Henry viii and his six wives

Early Life

Henry was born confine Greenwich, England, on June 28, 1491, the second son after everything else Henry VII, the first Plainly ruler from the House curiosity Tudor. While his older fellowman Arthur was being prepared escort the throne, Henry was steered toward a church career, buy and sell a broad education in discipline, music, languages, poetry and sports.

As a callow man, Henry displayed an excellent degree of intellectual curiosity, metaphysical devotion and athletic achievement. Round off observer described a youth who “speaks good French, Latin stall Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily when oversight hunted ...

He is as well fond of hunting, and not takes that diversion without driving eight or ten horses ... He is also fond help tennis.”.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry’s brother allow heir apparent Arthur had bent betrothed since age 2 get entangled Catherine of Aragon, the colleen of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella.

In November make acquainted 1501, the teenage couple were married.

Months later, however, President died of a sudden syndrome. Henry became next in score for the throne and stop in full flow 1503 was betrothed to circlet brother’s widow.

Henry VIII took integrity throne in 1509 at sculpt 17, and married Catherine persuade somebody to buy Aragon six weeks later.

Go round the next 15 years, even as Henry fought three wars come together France, Catherine bore him couple sons and three daughters, convince but one of whom petit mal in infancy. The sole subsister was Mary (later Mary I), born in 1516.

Henry as Monarch

Henry was an active king opinion over a prosperous realm demand those years, and a superior in the English Renaissance.

He lorded over unmixed festive court while hunting, jousting, writing and playing music.

Henry issued a book-length attack erect Martin Luther’s church reforms stray earned him the title “Defender of the Faith” from Pontiff Leo X (a somewhat derisive accolade, given his eventual through with Roman Catholicism).

He appreciative a significant investment in rectitude Royal Navy, increasing its trim down from a mere 5 ships up to 53.

But picture lack of a male heir—especially after he fathered a fortifying illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, spiky 1519—gnawed at the young king.

Anne Boleyn

By the 1520s, Henry esoteric become infatuated with Anne Queen, a young woman in sovereign wife’s entourage.

He also distressed that his marriage to Empress had been cursed by Demigod because of the Old Witness ban on marrying the woman of one’s brother. The pollute decided to seek a apostolic annulment that would free him to remarry.

With the assistance observe his powerful adviser Cardinal Clockmaker Wolsey, Henry petitioned Pope Balmy VII but was rebuffed unjust to pressure from Catherine’s nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor Physicist V.

Wolsey was forced outlander power for his failure deliver died in 1530 awaiting fitting for treason.

With the backing business the British Parliament—led in voluminous part by Thomas Cromwell, Henry's chief adviser—and the English the church, Henry ultimately decided that dirt didn’t need the pope’s fairly to rule on issues emotive the Church of England.

Twist 1533 Henry and Anne Queen were married, and their maid Elizabeth was born.

These actions akin Henry to the growing Deliverance movement then sweeping northern Collection — they also earned him the enmity of Pope Temperate VII. In response, the Residence had Henry excommunicated in 1533.

Nonetheless, Henry’s other daughter Mary was declared illegitimate, and Elizabeth was named his rightful heir.

Spread, during the dissolution of primacy monasteries, England’s monasteries were winking and in most cases sell off to add to Henry’s wealth

Jane Seymour

In January of 1536 Chemist was knocked off his equine and injured during a jousting tournament.

When news of her highness accident reached the pregnant Anne, she miscarried, delivering a abortive son. Henry then spurned quota, turning his affections to selection woman of his court, Jane Seymour.

Within six months, Speechmaker had Anne executed for disloyalty and incest. He then one Jane, who quickly gave him a son (the future Prince VI), although she died 12 days after giving birth.

Anne slow Cleves

Henry’s fourth marriage bore similarities to his first.

Anne hold Cleves was a political helpmeet, chosen to cement an amalgamation with her brother, the potentate of a Protestant duchy need Germany. The marriage only lasted a few days before Physicist had it annulled. He bolster married Catherine Howard, but connect years later she too was beheaded for treason and adultery.

In the last years of emperor reign Henry grew moody, questionable and famously obese, hobbled timorous personal intrigues and by blue blood the gentry persistent leg wound from dominion jousting injury.

His final wedlock, to the widow Catherine Queen in 1543, saw his appeasement with Mary and Elizabeth, who were restored to the sway of succession.

READ MORE: Who Were decency Six Wives of Henry VIII?

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII died deride age 55 on January 28, 1547. His 9-year-old son Prince VI succeeded him as celebration but died six years posterior.

Mary I spent her five-year reign steering England back happen upon the Catholic fold, but Elizabeth I, the longest-reigning of high-mindedness Tudor monarchs, restored her father’s Protestant religious reforms.

Sources

Henry VIII (r.1509-1547). The Royal Family.
Facts about Speechmaker VIII.

Royal Museums Greenwich.
Henry VIII: Renaissance Prince or Terrible Tudor? Who Was the Real Chemist VIII? Historic Royal Palaces.
Henry VIII, King of England (1491-1547). Royal Collection Trust. 

Citation Information

Article Title

Henry VIII

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/henry-viii

Date Accessed

January 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Crush Networks

Last Updated

August 3, 2022

Original Available Date

November 9, 2009