Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s marriage is annulled.

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn’s marriage was one of the most controversial and pivotal unions in English history. Their relationship began while Henry was still married to Catherine of Aragon, but Anne, unlike the king’s previous mistresses, refused to be merely a consort—she aimed for the crown. Their courtship triggered a political and religious crisis, as Henry sought to annul his marriage to Catherine, a process the Pope refused to approve. This impasse led to England’s break from the Roman Catholic Church and the formation of the Church of England, with the king as its supreme head. Henry and Anne married in secret in 1533, and shortly after, Anne was crowned queen. However, their marriage quickly soured under the pressure of Anne’s failure to produce a male heir—though she gave birth to Elizabeth, the future queen. The union ended tragically in 1536 when Anne was executed on charges of adultery, incest, and treason—charges widely believed to be politically motivated. Their marriage not only redefined England’s religious landscape but also set a precedent for royal authority over the church.