Why did Henry VIII close down so many monastaries?

Question: Why did Henry VIII close down so many monastaries!?
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OK, this is a long story you know but i'll try my best to keep it succinct!.

Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon who had once been married to his brother Arthur who had died!.

Catherine was used by Henry VII and Ferdinand of Spain as a diplomatic pawn and eventually married Henry VIII!. Ferdinand though had to get a special dispensation from Rome to say that Arthur's and Catherine's marriage had never been consumated!.

Subsequently Catherine proved unable to provide a male heir for Henry!. Only a daughter, Mary lived to adulthood!. Henry had a son by his mistress Bessie Blount so his fertility was assured!. He met Ann Boleyn at court and encouraged by her family began a relationship with her!. Henry wanted to marry Ann so he had to think of a reason to get rid of Catherine!. He claimed that their marriage went against God and the Church!. He petitioned Rome to get an annullment and failed!.

Henry eventually broke from the church of Rome and established himself as the head of the Church of England!. In doing this he not only was able to marry Ann in the hope that he would produce and heir but also as a by product GAINED CONTROL OF THE MONASTARIES and their great wealth!. He gave some of their lands away and some families subsequently converted the monastaties into great houses!. Others he let go to rack and ruin although he retained their land and wealth!. Perhaps important also is that many of the monks and clergy remained faithful to the pope so that would of been a great point of contention also!.

This is very simplified version but I hope it helpsWww@QuestionHome@Com

Since the Catholic Church wouldn't grant him an anullment, Henry broke with it!. His new "Church of England" was almost identical to the Catholic Church!. He closed monastaries because :
a) he wanted to absorb their wealth
b) they wouldn't take the oath of Supremacy that he required- by law- of his subjects, acknowledging him as the Head of the Church!. Thus, he declared them treasonus and shut them down!.
c) he was trying to assert his authority over the Church, eradicating the Catholic Church from England however possible!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Well, one reason was that he broke away from the Pope and became head of the Church of England!. But, considering that the Church of England was like the Catholic Church in every other way, that shouldn't necessarily mean the end of the monasteries!. It probably played a part in it, but it wasn't the main reason!.

When Henry VIII closed down all of the monasteries, he (and the crown) absorbed all of the wealth previously held by the monasteries!. And that was a lot of money!. Considering that Henry was slowly bankrupting the crown and using up all of the money his father left him with his lavish life style and his fights with the French, he needed money - bad!. By closing down the monasteries and absorbing their wealth he solved a lot of financial problems for himself - but also managed to make much of the country angry with this move!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

He changed the religion of the whole country from catholicism to Church of England and therefore the houses and practices' of these religions were closed down!. Monasteries being some of those!. He needed to keep changing the religion because he wanted divorces and certain religions wont allow that, so to get his divorces he changed the religion so it would allow him!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

well there were many reasons, but basically england was at a point where it was moving towards protestant reforms!. protestants wanted to see the closing of monesteries as it linked to the concept of purgatory which they belived din't exist!. Cromwell was able to convince Henry that the dissolution would provide Henry with alot of money!. they way both of them gain!. Cromwell wanted change and Henry go tmoney out of it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

1!. Henry wanted to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon due to to the lack of a male heir!. As she was catholic he had to apply to the Pope to grant this which he refused!.
2!. This gave Henry the ideal excuse to break with Rome and Catholisism and form the Church of England!.
3!. Henry needed money for his coffers and also to form an Englsh Fleet!. He had just insulted the Spanish King by returning Catherine and thought that Spain would try to invade England!.
The agreement with France called "The Field Of The Cloth Of Gold" kept them happy!.
4!. Henry now turned to were the riches lay, the Monastries!. They were dissoved and all their riches taken by Henry's government to pay for his navy and to feed the Royal Coffers!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The Church opposed his second marriage and excommunicated him!. He formed his own Church!.
By shutting down the Church's monasteries, he acquired their properties and closed off opposition to his marriages!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Henry changed the religion of England from Catholicism to the Church of England!. Monasteries were no longer needed!. Any remaining Catholics went into hiding!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

He wanted to get his hands on their wealth!. His break from Rome gave him a convenient excuse to dissolve the monasteries and seize their possessions!.Www@QuestionHome@Com