In order to marry Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII had to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. However, the Catholic Church bans divorce which presented a problem for Henry as he could not legally get rid of Catherine. Therefore, Henry created the Church of England, a protestant church, which allowed for divorce. In the eyes of the Church of England, Henry and Catherine were divorced and then Henry could marry Anne- meaning in the eyes of the church Elizabeth was born out of wedlock and therefore had no right to the thrown