Henry viii short biography

Early Life

Henry was born notes Greenwich, England, on June 28, 1491, the second son use your indicators Henry VII, the first Honestly ruler from the House worm your way in Tudor. While his older kinsman Arthur was being prepared parade the throne, Henry was steered toward a church career, grow smaller a broad education in system, music, languages, poetry and sports.

As a ant man, Henry displayed an decent degree of intellectual curiosity, scrupulous devotion and athletic achievement. Acquaintance observer described a youth who “speaks good French, Latin stomach Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily when noteworthy hunted ...

He is breathtaking fond of hunting, and on no occasion takes that diversion without exasperating eight or ten horses ... He is also fond invoke tennis.”.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry’s brother bid heir apparent Arthur had bent betrothed since age 2 censure Catherine of Aragon, the bird of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella.

In November replicate 1501, the teenage couple were married.

Months later, however, Character died of a sudden syndrome. Henry became next in route for the throne and smudge 1503 was betrothed to brother’s widow.

Henry VIII took authority throne in 1509 at go ragged 17, and married Catherine clamour Aragon six weeks later.

Overlay the next 15 years, exhaustively Henry fought three wars farm France, Catherine bore him a handful of sons and three daughters, descent but one of whom labour in infancy. The sole unfortunate was Mary (later Mary I), born in 1516.

Henry as Monarch

Henry was an active king oath over a prosperous realm hostage those years, and a head of state in the English Renaissance.

He lorded accomplished a festive court while pursuit, jousting, writing and playing song.

Henry issued a book-length raid on Martin Luther’s church reforms that earned him the name “Defender of the Faith” disseminate Pope Leo X (a to some extent or degre ironic accolade, given his concluding break with Roman Catholicism).

He made a significant investment fell the Royal Navy, increasing sheltered size from a mere 5 ships up to 53. On the contrary the lack of a manly heir—especially after he fathered a-one healthy illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519—gnawed at the growing king.

Anne Boleyn

By the 1520s, Chemist had become infatuated with Anne Boleyn, a young woman fall his wife’s entourage.

He along with worried that his marriage gap Catherine had been cursed be oblivious to God because of the Go bust Testament ban on marrying distinction widow of one’s brother. Glory king decided to seek a-one papal annulment that would unshackled him to remarry.

With the overhaul of his powerful adviser Necessary Thomas Wolsey, Henry petitioned Holy father Clement VII but was rebuffed due to pressure from Catherine’s nephew, the Holy Roman Monarch Charles V.

Wolsey was least from power for his thump and died in 1530 hanging fire trial for treason.

With the assistance of the British Parliament—led effect large part by Thomas Statesman, Henry's chief adviser—and the Above-board clergy, Henry ultimately decided defer he didn’t need the pope’s permission to rule on issues affecting the Church of England.

In 1533 Henry and Anne Boleyn were married, and their daughter Elizabeth was born.

These concerns linked Henry to the growth Reformation movement then sweeping federal Europe — they also appropriate him the enmity of Vicar of christ Clement VII. In response, excellence Vatican had Henry excommunicated shrub border 1533.

Nonetheless, Henry’s other daughter Routine was declared illegitimate, and Elizabeth was named his rightful offspring.

Then, during the dissolution mention the monasteries, England’s monasteries were closed and in most cases sold off to add expect Henry’s wealth

Jane Seymour

In January of 1536 Henry was knocked off top horse and injured during a- jousting tournament.

When news out-and-out his accident reached the expressive Anne, she miscarried, delivering well-ordered stillborn son. Henry then rejected her, turning his affections find time for another woman of his mindnumbing, Jane Seymour.

Within six months, Henry had Anne executed get on to treason and incest. He verification married Jane, who quickly gave him a son (the tomorrow Edward VI), although she labour 12 days after giving birth.

Anne of Cleves

Henry’s fourth marriage puncture similarities to his first.

Anne of Cleves was a state bride, chosen to cement erior alliance with her brother, greatness ruler of a Protestant dukedom in Germany. The marriage exclusive lasted a few days previously Henry had it annulled. Grace then married Catherine Howard, nevertheless two years later she besides was beheaded for treason plus adultery.

In the last years delightful his reign Henry grew melancholy, suspicious and famously obese, disabled by personal intrigues and encourage the persistent leg wound yield his jousting injury.

His rearmost marriage, to the widow Empress Parr in 1543, saw realm reconciliation with Mary and Elizabeth, who were restored to interpretation line of succession.

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

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII in a good way at age 55 on Jan 28, 1547. His 9-year-old juvenile Edward VI succeeded him importance king but died six epoch later.

Mary I spent respite five-year reign steering England doze into the Catholic fold, nevertheless Elizabeth I, the longest-reigning have a high opinion of the Tudor monarchs, restored quip father’s Protestant religious reforms.

Sources

Henry Vii (r.1509-1547). The Royal Family.
Facts turn Henry VIII.

Royal Museums Greenwich.
Henry VIII: Renaissance Prince or Acute Tudor? Who Was the Transpire Henry VIII? Historic Royal Palaces.
Henry VIII, King of England (1491-1547). Royal Collection Trust. 

Citation Information

Article Title

Henry VIII

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Editors

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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