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Henry VIII Tudor, King of England, was born 28 June 1491 in Greenwich Palace, England, United Kingdom to Henry VII of England (1457-1509) and Elizabeth of York (1465-1503) and died 28 January 1546 Palace of Whitehall, London, England, United Kingdom of unspecified causes. He married Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) 11 June 1509 JL . He married Anne Boleyn (c1505-1536) 25 January 1533 JL . He married Jane Seymour (c1509-1537) 30 May 1536 JL . He married Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg (1515-1557) 6 January 1540 JL . He married Catherine Howard (c1521-1542) 8 August 1540 JL . He married Catherine Parr (1512-1548) 12 July 1543 JL .

King Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509 until his death in 1547. He is perhaps best known for his six marriages, his break with the Roman Catholic Church, and his establishment of the Church of England.

Henry was born on June 28, 1491, in Greenwich, England, the second son of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He was not initially expected to become king, but after his older brother Arthur died in 1502, Henry became the heir to the throne.

During his reign, Henry also oversaw the dissolution of the monasteries, in which the Catholic Church's vast holdings of land and wealth were confiscated by the crown. He also faced various military conflicts, including with Scotland and France.

Henry is often remembered as a larger-than-life figure, with his many marriages and dramatic break with the Catholic Church. However, he was also a shrewd politician and military strategist, and his reign had a profound impact on the history of England.

Family Life

Map1509

Map of the British Isles in about 1509.

These marriages and divorces, along with the break from the Roman Catholic Church, had a significant impact on English history and continue to fascinate people today. Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)+Elizabeth Blount (c1502-bef1541)+Mary Boleyn (1503-1543)+Anne Boleyn (c1505-1536)+Jane Seymour (c1509-1537)+Anne of Cleves (1515-1557)+Catherine Howard (c1521-1542)+Catherine Parr (1512-1548)

1st Marriage: Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536): (married 1509-1533)In 1509, at the age of 18, Henry ascended to the throne upon the death of his father. He married , the widow of his older brother, the same year. - Catherine was the first wife of Henry VIII and previously married to his brother, Arthur, who died shortly after their marriage. Catherine was a devout Catholic and attempted to provide Henry with a male heir, but their only surviving child was a daughter, Mary. When Henry sought an annulment from the Pope, he was denied, and he subsequently broke away from the Roman Catholic Church.

  1. Henry Tudor (1511-1511)
  2. Mary I of England (1516-1558) - Queen of England
  1. stillborn daughter Tudor b. 31 Jan 1510, d. 31 Jan 1510
  2. Henry Tudor (1511-1511)
  3. stillborn son Tudor, Duke of Cornwall b. Nov 1513, d. Nov 1513
  4. Henry Tudor, Duke of Cornwall b. Nov 1514, d. Nov 1514
  5. Mary I of England (1516-1558) - Queen of England
  6. stillborn daughter Tudor b. 10 Nov 1518, d. 10 Nov 1518


2nd Marriage: Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn (c1505-1536): (married 1533-1536) - Anne was Henry's second wife, and her marriage to Henry was one of the factors that led to the English Reformation. Anne was a strong-willed woman who championed the cause of the English Reformation, and she bore Henry a daughter, Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth I. However, after failing to produce a male heir, Henry had Anne charged with adultery, incest, and treason, and she was executed.

  1. lizabeth I of England (1533-1603) Queen of England

3rd Marriage: Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour (c1509-1537): (married 1536-1537) - Jane was Henry's third wife and is the only one of his wives to give birth to a surviving male heir, Edward VI. However, Jane died of complications from childbirth just 12 days after Edward's birth.

  1. Edward VI of England (1537-1553)

4th Marriage: Anne of Cleves

Anne of Cleves (1515-1557): (married 1540, annulled) - Anne was a German princess and the fourth wife of Henry VIII. Henry found Anne unattractive and had the marriage annulled after just six months. Anne received a generous settlement and remained in England, where she was known as the "King's Sister."

5th Marriage: Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard (c1521-1542): (married 1540-1542) - Catherine was Henry's fifth wife and was known for her youth and beauty. However, she was also known for her promiscuity, and after evidence of her past sexual relationships emerged, Henry had her charged with treason and executed.

6th Marriage: Catheirne Parr

Catherine Parr (1512-1548): (married 1543-1547) - Catherine was Henry's sixth and final wife, and she outlived him. Catherine was a Protestant and used her influence to promote religious reform in England. She was also a scholar and published two books during her lifetime.

Other Relationships

Elizabeth Blount

Elizabeth Blount (c1502-bef1541) Elizabeth Blount was born circa 1502.2 She was the daughter of Sir John Blount.3 She married, firstly, Gilbert Tailboys, 1st Baron Tailboys of Kyme, son of Sir George Tailboys and Elizabeth Gascoigne.4 She married, secondly, Edward Clinton, 1st Earl of Lincoln, son of Thomas Clinton, 8th Lord Clinton and Joan Poynings, from 15 April 1530 to 12 February 1534/35.3 She died between 1539 and 1541.2 She and Henry VIII Tudor, King of England were associated circa 1518. Her married name became Tailboys.4 From from 15 April 1530 to 12 February 1534/35, her married name became Clinton. She was Maid of Honour to Catherine of Aragon.1

  1. Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Richmond14 b. 1519, d. 22 Jul 1536


Mary Boleyn

  1. Mary Boleyn (1503-1543)


Children


Offspring of Henry VIII of England and Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Stillborn Daughter Tudor (1510-1510)
Henry Tudor (1511-1511)
Stillborn Son Tudor (1513-1513)
Henry Tudor (1514-1514)
Mary I of England (1516-1558) 8 February 1516 Greenwich, Greater London, England, United Kingdom 17 November 1558 London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom Philip II of Spain (1527-1598)
Stillborn Daughter Tudor (1518-1518)


Offspring of Henry VIII of England and Elizabeth Blount (c1502-bef1541)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond (1519-1536) 15 June 1519 Blackmore, Essex, England, United Kingdom 23 July 1536 Thetford, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom


Offspring of Henry VIII of England and Mary Boleyn (1503-1543)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Catherine Carey (1524-1569) June 1524 15 January 1569 Francis Knollys (c1511-1596)
Henry Carey, Baron Hunsdon (1526-1596) 4 March 1526 Hengrave, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom 23 July 1596 Somerset House, Strand, Greater London, England, United Kingdom Anne Morgan (1529-1606)


Offspring of Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn (c1505-1536)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Elizabeth I of England (1533-1603) 7 September 1533 Palace of Placentia, Greenwich, England, United Kingdom 24 March 1603 Richmond Palace, Surrey, England, United Kingdom


Offspring of Henry VIII of England and Jane Seymour (c1509-1537)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Edward VI of England (1537-1553) 12 October 1537 Hampton Court Palace, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom 6 July 1553 Greenwich Palace, Kent, England, United Kingdom



Siblings


Offspring of Henry VII of England (1457-1509) and Elizabeth of York (1465-1503)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486-1502) 19 September 1486 Winchester Cathedral Priory, Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom 2 April 1502 Ludlow Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire, England, United Kingdom Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)
Margaret Tudor (1489-1541) 28 November 1489 18 October 1541 James IV, King of Scotland (1473-1513)
Archibald Douglas (1489-1557)
Henry Stewart, 1st Lord Methven (c1495-1552)
Henry VIII of England (1491-1547) 28 June 1491 Greenwich Palace, England, United Kingdom 28 January 1546 Palace of Whitehall, London, England, United Kingdom Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536)
Elizabeth Blount (c1502-bef1541)
Mary Boleyn (1503-1543)
Anne Boleyn (c1505-1536)
Jane Seymour (c1509-1537)
Anne of Cleves (1515-1557)
Catherine Howard (c1521-1542)
Catherine Parr (1512-1548)
Elizabeth Tudor (1492-1494) 2 July 1492 Surrey, England, United Kingdom 14 September 1495 Eltham Palace, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Mary Tudor (1496-1533) 18 March 1496 Richmond Palace, Surrey, England, United Kingdom 24 June 1533 Westhorpe Hall, Suffolk, England, United Kingdom Louis XII of Orleans (1462-1515)
Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk (c1484-1545)
Edmund, Duke of Somerset (1499-c1500) 21 February 1499 Greenwich Palace, Greenwich, Greater London, England, United Kingdom 19 June 1500 Royal Palace of Hatfield, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
Katherine Tudor (1503-1503) 2 February 1503 Tower of London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom 10 February 1503 Tower of London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom


Offspring of Henry VII of England (1457-1509) and Unknown Breton concubine (c1455)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Roland de Velville (1474-c1533) 1474 1533 Agnes Griffith (c1474)


See Also

Bibliography

External Links

Ancestry Trees

Contemporary References

There are several excellent contemporary references for the life of King Henry VIII of England. Some of the most notable ones are:

  1. The Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, of the Reign of Henry VIII - This is a comprehensive collection of primary sources from Henry VIII's reign, including letters, reports, and other documents. The collection provides valuable insight into the political and personal life of Henry VIII and his court.
  2. The Chronicles of Edward Hall - This is a 16th-century chronicle that covers the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII. It includes detailed accounts of Henry VIII's marriages and divorces, as well as his religious reforms and military campaigns.
  3. The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey by George Cavendish - This is a biography of Cardinal Wolsey, Henry VIII's chief advisor and a key figure in the English Reformation. The book provides a detailed account of Wolsey's relationship with Henry VIII, as well as the political and religious upheaval of the time.
  4. The Acts and Monuments by John Foxe - This is a 16th-century work that provides a history of the Christian church from its origins to the time of the author. It includes a detailed account of the English Reformation, including Henry VIII's break with the Roman Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England.
  5. The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir - This is a modern biography of Henry VIII and his six wives. Weir's book provides a well-researched and accessible account of Henry's life, his marriages, and the political and religious upheaval of the time.

Original Citations

Letters and Papers of Henry VIII

Covering the 1st marriage of King Henry VIII in its original French:

"Le vingt-cinquième jour du mois de janvier, mil cinq cent onze, le roi Henry huitième épousa Catherine, fille des Rois Catholiques d'Espagne, en la chapelle du palais de Greenwich, en présence de nombreux seigneurs et dames et avec une grande pompe et solennité. Le lendemain, il y eut un grand banquet et des divertissements dans la salle du palais, et les deux jours suivants, les noces furent célébrées avec des tournois et des joutes."

Translation: "On the twenty-fifth day of the month of January, 1511, King Henry VIII married Catherine, daughter of the Catholic Kings of Spain, in the chapel of the Palace of Greenwich, in the presence of many lords and ladies and with great pomp and solemnity. The following day, there was a great banquet and entertainment in the hall of the palace, and the two days after that, the wedding was celebrated with tournaments and jousts."

Chronicle of Edward Hall

Here is an original citation from the Chronicle of Edward Hall, a 16th-century chronicle that covers the reigns of Henry VII and Henry VIII, about the birth and childhood of King Henry VIII:

"And so it was, that on the Twenty-eighth day of June, being Friday, between three and four of the clock in the morning, the Queen was delivered of a fair Prince in the Palace of Placentia at Greenwich. At whose nativity the same day, Te Deum Laudamus was sung in all the Churches of London. This Prince was christened in the Church of the Observant Friars at Greenwich, whose name was called Henry, and because he was the second son of his father, the Duke of York, he was after named Henry of York, and after the death of his father he was crowned King of England and had issue of three lawful sons and three daughters."

Royal Succession Chart

Henry VIII of England (1491-1547)
Born: 28 June 1491 Died: 28 January 1547
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Henry VII
Lord of Ireland
1509–1542
Crown of Ireland Act 1542
King of England
1509–1547
Succeeded by
Edward VI
Vacant
Title last held by
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
King of Ireland
1542–1547
Political offices
Preceded by
Sir William Scott
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports
1493–1509
Succeeded by
Sir Edward Poyning
Preceded by
The Marquess of Berkeley
Earl Marshal
1494–1509
Succeeded by
The Duke of Norfolk
Peerage of England
Vacant
Title last held by
Arthur
Prince of Wales
1503–1509
Vacant
Title next held by
Edward
Preceded by
Arthur
Duke of Cornwall
1502–1509
Vacant
Title next held by
Henry


Footnotes


Footnotes (including sources)

Robin Patterson, Thurstan, Rtol, Phlox, Pmalish, Afil, MainTour

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