King Henry VIII is the most controversial monarch Britain has ever had. He is commonly known for his ill-advised decisions, his six wives, and Britain's separation from the Catholic Church to create the Church of England. King Henry VIII of England's determination to ensure his family line remained on the throne caused many problems, such as religious tensions, economic difficulties, and political adversaries, which persisted long after his death. King Henry VIII was born on June 28, 1491 in Greenwich. , England. He was the second son of his father, King Henry VII. Henry was not heir to the throne; instead, his brother Arthur was. However, Arthur died a year after his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, making Prince Henry heir. It was then decided that Catherine would remain in England, with King Henry attempting to conclude a new marriage contract with her for Prince Henry. If Catherine returned to Spain, her dowry would accompany her, as would their alliance with Spain [1]. A few days before Henry turned 18, his father died. He quickly occupied the throne and, a few weeks after Henry became king, he married Catherine, with the special permission of the Pope. As Henry was the sole heir to the throne, one of his first priorities was to produce sons.[1] This influenced many of his later actions, including his separation from the Catholic Church. Henry VIII was not raised to be king; his brother was. When Henry came to the throne, he had an excellent education, but he had no idea what he should accomplish as king and how to do it. Henry was more concerned with his image – he threw lavish parties to show off his luxurious lifestyle, and made few decisions himself regarding government, instead relying on his advisor...... middle of paper ......that was already the case. in a state of economic crisis for a long period. These actions created a divide between his subjects; many remained loyal to the Church and wanted Henry to restore it, while others thought it was corrupt and accepted the new change. The revolution was on hold and threatened the stability Henry had worked to create. He knew the tension would ease if he had a son to carry on the Tudor name. In 1536, Henry began to believe that his wife was unfaithful. She was accused of treason and adultery, and soon beheaded. He then married Jane Seymour. She bore him a male heir, Edward, then died a few days after giving birth [1]. Works Cited “Henry VIII”. World Elizabethan Reference Library. Ed. Sonia G. Benson and Jennifer York Stock. Flight. 2: Biographies. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 119-127. World history in context. Internet. December 7. 2013.