Dissolution of the monasteries

England's Henry VIII was locked in a struggle with the Catholic Church, including over his desire to divorce Catherine of Aragon. This finally resulted in the Act of Supremacy in 1534, declaring the Church of England with himself as head. The monasteries continued to be a center of Catholic power, with the monks holding large amounts of property and acting as local authorities. The Suppresion Acts of 1536 and 1539 declared that these monasteries were disbanded, and their property was taken over by the state. SlyOwl illustrated this, winning the religious life category from last year's Colossal Castle Contest.