The Reformation begins as Henry breaks with the Catholic Church and declares himself head of the church; Anne's insistence leads to Henry breaking all contact with Katherine and banishing her from the court.

Henry continues undermining the Catholic Church's influence in England, while his chaplain makes a fact-finding tour of Lutheran Germany; Anne resolves to consummate her relationship with the king as Brandon plants doubts about her virtue.

His patience at an end, Henry marries Anne in secret, appoints his Lutheran chaplain Thomas Cranmer the head of the Church, and strips Queen Katherine of her title and status; the king and new queen's first child is born, a girl christened Elizabeth.

The country is asked to swear an oath recognizing the new royal succession, and Henry's supreme authority; Anne becomes pregnant again; Sir Thomas More refuses to swear to all aspects of the oath and is jailed in the Tower of London.

A miscarriage and her sister's impetuous marriage jeopardize the Boleyns' influence at court; after many failed attempts to coerce his endorsement of the king's powers, Sir Thomas More is ordered to be executed as a traitor by a reluctant Henry.

The power of Thomas Cromwell spreads as he investigates the Church for corruption, even as the Pope denounces the execution of Sir Thomas More; the queen is rebuffed by the king of France, who refuses to recognize her daughter's legitimacy.

The persecution of the Catholic Church reaches its pinnacle as Thomas Cromwell confiscates its wealth for the crown, making Henry the richest English king in history, while Katherine dies in pious poverty.

The brief resurgence of Anne at court is short-lived, as Jane Seymour rapidly replaces her in the king's affections, a process speeded up by Henry's near-fatal jousting accident and Anne's hysteria-induced miscarriage.

The fall from grace of Anne Boleyn is swift and complete, as the king grants greater powers to the family of his new love Jane Seymour, and accepts Thomas Cromwell's obviously trumped-up charges of adultery against the queen.

Anne awaits execution in the Tower of London as Henry's marriage to her is annulled, baby Elizabeth is removed from the line of succession, and Henry proposes to Jane Seymour, who accepts.