The Life of a Complex King
King Henry VIII
King Henry VIII
Introduction
“Who does not tremble when he considers how to deal with his wife...?” - King Henry VIII. Many know King Henry VIII as a treacherous young man and a murderous husband, but was there more than meets the eye?
“Who does not tremble when he considers how to deal with his wife...?” - King Henry VIII. Many know King Henry VIII as a treacherous young man and a murderous husband, but was there more than meets the eye?
Childhood
The beginning of Henry’s childhood began admirably, like a multitude of other English royals. Henry was born June 28, 1491 at Greenwich Palace. His father was King Henry VII and his mother was Elizabeth of York. He was the second boy of four children; Arthur, Mary, Margaret, and himself. It is said that he was pampered by his grandmother and mother. His grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, supervised his education. Henry’s focus in education was theology, though he took many other classes. It is believed that included in young Henry’s education was grammar, history, logic, philosophy, rhetoric, literature, arithmetic, geometry, music, and of course theology. Henry also studied astronomy, navigation and cartography. As well as his academic classes, he had non academic classes such as riding, jousting, tennis, archery, hunting, and dancing. Henry’s closest friends seemed to be his cousins, William Compton and Charles Brandon. He also is believed to have befriended Henry Norris, a noble. Historians believe that his closest friend was William Compton because they were most alike. At this young age Henry seemed to have a stable, pleasurable life.
The beginning of Henry’s childhood began admirably, like a multitude of other English royals. Henry was born June 28, 1491 at Greenwich Palace. His father was King Henry VII and his mother was Elizabeth of York. He was the second boy of four children; Arthur, Mary, Margaret, and himself. It is said that he was pampered by his grandmother and mother. His grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, supervised his education. Henry’s focus in education was theology, though he took many other classes. It is believed that included in young Henry’s education was grammar, history, logic, philosophy, rhetoric, literature, arithmetic, geometry, music, and of course theology. Henry also studied astronomy, navigation and cartography. As well as his academic classes, he had non academic classes such as riding, jousting, tennis, archery, hunting, and dancing. Henry’s closest friends seemed to be his cousins, William Compton and Charles Brandon. He also is believed to have befriended Henry Norris, a noble. Historians believe that his closest friend was William Compton because they were most alike. At this young age Henry seemed to have a stable, pleasurable life.
Becoming King
Many think becoming the heir to the throne is easy, but it was not for little Henry. Arthur, Henry’s older brother, and his new wife, Catherine of Aragon, moved temporarily to Ludlow Castle in Wales. Later, Arthur died at Ludlow Castle on April 2, 1502. Catherine fell ill but quickly recovered and went back to England. King Henry VII was upset, Arthur was undoubtedly his favorite son. Less than a year later Elizabeth of York, little Henry’s mother, died on February 11, 1503. King Henry VII was devastated after his wife and favorite son died, and he took his anger out on his poor son, Henry. Henry VII kept a vigilant eye on his only son, being the only other heir to the throne. Young Henry was restricted to his rooms, which could only be reached through the king’s rooms. Tutors, servants, and guards were the only ones allowed to see Henry other than his father. King Henry VII and young Henry often quarreled. It is said that King Henry very much disliked his second son. It was reported that they even fought so violently that it seemed the king wanted to hurt his son. On April 21, 1509, King Henry VII died. When little Henry was nearly 18, he finally became King Henry VIII. Although King Henry VIII became king, he was scarred by the quarreling with his father.
Many think becoming the heir to the throne is easy, but it was not for little Henry. Arthur, Henry’s older brother, and his new wife, Catherine of Aragon, moved temporarily to Ludlow Castle in Wales. Later, Arthur died at Ludlow Castle on April 2, 1502. Catherine fell ill but quickly recovered and went back to England. King Henry VII was upset, Arthur was undoubtedly his favorite son. Less than a year later Elizabeth of York, little Henry’s mother, died on February 11, 1503. King Henry VII was devastated after his wife and favorite son died, and he took his anger out on his poor son, Henry. Henry VII kept a vigilant eye on his only son, being the only other heir to the throne. Young Henry was restricted to his rooms, which could only be reached through the king’s rooms. Tutors, servants, and guards were the only ones allowed to see Henry other than his father. King Henry VII and young Henry often quarreled. It is said that King Henry very much disliked his second son. It was reported that they even fought so violently that it seemed the king wanted to hurt his son. On April 21, 1509, King Henry VII died. When little Henry was nearly 18, he finally became King Henry VIII. Although King Henry VIII became king, he was scarred by the quarreling with his father.
Six Wives
King Henry VIII had a plethora of different wives. Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. Catherine of Aragon came to England and married Henry’s older brother, Arthur, to form an alliance between England and Aragon. When Arthur died, she married Henry, so as not to break the alliance. She became pregnant with Mary, who would become Queen Mary I. Henry wanted a boy heir, therefore he wished for a divorce. The church did not allow this, so Henry created his own church, named the Church of England and allowed himself a divorce. He married Anne Boleyn, his second wife in secrecy because he had not yet granted himself a divorce. Anne first gave birth to Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth I. Anne then had three more failed pregnancies. Henry beheaded her at the London Tower for being ‘unfaithful’. He then married Jane Seymour, who gave birth to Edward VI. Sadly, she passed away when giving birth to young Edward. The king's advisors arranged a business arrangement for his fourth marriage; to the German Anne of Cleves. However, the first time he laid eyes on her, he thought she was so ugly that he arranged a divorce. When he married Catherine Howard, all was going well. Until he found out that she loved one of his advisors and had her beheaded. He then married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr and stayed with her until his death. King Henry VIII had a myriad of wives, which earned him the fickle and harsh reputation he has today.
King Henry VIII had a plethora of different wives. Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. Catherine of Aragon came to England and married Henry’s older brother, Arthur, to form an alliance between England and Aragon. When Arthur died, she married Henry, so as not to break the alliance. She became pregnant with Mary, who would become Queen Mary I. Henry wanted a boy heir, therefore he wished for a divorce. The church did not allow this, so Henry created his own church, named the Church of England and allowed himself a divorce. He married Anne Boleyn, his second wife in secrecy because he had not yet granted himself a divorce. Anne first gave birth to Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth I. Anne then had three more failed pregnancies. Henry beheaded her at the London Tower for being ‘unfaithful’. He then married Jane Seymour, who gave birth to Edward VI. Sadly, she passed away when giving birth to young Edward. The king's advisors arranged a business arrangement for his fourth marriage; to the German Anne of Cleves. However, the first time he laid eyes on her, he thought she was so ugly that he arranged a divorce. When he married Catherine Howard, all was going well. Until he found out that she loved one of his advisors and had her beheaded. He then married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr and stayed with her until his death. King Henry VIII had a myriad of wives, which earned him the fickle and harsh reputation he has today.
Last Years
King Henry VIII had a countless number of health issues, therefore it is unknown what caused his death. As Henry grew older, he became unhealthy and out of shape. He grew especially much around the waist. In 1512 he was 32” inches around the waist, by 1520 he had already grown 2” inches more. In 1545, Henry had reached 54” inches in the waist. Henry then became bald. The last eight days of Henry’s life, were spent in bed, too weak to lift a glass to his lips on his own. The doctors caring for Henry were afraid to tell him of his certain death because The Treason Act forbade anyone from predicting a king’s imminent death. Henry sadly died January 28, 1547, at the age of 55. After he died, he was buried at the St. George Chapel, next to his third wife, Jane Seymour, mother of Edward VI. Though the cause of Henry’s death is unknown, historians believe that it was a cause of multiple health predicaments. He had smallpox in 1523,and it is said that Henry experienced recurrent malaria. He also had a gruesome jousting accident on his leg. Over years the wound formed ulcers and reopened several times. King Henry VIII had suffered multitude of diseases, he ate too much and did not exercise. All of these things resulted in his untimely death.
King Henry VIII had a countless number of health issues, therefore it is unknown what caused his death. As Henry grew older, he became unhealthy and out of shape. He grew especially much around the waist. In 1512 he was 32” inches around the waist, by 1520 he had already grown 2” inches more. In 1545, Henry had reached 54” inches in the waist. Henry then became bald. The last eight days of Henry’s life, were spent in bed, too weak to lift a glass to his lips on his own. The doctors caring for Henry were afraid to tell him of his certain death because The Treason Act forbade anyone from predicting a king’s imminent death. Henry sadly died January 28, 1547, at the age of 55. After he died, he was buried at the St. George Chapel, next to his third wife, Jane Seymour, mother of Edward VI. Though the cause of Henry’s death is unknown, historians believe that it was a cause of multiple health predicaments. He had smallpox in 1523,and it is said that Henry experienced recurrent malaria. He also had a gruesome jousting accident on his leg. Over years the wound formed ulcers and reopened several times. King Henry VIII had suffered multitude of diseases, he ate too much and did not exercise. All of these things resulted in his untimely death.
Conclusion
King Henry VIII is one of the most famous and most important rulers in English history, though we still think of him as a gruesome king. Historians believe that the cause of King Henry VIII being cruel to his wives is because of the quarreling with his father, Henry VII. Though King Henry VIII was cruel to his wives, without him, we would not have The Church of England and a very powerful king. When King Henry VIII broke away from the church, he took power with him, therefore strengthening the position of king. King Henry VIII will always have an everlasting legacy as a powerful man and king.
S.K.
King Henry VIII is one of the most famous and most important rulers in English history, though we still think of him as a gruesome king. Historians believe that the cause of King Henry VIII being cruel to his wives is because of the quarreling with his father, Henry VII. Though King Henry VIII was cruel to his wives, without him, we would not have The Church of England and a very powerful king. When King Henry VIII broke away from the church, he took power with him, therefore strengthening the position of king. King Henry VIII will always have an everlasting legacy as a powerful man and king.
S.K.