Why did Henry the VIII want to divorce Catherine of Aragon?

Answer 1

Henry VIII wanted to divorce Catherine because he had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn.
Catherine of Aragon - First wife of Henry VIII:

The Spanish princess, who had previously been married to Henry's brother Arthur, Catherine of Aragon (1485 - 1536), was unable to provide Henry VIII (1491 - 1547) with a male heir; which he desperately wanted, despite six pregnancies and only one living daughter (Mary). After Henry became enamoured of Anne Boleyn, he decided to divorce Catherine in 1533 and eventually had their marriage annulled. Her health went into decline and she died on 7 January 1536.
after 4 or 5 miscarriages and the birth of a daughter, Catherine of Aragon injured herself giving birth. Henry could tell she wasn't able to bore him a son, so he pretty much tore apart the country trying to find someone who could.

Answer 2

There are 3 reasons why Henry had his marriage to Catherine annuled......

1. Their marriage was sinful as Catherine was married to Arthur, Henry's older brother who died after being married to Catherine for less then a year (although later on in life Catherine testified that her marriage to Arthur was never consummated, and according to canon law, a marriage is not valid until consummated)
2. He had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn and wanted to marry her.
3. He needed a male heir and Catherine was no longer able to birth a living child because of her age.

Hope that answers your question.... -Lady H

Answer 3

politically: because she had not produced a son. Personally: because he wanted Anne Boleyn and she was clever enough to hold out for marriage. Technically, because she had been previously betrothed to his elder brother, was therefore one flesh with him, and thus too closely related to Henry for marriage. This was a feeble excuse, as the Pope had granted a dispensation at the time.

Answer 4

Henry VIII was concerned about his lack of a son and heir. Catherine had been married to Henry's brother Prince Arthur until his death but her and Henry were allowed to marry because she swore her marriage to Arthur had not been consumated.

Henry became worried upon seeing this quote in Leviticus: "If a man shall take his brother's wife, it is an unclean thing...they shall be childless."

Although Henry and Catherine already had a child, Mary, they had no son. Henry became convinced the only way to produce an heir would be to take another wife.

On top of this Henry was already in love. He had fallen for Anne Boleyn, who would become his second wife.