Biography Henry VIII of England

LIFE OF HENRY VIII


Henry VIII was born at Greenwich on 28th June 1491. He was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. His elder brother- Arthur death in 1502 made Henry a Prince of Wales and being the first in the queue to throne. He succeeded in 1509 when his father died.
He received a papal dispensation to marry Arthur’s widow – Catharine of Aragon shortly after he became a king. They had a child – Princess Mary, born in 1516. But Henry dramatically wanted a son. Catherine was older 6 years from Henry and by the end of 1520s she was in her forties – to difficult to get pregnant.
Henry VII died leaving the country in good condition. Henry VIII politic viewing was influenced by Thomas Wolsey – an Ipswich butcher’s son, who became Lord Chancellor in 1515. He was one of the most powerful ministers in British history (symbolised by his building of Hampton Court Palace). Wolsey became a good friend of Henry. They spent a lot of time together. In 1515 Wolsey was appointed a Cardinal and given a papal legate power. Soon he was “governed” the Church in England. The friendship between Henry and Wolsey lasted only until king fell in love with Anne Boleyn and wanted a divorce from Catharine. Pope Clement VII who already gave the dispention for Henry and Catharine marriage didn’t let them divorce.
Anne Boleyn was the sister of Henry’s many mistresses, but Henry felt in love so deeply that he wanted to make her “his queen”. Wolsey tried to persuade Henry to be back with Catharine and live like a wife and husband again. Henry dismissed him and arrested. Wolsey died in the Tower before the trial.
In 1532 Henry found a new adviser – Thomas Cromwell and made Cranmer the Archbishop of Canterbury. Cranmer made king’s marriage with Catharine of Aragon invalid and Anne Boleyn was crowned queen a week later. Pope excommunicated Henry, for what he respond with Act of Supremacy. This made Henry VIII the head of the Church in England. Anybody who was against king’s rules – was executed – like the famous Thomas More.
With Anne he had only one daughter – Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I), but no male child. She was easily getting pregnant but heaving premature births every time and the babies were dead.
Soon Henry found another mistress – Jane Seymour.
To get rid of Anne he convicted her of adultery, incest and executed in 1536. All the charges were false. She loved Henry so much that a minute before execution she said she forgave him.


Soon afterward Henry married Jane Seymour. He was waiting 27 years for son and finally in 1537 Jane gave birth to Edward (later Edward VI). But Jane died in childbed – 12 days after the birth.
In these years (36-37) Henry had to deal with many rebellious. The biggest was Pilgrim of Grace.
Cromwell persuaded the king to marry German Protestant Princes – Anne of Cleves in 1540. This marriage lasted only 6 months. They even didn’t share the bed together.
They divorced. In this time Henry disliked Cromwell and beheaded him.
Next wife of Henry was Catharine Howard. It is said that Henry loved her the most.
Poor girl (she was very young) was beheaded on ground of adultery like Anne Boleyn before.
The sixth wife he chose was Catharine Parr. She was married 2 times before Henry. Both times she became a widow. The marriage with Henry finished the some way. He died on 28th January 1547. Maybe better for her because she was in love with another man. So she was free to marry him.
When Henry was dying he hoped that his son going to be the greatest king but it was his daughter Elisabeth I who became the greatest.