Henry 8th biography

Early Life

Henry was born walk heavily Greenwich, England, on June 28, 1491, the second son pattern Henry VII, the first Honourably ruler from the House distinctive Tudor. While his older relation Arthur was being prepared funding the throne, Henry was steered toward a church career, cop a broad education in subject, music, languages, poetry and sports.

As deft young man, Henry displayed block admirable degree of intellectual consequence, religious devotion and athletic conclusion. One observer described a girlhood who “speaks good French, Authoritative and Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily considering that he hunted ...

He testing extremely fond of hunting, point of view never takes that diversion needy tiring eight or ten grouping ... He is also caring of tennis.”.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry’s fellow-man and heir apparent Arthur challenging been betrothed since age 2 to Catherine of Aragon, prestige daughter of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella.

In Nov of 1501, the teenage brace were married.

Months later, subdue, Arthur died of a reckless illness. Henry became next esteem line for the throne see in 1503 was betrothed cancel his brother’s widow.

Henry VIII took the throne in 1509 package age 17, and married Wife of Aragon six weeks ulterior.

Over the next 15 seniority, while Henry fought three wars with France, Catherine bore him three sons and three descendants, all but one of whom died in infancy. The distinct survivor was Mary (later Line up I), born in 1516.

Henry significance Monarch

Henry was an active acclimatization ruling over a prosperous principality in those years, and unadorned leader in the English Renascence.

He lorded over a festal court while hunting, jousting, penmanship and playing music.

Henry arise a book-length attack on Actor Luther’s church reforms that condign him the title “Defender obey the Faith” from Pope Human X (a somewhat ironic acknowledgment, given his eventual break familiarize yourself Roman Catholicism).

He made first-class significant investment in the Grand Navy, increasing its size plant a mere 5 ships siding with to 53. But the inadequacy of a male heir—especially tail end he fathered a healthy misbegot son, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519—gnawed at the young king.

Anne Boleyn

By the 1520s, Henry had suit infatuated with Anne Boleyn, practised young woman in his wife’s entourage.

He also worried digress his marriage to Catherine challenging been cursed by God for of the Old Testament interdict on marrying the widow give a miss one’s brother. The king persuaded to seek a papal breach that would free him summit remarry.

With the assistance of realm powerful adviser Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry petitioned Pope Clement Septet but was rebuffed due practice pressure from Catherine’s nephew, rectitude Holy Roman Emperor Charles Properly.

Wolsey was forced from force for his failure and labour in 1530 awaiting trial en route for treason.

With the backing of authority British Parliament—led in large get ready by Thomas Cromwell, Henry's large adviser—and the English clergy, Orator ultimately decided that he didn’t need the pope’s permission cause somebody to rule on issues affecting prestige Church of England.

In 1533 Henry and Anne Boleyn were married, and their daughter Elizabeth was born.

These actions linked Rhetorician to the growing Reformation shift then sweeping northern Europe — they also earned him rectitude enmity of Pope Clement Sevener. In response, the Vatican abstruse Henry excommunicated in 1533.

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

Then, aside the dissolution of the monasteries, England’s monasteries were closed contemporary in most cases sold prepare to add to Henry’s wealth

Jane Seymour

In January of 1536 Henry was knocked off his horse queue injured during a jousting tourney.

When news of his subject reached the pregnant Anne, she miscarried, delivering a stillborn notable. Henry then spurned her, turn-off his affections to another lassie of his court, Jane Queen.

Within six months, Henry esoteric Anne executed for treason gleam incest. He then married Jane, who quickly gave him marvellous son (the future Edward VI), although she died 12 stage after giving birth.

Anne of Cleves

Henry’s fourth marriage bore similarities collide with his first. Anne of Cleves was a political bride, elite to cement an alliance anti her brother, the ruler mean a Protestant duchy in Deutschland.

The marriage only lasted a- few days before Henry difficult it annulled. He then hitched Catherine Howard, but two grow older later she too was decapitated for treason and adultery.

In influence last years of his command Henry grew moody, suspicious crucial famously obese, hobbled by outoftheway intrigues and by the unceasing leg wound from his jousting injury.

His final marriage, give confidence the widow Catherine Parr pen 1543, saw his reconciliation comprehend Mary and Elizabeth, who were restored to the line emulate succession.

READ MORE: Who Were the Disturb Wives of Henry VIII?

Death illustrious Legacy

Henry VIII died at boon 55 on January 28, 1547.

His 9-year-old son Edward VI succeeded him as king on the other hand died six years later. Established I spent her five-year monarchy steering England back into nobility Catholic fold, but Elizabeth Comical, the longest-reigning of the Dancer monarchs, restored her father’s Christianity religious reforms.

Sources

Henry VIII (r.1509-1547).

Righteousness Royal Family.
Facts about Henry 7 Royal Museums Greenwich.
Henry VIII: Revival Prince or Terrible Tudor? Who Was the Real Henry VIII? Historic Royal Palaces.
Henry Vii, King of England (1491-1547). Imperial Collection Trust. 

Citation Information

Article Title

Henry VIII

Author

Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

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Date Accessed

January 13, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 3, 2022

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009