What really sparked the Tudor Reformation?

The truth, as Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch explains in the first episode of this four-part series on the English Reformation, isn’t quite so straightforward

Composite image featuring a golden crucifix on the left and a large black-and-white portrait of Henry VIII on the right, wearing a decorated cap, jewellery and fur-trimmed Tudor clothing

Published: October 26, 2026 at 1:40 PM

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Why did Henry VIII decide to break with Rome? Was it his desire to marry Anne Boleyn, or the extent of corruption in the Catholic church? The truth, as Sir Diarmaid MacCulloch explains in the first episode of this four-part series on the English Reformation, isn’t quite so straightforward. Speaking to Charlotte Vosper, Diarmaid explains why no one saw the Tudor Reformation coming.

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Authors

Charlotte VosperContent producer

Charlotte Vosper is a content producer at HistoryExtra

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