"What Henry wanted was a papal pronouncement that the dispensation of 1509 was in error, that the marriage to Catherine had been invalid from the beginning, and that the king was therefore in an unmarried state, free to take a wife whenever he chose"ii.That's the driven force and the beginning of the English Reformation. ... Charles was Catherine's nephew and, therefore the pope had to please Charles and refused to Henry's petition. ...

• Word Count: 1032
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

At the time, their were three strong claimants: Robert, Earl of Gloucester, Henry's illegitimate son, Stephen, Count of Blois, Henry's nephew, and Henry's only surviving legitimate child, Matilda. ...

• Word Count: 4692
• Approx Pages: 19
• Grade Level: High School