Henry VIII (28 June 1491 28 January 1547) was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his

s death. He was
the first English King of Ireland, and continued the nominal claim by English monarchs to the Kingdom of
France. Henry was the second Tudor monarch, succeeding his father, Henry VII.
Henry is known for his consequential role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic
Church, besides his six marriages and many extramarital affairs, as well as his effort to obtain an annulment of
his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which led to conflict with the Pope. His disagreements with the Pope led
Henry to separate the Church of England from papal authority, with himself as king and as the Supreme Head
of the Church of England; the disputes also led to the Dissolution of the Monasteries. His principal dispute was
with papal authority rather than with doctrinal matters, and he remained a believer in core Catholic theological
teachings despite his excommunication from the Roman Catholic Church. [1] Henry oversaw the legal union
of England and Wales with the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. He is also well known for a long personal
rivalry with both Francis I of France and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, with whom he frequently warred.