In the 16th century, England broke away from the Roman Catholic Church and established the Church of England. This event, known as the English Reformation, was triggered by Henry VIII's desire to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. When the Pope refused to grant the annulment, Henry VIII took matters into his own hands and, with the support of his Parliament, declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church of England in 1534. This breakaway from Rome led to significant religious and political changes in England and had a lasting impact on the religious landscape of the country.