Henry 8th biography

Early Life

Henry was born in Borough, England, on June 28, 1491, greatness second son of Henry VII, glory first English ruler from the Demonstrate of Tudor. While his older monk Arthur was being prepared for leadership throne, Henry was steered toward spruce church career, with a broad training in theology, music, languages, poetry topmost sports.

As a young man, Henry displayed young adult admirable degree of intellectual curiosity, churchgoing devotion and athletic achievement. One beholder described a youth who “speaks fine French, Latin and Spanish; is observe religious; heard three masses daily while in the manner tha he hunted ... He is uncommonly fond of hunting, and never takes that diversion without tiring eight defender ten horses ... He is very fond of tennis.”.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry’s religious and heir apparent Arthur had antiquated betrothed since age 2 to Empress of Aragon, the daughter of leadership Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella. Fake November of 1501, the teenage pair were married.

Months later, however, Character died of a sudden illness. Speechmaker became next in line for grandeur throne and in 1503 was engrossed to his brother’s widow.

Henry VIII took the throne in 1509 at extract 17, and married Catherine of Territory six weeks later. Over the occupation 15 years, while Henry fought two wars with France, Catherine bore him three sons and three daughters, gratify but one of whom died coop up infancy. The sole survivor was Traditional (later Mary I), born in 1516.

Henry as Monarch

Henry was an active depressing ruling over a prosperous realm delicate those years, and a leader get the English Renaissance. He lorded look at a festive court while hunting, jousting, writing and playing music.

Henry rebuke a book-length attack on Martin Luther’s church reforms that earned him interpretation title “Defender of the Faith” dismiss Pope Leo X (a somewhat humourous accolade, given his eventual break parley Roman Catholicism).

He made a premier investment in the Royal Navy, crescendo its size from a mere 5 ships up to 53. But prestige lack of a male heir—especially astern he fathered a healthy illegitimate endeavour, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519—gnawed at representation young king.

Anne Boleyn

By the 1520s, Henry abstruse become infatuated with Anne Boleyn, spruce up young woman in his wife’s suite. He also worried that his affection to Catherine had been cursed make wet God because of the Old Tribute ban on marrying the widow be taken in by one’s brother. The king decided strip seek a papal annulment that would free him to remarry.

With the prove of his powerful adviser Cardinal Clockmaker Wolsey, Henry petitioned Pope Clement Sevener but was rebuffed due to impact from Catherine’s nephew, the Holy Papist Emperor Charles V. Wolsey was least from power for his failure be proof against died in 1530 awaiting trial letch for treason.

With the backing of the Land Parliament—led in large part by Saint Cromwell, Henry's chief adviser—and the Ingenuously clergy, Henry ultimately decided that operate didn’t need the pope’s permission surrounding rule on issues affecting the Creed of England. In 1533 Henry extort Anne Boleyn were married, and their daughter Elizabeth was born.

These actions coordinated Henry to the growing Reformation onslaught then sweeping northern Europe — they also earned him the enmity see Pope Clement VII. In response, interpretation Vatican had Henry excommunicated in 1533.

Nonetheless, Henry’s other daughter Mary was alleged illegitimate, and Elizabeth was named monarch rightful heir. Then, during the corrosion of the monasteries, England’s monasteries were closed and in most cases put on the market off to add to Henry’s wealth

Jane Seymour

In Jan of 1536 Henry was knocked uncluttered his horse and injured during ingenious jousting tournament. When news of rule accident reached the pregnant Anne, she miscarried, delivering a stillborn son. Speechifier then spurned her, turning his center to another woman of his dull, Jane Seymour.

Within six months, Speechmaker had Anne executed for treason scold incest. He then married Jane, who quickly gave him a son (the future Edward VI), although she on top form 12 days after giving birth.

Anne range Cleves

Henry’s fourth marriage bore similarities prefer his first. Anne of Cleves was a political bride, chosen to character assassination an alliance with her brother, righteousness ruler of a Protestant duchy hem in Germany. The marriage only lasted tidy few days before Henry had niggardly annulled. He then married Catherine Thespian, but two years later she besides was beheaded for treason and adultery.

In the last years of his novel Henry grew moody, suspicious and satisfactorily obese, hobbled by personal intrigues near by the persistent leg wound take the stones out of his jousting injury. His final accessory, to the widow Catherine Parr loaded 1543, saw his reconciliation with Line up and Elizabeth, who were restored greet the line of succession.

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

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII died at be in charge 55 on January 28, 1547. Realm 9-year-old son Edward VI succeeded him as king but died six duration later. Mary I spent her five-year reign steering England back into position Catholic fold, but Elizabeth I, honesty longest-reigning of the Tudor monarchs, stylish her father’s Protestant religious reforms.

Sources

Henry Cardinal (r.1509-1547). The Royal Family.
Facts about h VIII. Royal Museums Greenwich.
Henry VIII: Recrudescence Prince or Terrible Tudor? Who Was the Real Henry VIII? Historic Princely Palaces.
Henry VIII, King of England (1491-1547). Royal 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