Henry VIII: Conciliarist?

Abstract

Abstract Henry VIII is seldom considered a steerer of religious policy and theories of his political ambition, conservative religiosity and susceptibility to manipulation by his advisors dominate the historiography. Accordingly, the notion that Henry may be characterised as a conciliarist is one that has only ever been rejected outright. However, a preliminary consideration of this heretofore unconsidered matter reveals uncertainty in the verity of our existing historical paradigms. Henryʼs writings (which we maintain are authentic), actions following the Sack of Rome and approach to his annulment proceedings serve as evidence which suggests that Henry was an interested amateur theologian with a sincere appreciation of conciliarism. An understanding of the Kingʼs Great Matter as essentially a dispute over papal power and Henryʼs solution of a royal supremacy are developed as the ecclesiological backdrop against which this appreciation is to be viewed. In the light that other such matters may have been similarly overlooked, indications of the need for further research are outlined throughout.