Did Henry VIII truly believe the Pope was illegitimate?

Let it be known throughout Christendom, my actions were not born of mere whim, but of profound conviction and the dictates of both my crown and conscience. The Bishop of Rome had overstepped his bounds, interfering in matters of my royal prerogative and the governance of my realm. My treatise, *Assertio Septem Sacramentorum*, clearly articulated my devotion to true Catholic doctrine. However, the divine right of kings to govern their own lands, free from external ecclesiastical dominion, is an unassailable truth. The question was not one of faith's truth, but of rightful jurisdiction and the sovereign independence of England.

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