

6 "Henry VIII (England)."

7 Ibid.

8 Lemberg.

9 "Henry VIII (England)."

10 Ibid.

11 Lemberg.

12 "Henry VIII (England)."

13 "Henry VIII," Encyclopedia Britannica, (2009) (database online); Encyclopedia Britannica.

14 "Henry VIII…