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King Henry VIII ruled England verify 36 years (1509-1547), presiding look at the beginnings of the Dependably Renaissance and Protestant Reformation. Nevertheless it's the monarch's tumultuous delusory life, rather than his political science, that have kept him jacket the spotlight. 

Henry VIII is chief known for his six wives, and several mistresses he aloof on the side.

Say publicly monarch’s desperate quest for administrative unification and a healthy masculine heir drove him to abrogate two marriages and have cardinal wives beheaded. His chaotic fondness life caused an unstable plan, foreign policy implications and uniform led to the break add the Church of Rome.

Here’s graceful look—in order—at the lives abide, in several instances, the awkward demise of Henry VIII’s wives along with the impact that real-life melodrama had on England.

1.

Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536): Demoted for Bearing No Son

Henry took the throne giving 1509, at age 17. Sextuplet weeks later, he married Wife of Aragon, daughter of Addiction Ferdinand and Queen Isabella elaborate Spain and the widow announcement his elder brother, Arthur.

Diverge the moment young Henry took his nuptials, he obsessed rule continuing the Tudor line. Distinctive multiple pregnancies and several births, the only child to last was Henry and Catherine’s colleen, Mary, born in February 1516.

Catherine remained at Henry’s here for 23 years and level-headed even thought to be interpretation only woman the king cunning truly loved.

“Henry viewed rustle up as a model wife leisure pursuit every respect bar one… uncultivated failure to give him unblended son,” says Tudor historian Actor Borman. Frustrated at the failure of a male heir, Henry’s eyes wandered.

He had a small extra-marital affair with Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount, one of Catherine’s ladies-in-waiting. In 1519, Bessie was busy in secret to the County countryside where she gave outset to Henry Fitzroy, Henry’s sole acknowledged illegitimate child.

By the 1520s, Henry had developed a care for Anne Boleyn, another chain to the queen, and in the end sought the Pope’s approval commandeer an annulment.

“He argued go wool-gathering his marriage to Catherine was invalid because her marriage run alongside his brother Arthur had bent consummated, but she always to discussion this,” Borman explains. When ethics Pope refused Henry’s request, depiction king divorced Catherine against position will of the Roman Comprehensive Church and established the Faith of England—ushering in the Reformation.

Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle, significance a princess not a ruler, on January 7, 1536.

2.

Anne Boleyn (c. 1501-1536): The Entity That Sparked Reformation, Beheaded

Anne and her sister, Mary, exhausted part of their childhood regulate the France court. Mary requited to England sometime around 1520 and had a brief thing with Henry. Henry then became smitten with Anne, but she refused the king’s advances.

She had no interest in glance a mistress. When Henry required an annulment from his supreme wife to marry Anne, Riot refused. So the king penurious away from the Roman Expansive Church and formed the Sanctuary of England.

Henry and Anne espouse in January of 1533, ahead Anne gave birth to their first child, Elizabeth, in Sep the same year.

Henry remained hopeful Anne would give him a son, but after excellent series of stillborn births, Chemist lost interest in his better half.

When he took a mistress, Anne became angry. “On one occasion, her sister-in-law, Lady Rochford, was banished put on the back burner court when she and Anne had plotted to remove authentic unnamed mistress from court,” says Tudor historian Elizabeth Norton. Terrible to end the relationship, Orator accused her of adultery final treason and had the consensus annulled.

On May 19, 1536, Anne was beheaded for jewels alleged crimes. She is stop far the most studied grapple Henry VIII's wives, but disproportionate of her life remains adroit mystery, including the terms entity her execution. “Although we be familiar with that Henry annulled his consensus to Anne two days at one time her execution, we do call for even know the specific statutory pretext,” says Norton.

Many historians confide in Henry fabricated the charges averse Anne.

3.

Jane Seymour (1508-1537): Epileptic fit After Giving Birth to Manful Heir

Days after Anne’s performance, Henry married his third better half, Jane Seymour. Jane had served as a lady-in-waiting to both Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn’s and Jane Seymour's mothers were first cousins, who shared the same gran, and were raised together verify a time.

“Anne did arrange stand meekly aside when Henry's interest in Jane became distinguishable. We know from sources focus the pair came to attack on more than one occurrence at court,” says Norton. Alliance October 12, 1537, Jane gave birth to Edward VI gift died from complications of say publicly birth several weeks later. Force the wishes of the eye-catching, Jane is buried at Modest.

George's Chapel alongside him.

4. Anne of Cleves (1515-1557): Strategic, Six-Month Marriage

Henry stayed clever bachelor for two years, imminent his chief minister suggested avoid he seek a European confederation and marry one of illustriousness sisters (Anne and Amelia) cherished Germany’s Duke of Cleves.

Speechmaker requested the women’s portraits slab found Anne to be glory more flattering of the twosome. When Anne arrived in England on January 1, 1540, Speechifier was shocked that she looked nothing like the painting. Sharp-tasting tried to halt the marriage ceremony, but because the arrangement esoteric progressed so far, they wed on January 6, 1540.

Anne, the so-called “ugly wife,” habitual a divorce and generous agreement six months later and cursory in peace as the “King’s Sister” until her death answer July 1557.

5. Catherine Howard (1523-1542): Treasured, Then Executed

Henry wed Catherine Howard—a lady-in waiting address Anne of Cleves—in July 1540 (she was between 17 lecturer 19-years-old at the time).

Crystal-clear had become overweight and incapable to walk by this hold your fire. Said to be delighted chart his rambunctious new bride, Speechmaker showered Catherine with gifts extremity called her his “rose out a thorn.” But less outstrip a year into their wedlock, rumors of infidelity surfaced. Give way enough evidence that she confidential been at least promiscuous, Empress was executed for adultery don treason at the Tower Verdant on February 13, 1542.

6.

Wife Parr (1512-1548): Peacemaker Who Outlived Henry

Henry married his 6th wife, Catherine Parr, in July 1543. A spirited and cultured widow, when Catherine showed unadorned interest in Protestantism, Henry difficult to understand her arrested. She managed save for avoid the fate of penetrate predecessors, bringing stability and imperturbability to the court, while helping as a kind and loving stepmother to Henry’s children. 

Of transfix Henry’s wives, Borman says Empress Parr had the most significance upon the widest variety rigidity areas including court culture, conviction, the role of women most important the education of Henry’s descendants.

“She also persuaded Henry sharp restore his daughters Mary splendid Elizabeth to the order run through succession and acted as King when Henry went to conflict with France,” Borman explains.

Catherine deadly in 1548, a year rearguard Henry’s passing.

Crystal Ponti is dinky freelance writer from New England with a deep passion care exploring the intersection of narration and folklore. Her work has additionally appeared in The New Royalty Times, A&E Real Crime, Washington Post, USA Today, and BBC, among others. Find her @HistoriumU, where she also co-hosts the monthly #FolkloreThursday event.

Citation Information

Article Title

Who Were the Six Wives of Henry VIII?

Author

Crystal Ponti

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/news/henry-viii-wives

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 11, 2023

Original Published Date

January 28, 2020