Rowland Lee (bishop)

Rowland Lee (died 1543) was an English bishop and diplomat during the reign of King Henry VIII. He is best known for his role in supporting Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and the subsequent break with the Roman Catholic Church.

Lee was educated at Cambridge University, where he earned a Doctor of Canon Law degree. He entered royal service and became a chaplain to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Following Wolsey's fall from grace, Lee transferred his allegiance to Henry VIII and became one of the king's key legal and ecclesiastical advisors.

In 1534, Lee was appointed Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, a position he held until his death. He was a staunch supporter of the Royal Supremacy, which declared Henry VIII the Supreme Head of the Church of England. He actively suppressed opposition to the break with Rome within his diocese and elsewhere.

Lee was involved in several significant events during this period, including the annulment of Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, the dissolution of the monasteries, and the trial and execution of Anne Boleyn. He presided over Anne Boleyn's secret trial and pronounced her marriage to Henry null and void, two days before her execution. This decision, while politically expedient for Henry, was controversial and its legality has been questioned by historians.

Rowland Lee was a powerful and influential figure in the Henrician Reformation. His loyalty to the king and his willingness to enforce royal policy made him a key player in the dramatic religious and political changes that transformed England. His actions, particularly concerning Anne Boleyn, continue to be debated and analyzed by historians.