---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Four months later, in May 1533, a court…"
description: "\"“Four months later, in May 1533, a court led by Thomas Cranmer declared the Henry-Catherine marriage null and void just five days before declaring the ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg"
---

#  Four months later, in May 1533, a court led by Thomas…

![“Four months later, in May 1533, a court led by Thomas Cranmer declared the Henry-Catherine marriage null and void just five days before declaring the Henry-Anne marriage valid. Anne was now queen-consort of England. In June 1533, Parliament passed the Act of Succession 1533 (First Succession Act)…” quote by Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg)

> ““Four months later, in May 1533, a court led by Thomas Cranmer declared the Henry-Catherine marriage null and void just five days before declaring the Henry-Anne marriage valid. Anne was now queen-consort of England. In June 1533, Parliament passed the Act of Succession 1533 (First Succession Act) declaring Princess Mary illegitimate (stripping her of her erstwhile place in the line of succession); declaring legitimate Anne’s offspring; and perhaps most importantly repudiating the power of “any foreign authority, prince or potentate” over English subjects.  Interestingly, the Act also forbade anyone from publishing or printing that the Henry-Anne marriage was invalid; such conduct would constitute high treason and might result in the hanging, drawing and quartering of the accused.””

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The Act of Succession reshaped royal legitimacy, outlawed dissent, and reinforced sovereign authority over foreign influence.

**In simple terms:** A law changed who could inherit the throne and punished those who questioned it.

Key Takeaway

Understand how legal changes affect power structures.

Themes

politics law religion history authority

Mood

analytical critical

Type

historical informative

When to use this quote

- academic study
- legal analysis
- policy making
- public education

Key Concepts

legitimacy state power propaganda

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the dangers of criminalizing dissent?
- How does law shape national identity?

A Different Perspective

Legal enforcement can suppress truth and provoke resistance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Marriage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/)

## Related quotes

> [“The commission also confronted one of the strangest and most nettlesome phrases in COG operations—a seemingly unnecessary aside in the language guiding presidential succession…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-m-graff/the-commission-also-confronted-one-of-the-strangest-and-most/)

[Garrett M. Graff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-m-graff/)

> [Britain has had some very strong and successful queens throughout history, but, since the Act of Succession in 1701, they have only been eligible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-junor/britain-has-had-some-very-strong-and-successful-queens-throughout/)

[Penny Junor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-junor/)

> [Freedom which in no other land will thrive, Freedom an English subject's sole prerogative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dryden/freedom-which-in-no-other-land-will-thrive-freedom-an-english-subject/)

[John Dryden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dryden/)

> [English, as a subject, never really got over its upstart nature. It tries to bulk itself up with hopeless jargon and specious complexity, tries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/english-as-a-subject-never-really-got-over-its-upstart-nature-it/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [“Protestantism's evolution away from hierarchy and authority has enormous consequences for America and the world. On the one hand, the democratization of religion runs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-vowell/protestantism-s-evolution-away-from-hierarchy-and-authority-has/)

[Sarah Vowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-vowell/)

> [“If I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/if-i-am-to-understand-that-you-are-enquiring-whether-i-am-of-jewish/)

[J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/)

> [I do not find that I feel myself to be any different as an English subject than as an American. I have not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-whitall-smith/i-do-not-find-that-i-feel-myself-to-be-any-different-as-an-english/)

[Hannah Whitall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-whitall-smith/)

> [“There is never any confusion among competent speakers of English over whether who is subject or object. For example, consider the following questions: Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-david-ledbetter/there-is-never-any-confusion-among-competent-speakers-of-english-over/)

[Mark David Ledbetter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-david-ledbetter/)

> [What an English King has no right to demand, an English subject has a right to refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hampden/what-an-english-king-has-no-right-to-demand-an-english-subject-has-a/)

John Hampden

## More by Charles River Editors

> [“Iwo Jima is more officially known as “Sulfur Island,” and it lies in a chain of volcanic islands south of the Ogasawara Islands. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/iwo-jima-is-more-officially-known-as-sulfur-island-and-it-lies-in-a/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Rachel’s tomb is located a short distance north of Bethlehem, on the road between Jerusalem and Hebron. It consists of a small building with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/rachel-s-tomb-is-located-a-short-distance-north-of-bethlehem-on-the/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“By the following morning, September 15, Jackson had positioned nearly fifty guns on Maryland Heights and at the base of Loudoun Heights.  Then he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/by-the-following-morning-september-15-jackson-had-positioned-nearly/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Washington is the only President to be elected unanimously – not once, but twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/washington-is-the-only-president-to-be-elected-unanimously-not-once/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“As the story goes, the cardinals began to regret their decision the very night of Pope Urban VI's coronation. During the celebratory feast that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/as-the-story-goes-the-cardinals-began-to-regret-their-decision-the/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“When Lee heard of Jackson’s injuries, he sent his religious leader Chaplain Lacy to Stonewall with the message, “Give him my affectionate regards, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/when-lee-heard-of-jackson-s-injuries-he-sent-his-religious-leader/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“For the first time, the Ottoman Empire was forced to recognize the full independence of a nation, not because of a war with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/for-the-first-time-the-ottoman-empire-was-forced-to-recognize-the/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Midway was merely a convenient target chosen by Yamamoto to draw the Americans out, and both sides’ objectives were attritional attempts to degrade their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/midway-was-merely-a-convenient-target-chosen-by-yamamoto-to-draw-the/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Paris had heard of Helen of Sparta’s beauty, and though she was married to the warlike Menelaus, he immediately consented to awarding Aphrodite the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/paris-had-heard-of-helen-of-sparta-s-beauty-and-though-she-was/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Although cargo shipments of precious metals as described here seem quite fanciful to modern ears, archaeologists recently excavated a shipwreck at Uluburun with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/although-cargo-shipments-of-precious-metals-as-described-here-seem/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“The British government in 1807 had issued the “Orders in Council,” which enforced a naval blockade against France, and with a shortage of seamen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-british-government-in-1807-had-issued-the-orders-in-council-which/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Fearing for his life, Urban stayed put. He publicly blasted the French cardinals and attempted to revoke their titles, breaking records by appointing 26…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/fearing-for-his-life-urban-stayed-put-he-publicly-blasted-the-french/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“Humiliated, Boniface issued the papal bull, “Clerics Laicos,” in response. The bull declared that kings who taxed clergy without papal permission would be promptly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/humiliated-boniface-issued-the-papal-bull-clerics-laicos-in-response/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“In 1940, Heinrich Himmler, wanting to extend SS influence to the rocket program, pressured Wernher von Braun into joining the organization despite his lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/in-1940-heinrich-himmler-wanting-to-extend-ss-influence-to-the-rocket/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

> [“The Wildcats tore into the Vals as they climbed prior to making their dives, and 11 of the 18 attacking dive bombers were shot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/the-wildcats-tore-into-the-vals-as-they-climbed-prior-to-making-their/)

[Charles River Editors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

[Explore all 278 Charles River Editors quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/)

## More Marriage quotes

> [Unmarried couples should get married - that's an excellent tax avoidance measure, if a bit drastic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-whiting/unmarried-couples-should-get-married-that-s-an-excellent-tax/)

John Whiting

> [I know for my wife and I, we always loved the idea of being young parents. It is an incredibly inspiring and challenging job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-hanson/i-know-for-my-wife-and-i-we-always-loved-the-idea-of-being-young/)

[Taylor Hanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-hanson/)

> [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to \[when I started my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-powell/i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s-one-reason-why-i-don-t-work/)

[Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-powell/)

> [Luckily, the bullet that hit my chest never got to me. It was stopped by a silver case I got for my brother's wedding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-doohan/luckily-the-bullet-that-hit-my-chest-never-got-to-me-it-was-stopped/)

[James Doohan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-doohan/)

> [Do you think that God would separate me from my husband if I killed myself? I feel as though I am going out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-you-think-that-god-would-separate-me-from-my-husband-if-i-killed/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [“Take an interest in his appearance. Keeping his clothes in order is your job; encouraging him to look his best, and admiring him when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/take-an-interest-in-his-appearance-keeping-his-clothes-in-order-is/)

[Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/)

> [Females always say, you can't turn a hoe into a house wife, but steady be trying to turn a dog into a faithful man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/females-always-say-you-can-t-turn-a-hoe-into-a-house-wife-but-steady/)

[Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/)

> [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/)

[William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/)

> [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/)

[Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/)

> [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/)

[Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/)

> [Most marriages don't add two people together. They subtract one from the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-fleming/most-marriages-don-t-add-two-people-together-they-subtract-one-from/)

[Ian Fleming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-fleming/)

> [Alimony - the ransom that the happy pay to the devil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/alimony-the-ransom-that-the-happy-pay-to-the-devil/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [“His own parents, the estimable Gilchrists, a couple who had taken the 'till death' part of their own wedding vows so seriously he wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-blake/his-own-parents-the-estimable-gilchrists-a-couple-who-had-taken-the/)

[Ally Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-blake/)

[Browse all 31,920 Marriage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marriage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Four months later, in May 1533, a court led by Thomas Cranmer declared the Henry-Catherine marriage null and void just five days before declaring the Henry-Anne marriage valid. Anne was now queen-consort of England. In June 1533, Parliament passed the Act of Succession 1533 (First Succession Act) declaring Princess Mary illegitimate (stripping her of her erstwhile place in the line of succession); declaring legitimate Anne’s offspring; and perhaps most importantly repudiating the power of “any foreign authority, prince or potentate” over English subjects.  Interestingly, the Act also forbade anyone from publishing or printing that the Henry-Anne marriage was invalid; such conduct would constitute high treason and might result in the hanging, drawing and quartering of the accused.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Charles River Editors"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-led-by-thomas-cranmer-declared/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Marriage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-led-by-thomas-cranmer-declared/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/494/charles-river-editors-1165_marriage_four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-le_1049863.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Four months later, in May 1533, a court led by Thomas Cranmer declared the Henry-Catherine marriage null and…” — Charles River Editors",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Charles River Editors",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-river-editors/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Four months later, in May 1533,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-led-by-thomas-cranmer-declared/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-river-editors/four-months-later-in-may-1533-a-court-led-by-thomas-cranmer-declared/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
