Oath of Supremacy facts for kids
The Oath of Supremacy was a special promise people in England had to make. It meant they swore loyalty to the King or Queen as the main leader of the Church of England. If someone refused to take this oath, it was seen as acting against the country, which was a very serious crime called treason.
King Henry VIII of England first introduced this oath in 1534. But his daughter, Queen Mary I of England, later removed it. Then, Henry's other daughter, Queen Elizabeth I of England, brought it back in 1558. Over time, more people had to take this oath, including those who wanted to become Members of Parliament (MPs) or study at universities.
Eventually, the rules for the oath started to change. In 1829, a new law allowed Catholics to become Members of Parliament without taking the full oath. Later, in 1854, students at Oxford University no longer had to take it either.
Caption: "One part of this Oath I know to be false; and another I believe to be untrue. House of Commons, May 20, 1829."
Contents
What Happened if You Refused the Oath?
People who were Roman Catholic and refused to take the Oath of Supremacy could face serious trouble. They might be accused of treason because they didn't accept the monarch as the head of the Church.
The Story of Sir Thomas More
One famous example is Sir Thomas More. He was an important advisor to King Henry VIII. However, he disagreed with the King's decision to separate from the Roman Catholic Church. He also refused to accept the King as the Supreme Head of the Church of England.
Because of his refusal, Sir Thomas More was put in prison in 1534. He also didn't agree with the King's decision to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. In 1535, he was put on trial for treason. He was found guilty and sadly, he was executed.
When the Oath Was Not Always Used
During the reigns of King Charles II and King James II, the Oath of Supremacy was not always strictly enforced. This was partly because these kings had some Catholic beliefs themselves. As a result, many Roman Catholics held important positions in the government without taking the oath.
However, after the Glorious Revolution, when William III and Mary II became rulers, the oath became very important again.
How the Oath Changed for MPs
In 1828, a man named Daniel O'Connell won a special election in County Clare, Ireland. He was the first Catholic to win a parliamentary election since 1688. This created a big problem because the Oath of Supremacy required MPs to recognize the King as the "Supreme Governor" of the Church. This meant O'Connell, as a Catholic, could not take the oath.
People worried that if O'Connell wasn't allowed to take his seat, there might be widespread unrest. So, the government decided to make a change. The Prime Minister, the Duke of Wellington, convinced King George IV to agree. With the help of other important leaders, the Catholic Relief Act became law in 1829. This law finally allowed Catholics to become Members of Parliament without having to take the Oath of Supremacy.
See also
- Oath of Allegiance (United Kingdom)
- Elizabethan Religious Settlement
- Religion in the United Kingdom
