On June 11, 1509, Henry VIII, the dynamic and controversial king of England, married Catherine of Aragon, his first wife. This union, which initially united the kingdoms of England and Spain, later led to significant religious and political upheaval when Henry sought to annul the marriage to marry Anne Boleyn. The resulting split from the Roman Catholic Church marked the beginning of the English Reformation, which would have profound effects on English religion, society, and monarchy for centuries to come.
