King Henry VIII of England was King of England for 38 years. He was famous for his six wives, his succesful war campaign, and his treatment of his children. He was the father of Queen Mary I, Queen Elizabeth I and King Edward VI.
Biography[]
Henry was born a member of the House of Tudor. His father, Henry VII, was only the first Tudor king so their position wasn't very safe. Henry's elder brother Arthur was heir to the throne, but he died suddenly, leaving second son Henry to assume the throne (similar to Henry II of France, who poisoned his brother Francis). Henry became king at 18 and married his brother's widow Catherine of Aragon.
Catherine was educated, well-connected to the Pope and a member of the strong Spanish royal house of Habsburg. They were married for 24 years (longer than all his other marriages combined) but never could produce an heir to the throne, only a daughter Mary, later Bloody Mary.
Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn and broke with Rome and the Pope to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne instead. But Anne didn't have a son either, only a daughter Elizabeth (named after both their mothers). After 3 years of marriage, Henry had Anne beheaded on charges of treason, adultery, witchcraft and incest. The final witness to secure Anne's downfall was her best friend, Beatrice Somerset. Henry had offered threats and promises to secure her story. Elizabeth was declared a bastard.
Barely a week after Anne's execution, he married Jane Seymour and they had a son Edward. Jane died shortly after giving birth. Henry's fourth marriage was to Anne of Cleves, but he found her appearance so repulsive that he offered her palaces, wealth and independance if she agreed to a divorce, which she did.
His fifth marriage was to Catherine Howard, Anne Boleyn's cousin. She was young, younger even than his daughter Mary. When she cheated on him, he had her beheaded. His final marriage was to Catherine Parr, who outlived him.