It was hardly separate if Henry VIII had to beg the papacy for a divorce (and be denied). Also the Church operated as a fifth column of government by encouraging its adherents to seditiously sabotage ...
No Eastern Rite monarch ever had to beg for a (fourth) divorce, or even ask nicely, because the Eastern Orthodox Churches have far weaker separation of Church and State.
Likewise, the Pope couldn't simply fire Henry, either. Inderdict was a powerful publicity tool, but powerful governments had been known to ignore it for generations (Venice, most notably).
Henry VIII's dispute with the Church happened BECAUSE separation of Church and State was quite firmly established by then.
Agree 100% with your paragraph two.
Likewise, the Pope couldn't simply fire Henry, either. Inderdict was a powerful publicity tool, but powerful governments had been known to ignore it for generations (Venice, most notably).
Henry VIII's dispute with the Church happened BECAUSE separation of Church and State was quite firmly established by then.
Agree 100% with your paragraph two.
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