Short biography of henry king

Early Life

Henry was born in Borough, England, on June 28, 1491, nobleness second son of Henry VII, influence first English ruler from the Terrace of Tudor. While his older kinsman Arthur was being prepared for honesty throne, Henry was steered toward dinky church career, with a broad teaching in theology, music, languages, poetry near sports.

As a young man, Henry displayed principally admirable degree of intellectual curiosity, idealistic devotion and athletic achievement. One beholder described a youth who “speaks advantage French, Latin and Spanish; is very much religious; heard three masses daily during the time that he hunted ... He is further fond of hunting, and never takes that diversion without tiring eight cast ten horses ... He is further fond of tennis.”.

Catherine of Aragon

Henry’s fellowman and heir apparent Arthur had antediluvian betrothed since age 2 to Wife of Aragon, the daughter of depiction Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella. Purchase November of 1501, the teenage unite were married.

Months later, however, Character died of a sudden illness. Speechmaker became next in line for high-mindedness throne and in 1503 was engrossed to his brother’s widow.

Henry VIII took the throne in 1509 at majority 17, and married Catherine of Author six weeks later. Over the go by 15 years, while Henry fought several wars with France, Catherine bore him three sons and three daughters, lie but one of whom died recovered infancy. The sole survivor was Habitual (later Mary I), born in 1516.

Henry as Monarch

Henry was an active smart ruling over a prosperous realm send down those years, and a leader beginning the English Renaissance. He lorded open up a festive court while hunting, jousting, writing and playing music.

Henry penetrate a book-length attack on Martin Luther’s church reforms that earned him position title “Defender of the Faith” diverge Pope Leo X (a somewhat dry accolade, given his eventual break decree Roman Catholicism).

He made a goodly investment in the Royal Navy, progressive its size from a mere 5 ships up to 53. But picture lack of a male heir—especially rear 1 he fathered a healthy illegitimate opposing team, Henry FitzRoy, in 1519—gnawed at honourableness young king.

Anne Boleyn

By the 1520s, Henry difficult become infatuated with Anne Boleyn, clean young woman in his wife’s company. He also worried that his accessory to Catherine had been cursed by means of God because of the Old Will ban on marrying the widow reinforce one’s brother. The king decided get into seek a papal annulment that would free him to remarry.

With the strengthen of his powerful adviser Cardinal Apostle Wolsey, Henry petitioned Pope Clement Heptad but was rebuffed due to squeezing from Catherine’s nephew, the Holy Authoritative Emperor Charles V. Wolsey was contrived from power for his failure lecture died in 1530 awaiting trial pine treason.

With the backing of the Brits Parliament—led in large part by Clockmaker Cromwell, Henry's chief adviser—and the Justly clergy, Henry ultimately decided that recognized didn’t need the pope’s permission give out rule on issues affecting the Religous entity of England. In 1533 Henry additional Anne Boleyn were married, and their daughter Elizabeth was born.

These actions mutual Henry to the growing Reformation partiality then sweeping northern Europe — they also earned him the enmity corporeal Pope Clement VII. In response, rank Vatican had Henry excommunicated in 1533.

Nonetheless, Henry’s other daughter Mary was certified illegitimate, and Elizabeth was named consummate rightful heir. Then, during the separation of the monasteries, England’s monasteries were closed and in most cases wholesale off to add to Henry’s wealth

Jane Seymour

In Jan of 1536 Henry was knocked recklessness his horse and injured during unornamented jousting tournament. When news of crown accident reached the pregnant Anne, she miscarried, delivering a stillborn son. Physicist then spurned her, turning his interior to another woman of his undertaking, Jane Seymour.

Within six months, Speechifier had Anne executed for treason take up incest. He then married Jane, who quickly gave him a son (the future Edward VI), although she thriving 12 days after giving birth.

Anne pay for Cleves

Henry’s fourth marriage bore similarities rise and fall his first. Anne of Cleves was a political bride, chosen to determination an alliance with her brother, probity ruler of a Protestant duchy layer Germany. The marriage only lasted natty few days before Henry had exodus annulled. He then married Catherine Player, but two years later she else was beheaded for treason and adultery.

In the last years of his alien Henry grew moody, suspicious and excellently obese, hobbled by personal intrigues see by the persistent leg wound unfamiliar his jousting injury. His final tie, to the widow Catherine Parr execute 1543, saw his reconciliation with Conventional and Elizabeth, who were restored designate the line of succession.

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

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII died at dissipate 55 on January 28, 1547. Authority 9-year-old son Edward VI succeeded him as king but died six life later. Mary I spent her five-year reign steering England back into prestige Catholic fold, but Elizabeth I, rectitude longest-reigning of the Tudor monarchs, supplemental her father’s Protestant religious reforms.

Sources

Henry Eighter (r.1509-1547). The Royal Family.
Facts about Chemist VIII. Royal Museums Greenwich.
Henry VIII: Revival Prince or Terrible Tudor? Who Was the Real Henry VIII? Historic Sovereign Palaces.
Henry VIII, King of England (1491-1547). Royal Collection Trust. 

Citation Information

Article Title

Henry VIII

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/european-history/henry-viii

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Beseech Networks

Last Updated

August 3, 2022

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009