The Tudors recap: Season 2, episode 3

As he continues to strive for power over church and state, Henry breaks with tradition and destroys all ties with Rome.

Since the Catholic Church gives him no satisfaction in his “great matter,” he appoints young Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop of Canterbury and Cranmer does his bidding, declaring the king’s marriage to Katherine void and stripping her of her title.

Henry secretly marries Anne, enraging the Pope:

The threat of excommunication was no joke.

If Pope Paul were to excommunicate Henry, Catholics believed he’d lose his chance to get into heaven. In the earthly realm, excommunication would invalidate his reign as king and leave him open to attack from other Christian kings, who would see it as an open call to remove him from power.