Whatever did happen to catholic England? This is the question Simon Schama tries to answer in this 6th episode of the series A history of Britain. The story starts at the beginning of the 16th century, in an age when the catholic church reigned supreme in spiritual England. But the pope’s power didn’t stop there. He had also major influence in the politics and society of England and exactly that’s what conflicted with the spheres of influence of the King.
A pivotal period in the English history, where the world of catholic England disappeared in just one generation. The king, Henry VIII, or better, his love-life, played an important role in this transformation. The macabre love life of this playboy-King marked the beginning of the decline of Catholicism. But the Reformation was truly completed by his heirs.