Why did King Henry VIII break from the Catholic Church?

King Henry VIII broke from the Catholic Church primarily due to a combination of personal, political, and financial reasons:

1. Personal Reasons: Henry VIII desired an annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon because she had not produced a male heir. The Pope refused to grant the annulment, leading Henry to seek a solution outside the Catholic Church.

2. Political Reasons: By breaking away from the Catholic Church, Henry could consolidate his power and establish himself as the supreme head of the Church of England. This move reduced the influence of the Pope and the Catholic Church in English affairs.

3. Financial Reasons: The separation allowed Henry to seize the wealth and properties of the monasteries in England, which significantly increased the royal treasury.

These factors collectively led to the English Reformation, where Henry established the Church of England, separate from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.