You seem to be thinking of some ideal "correct" state to defy. Not to knock your personal beliefs, but Henry VIII was head of the country and the country was E

You seem to be thinking of some ideal "correct" state to defy. Not to knock your personal beliefs, but Henry VIII was head of the country and the country was England so that made him the head of the church, too. There was nothing greater to defy than the king. And she was defying him.