Archbishop Cranmer declares Catherine's marriage to Henry VIII null and void.
On May 23, 1533, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer officially annulled Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. The annulment declared their union null, significantly altering Catherine's status from queen consort to dowager princess. This event was a catalyst for ecclesiastical reformation as it prompted England's formal break from the Papal authority. The annulment proceedings reflected broader shifts in religious and political landscapes, underscoring the personal struggles of Henry and Catherine against a backdrop of accountable religious and national reform.