Henry VIII

HenryVIII 1509

British - Field of the Cloth of Gold - Google Art Project

Henry VIII with Charles Quint and Pope Leon X circa 1520

Catalina de Aragón, palacio de Lambeth

1491 Henry VIII

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death in 1547. He was the second Tudor monarch, succeeding his father, Henry VII. Henry VIII is best known for his six marriages and his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. His disagreements with the Pope over the annulment of his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon led to the English Reformation, during which the Church of England was established independently of papal authority.

Early Life

Henry was born at Greenwich Palace on 28 June 1491, the third child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He was a well-educated prince, fluent in Latin and French, and skilled in the arts and sciences. Initially not expected to become king, his older brother Arthur, Prince of Wales, was the heir apparent. However, Arthur's death in 1502, followed by that of their mother in 1503, left Henry as his father's successor.

Reign

Henry VIII ascended the throne in 1509, marrying Catherine of Aragon the same year. The early years of his reign were marked by a focus on foreign policy and military campaigns in France and Scotland. However, his desire for a male heir led to significant personal and political conflict. His marriage to Catherine failed to produce a surviving male heir, leading Henry to seek an annulment of the marriage to marry Anne Boleyn. This request was denied by the Pope, prompting Henry to initiate the English Reformation.

The English Reformation

The Reformation was a pivotal moment in English history, leading to the establishment of the Church of England and the dissolution of the monasteries. Henry assumed supreme authority over the church in England and declared himself its head. The Act of Supremacy in 1534 formalized this break from the Roman Catholic Church. The Reformation led to significant religious and political upheaval, including the Pilgrimage of Grace, a large-scale rebellion in the north of England.

Marriages and Issue

Henry's quest for a male heir led him to marry six times: 1. Catherine of Aragon - marriage annulled; mother of Mary I 2. Anne Boleyn - executed; mother of Elizabeth I 3. Jane Seymour - died post childbirth; mother of Edward VI 4. Anne of Cleves - marriage annulled 5. Catherine Howard - executed 6. Catherine Parr - outlived Henry

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547 at the age of 55. He was succeeded by his son, Edward VI. Henry's reign is notable for the significant changes it brought to the English constitution, ushering in the theory of the divine right of kings and significantly altering the relationship between the monarchy and the Church. His establishment of the Church of England laid the foundation for religious reform and conflict in England for generations.