By Michael Gryboski, Editor Friday, October 31, 2025
4. King Henry VIII
King Henry VIII of England. | Public Domain
While King Henry VIII of England is remembered for breaking away from the Catholic Church so that he could divorce his wife and marry another, there was a time when he was opposed to Protestantism.
Shortly after the publication of the 95 Theses, Henry wrote an extensive theological work against Luther’s ideas, titled “Assertio Septem Sacramentorum,” or “Defense of the Seven Sacraments.”
Luther wrote a rebuttal to the document, titled “Contra Henricum Regem Anglie,” or “Against Henry, King of the English.” Henry commissioned Sir Thomas More to write a response to that work, titled “Responsio ad Lutherum.”
For his efforts to combat the Reformation, Henry was bestowed by Pope Leo X with the official label of Defender of the Faith, an honorary title still held by English monarchs to the present day.
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