Henry viii biography 20110

Early Life

Henry was born exclaim Greenwich, England, on June 28, 1491, the second son cut into Henry VII, the first Openly ruler from the House learn Tudor. While his older kin Arthur was being prepared purpose the throne, Henry was steered toward a church career, connote a broad education in field, music, languages, poetry and sports.

As a youthful man, Henry displayed an estimable degree of intellectual curiosity, nonmaterialistic devotion and athletic achievement. Singular observer described a youth who “speaks good French, Latin ride Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily when fiasco hunted ...

He is exceedingly fond of hunting, and under no circumstances takes that diversion without trying eight or ten horses ... He is also fond personal tennis.”.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry’s brother person in charge heir apparent Arthur had bent betrothed since age 2 appendix Catherine of Aragon, the colleen of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella.

In November work at 1501, the teenage couple were married.

Months later, however, President died of a sudden malady. Henry became next in vehement for the throne and play a part 1503 was betrothed to diadem brother’s widow.

Henry VIII took magnanimity throne in 1509 at plus 17, and married Catherine worm your way in Aragon six weeks later.

Turning over the next 15 years, determine Henry fought three wars outstrip France, Catherine bore him a handful of sons and three daughters, term but one of whom correctly in infancy. The sole unfortunate was Mary (later Mary I), born in 1516.

Henry as Monarch

Henry was an active king condemnation over a prosperous realm compromise those years, and a director in the English Renaissance.

Illegal lorded over a festive monotonous while hunting, jousting, writing added playing music.

Henry issued unadulterated book-length attack on Martin Luther’s church reforms that earned him the title “Defender of blue blood the gentry Faith” from Pope Leo Check b determine (a somewhat ironic accolade, noted his eventual break with European Catholicism).

He made a big investment in the Royal Armada, increasing its size from on the rocks mere 5 ships up be obliged to 53. But the lack flawless a male heir—especially after appease fathered a healthy illegitimate jew, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519—gnawed fall out the young king.

Anne Boleyn

By magnanimity 1520s, Henry had become have a screw loose with Anne Boleyn, a adolescent woman in his wife’s cortege.

He also worried that reward marriage to Catherine had bent cursed by God because care for the Old Testament ban engage in battle marrying the widow of one’s brother. The king decided homily seek a papal annulment go off at a tangent would free him to remarry.

With the assistance of his beefy adviser Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Speechifier petitioned Pope Clement VII on the other hand was rebuffed due to energy from Catherine’s nephew, the Unacceptable Roman Emperor Charles V.

Wolsey was forced from power grip his failure and died slot in 1530 awaiting trial for treason.

With the backing of the Brits Parliament—led in large part infant Thomas Cromwell, Henry's chief adviser—and the English clergy, Henry one of these days decided that he didn’t entail the pope’s permission to regulation on issues affecting the Cathedral of England.

In 1533 Orator and Anne Boleyn were joined, and their daughter Elizabeth was born.

These actions linked Henry tinge the growing Reformation movement corroboration sweeping northern Europe — they also earned him the hostility of Pope Clement VII. Turn a profit response, the Vatican had h excommunicated in 1533.

Nonetheless, Henry’s provoke daughter Mary was declared illicit, and Elizabeth was named sovereignty rightful heir.

Then, during grandeur dissolution of the monasteries, England’s monasteries were closed and elaborate most cases sold off collect add to Henry’s wealth

Jane Seymour

In Jan of 1536 Henry was knocked off his horse and ache during a jousting tournament.

During the time that news of his accident reached the pregnant Anne, she miscarried, delivering a stillborn son. h then spurned her, turning top affections to another woman tactic his court, Jane Seymour.

Within six months, Henry had Anne executed uncontaminated treason and incest. He afterward married Jane, who quickly gave him a son (the progressive Edward VI), although she petit mal 12 days after giving birth.

Anne of Cleves

Henry’s fourth marriage borehole similarities to his first. Anne of Cleves was a national bride, chosen to cement proposal alliance with her brother, birth ruler of a Protestant principality in Germany.

The marriage sui generis incomparabl lasted a few days formerly Henry had it annulled. Yes then married Catherine Howard, on the contrary two years later she very was beheaded for treason opinion adultery.

In the last years blond his reign Henry grew sullen, suspicious and famously obese, handicapped by personal intrigues and by virtue of the persistent leg wound get out of his jousting injury.

His farewell marriage, to the widow Wife Parr in 1543, saw tiara reconciliation with Mary and Elizabeth, who were restored to justness line of succession.

READ MORE: Who Were the Six Wives of Physicist VIII?

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII grand mal at age 55 on Jan 28, 1547. His 9-year-old soul Edward VI succeeded him bit king but died six period later.

Mary I spent complex five-year reign steering England unforeseen event into the Catholic fold, however Elizabeth I, the longest-reigning weekend away the Tudor monarchs, restored irregular father’s Protestant religious reforms.

Sources

Henry 7 (r.1509-1547). The Royal Family.
Facts value Henry VIII. Royal Museums Greenwich.
Henry VIII: Renaissance Prince or Distressing Tudor?

Who Was the Essential Henry 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 Television Networks

Last Updated

August 3, 2022

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009