Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 to 1547. He sparked the Protestant Reformation, established the Church of England, and had six wives. He was an accomplished and athletic man who promoted innovation and unification of England. In his later years, he became tyrannical and may have suffered from syphilis. He was succeeded by his son, Edward VI, who was followed by Lady Jane Grey and then Henry’s daughter Mary. Elizabeth I was the last Tudor monarch.
Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. During his reign, Henry VIII sparked the Protestant Reformation in England, with long-lasting repercussions for England and Europe at large. He has also contributed a number of other things to British history. However, he is best known for his marital habits; King Henry’s six wives are a topic of great interest to his biographers.
At the time of Henry’s birth, he had an older brother, Arthur, who was destined to be king. It was assumed that Henry would enter the church and was provided with an excellent education. His contemporaries described him as an accomplished, intelligent, highly athletic man who was also an accomplished musician. His brother married Catherine of Aragon in an attempt to improve relations between England and Spain. In 1502, Arthur died, placing Henry in line to the throne.
Henry ended up marrying Catherine of Aragon, after a papal dispensation was acquired. The two were crowned on 21 April 1509. In 1533, Henry VIII became dissatisfied with his first wife and sought an annulment of their marriage. The Pope refused and Henry began a break with Rome which eventually sparked major religious reforms in England. Under Henry, the king became the head of the church in England and the church’s power was greatly eroded. This break between Rome and England led to numerous things including the establishment of the Church of England and a breakdown in cordial relations between England and Spain.
The reign of Henry VIII is characterized by a growing interest in discovery and innovation. The monarch was born as the New World was being discovered and realized the value of building a navy and promoting innovation in Britain. In one sense, Henry was quite radical, working to unify England and Wales, create a separate British church, and establish England as a great power. He was often compared to a lion, especially in later years when he became quite heavy and somewhat ferocious, according to some accounts.
In his older years, Henry VIII became much more tyrannical and almost paranoid in a way. Some historians suspect that he may have suffered from syphilis, which would surely explain much of his behavior, along with the medical problems endured by his children. His numerous wives indicate an aspect of his restless personality, but he was also responsible for numerous executions and other brutal acts. Upon his death, Henry was succeeded by his son, Edward VI. His son never reached manhood, and was succeeded by Lady Jane Grey, who reigned for only nine days before being succeeded by Henry’s daughter Mary. Upon Mary’s death, Elizabeth I, the last Tudor monarch, assumed the throne.
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