Henry VIII

Henry Tudor VIII was born

Jun 28, 1491

Henry VIII Mini BioTudor VIII was born June 28, 1491 at Greenwich Palace, He was the third child and second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Of the young Henry's six siblings, only three – Arthur, Prince of Wales; Margaret; and Mary – survived infancy. He was baptised by Richard Fox, the Bishop of Exeter.

Henry's First 10 Years

Jan 1, 1495

Not much is known about Henry's early life but his titles because he was not expected to become king. When Henry was 2 he was appointed Constable of Dover Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. At 3 he was appointed Earl Marshal of England and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and was inducted into the Order of the Bath. Also at the age of 3 he was created Duke of York and a month or so later made Warden of the Scottish Marches. In May 1495, he was appointed to the Order of the Garter.

Henry's Brother Arthur Marries

Nov 1, 1501

In November 1501, Henry played a role in the ceremonies of the marriage of his brother, Prince Arthur, to Catherine of Aragon, the youngest surviving child of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. As Duke of York, Henry used the arms of his father as king.

Henry Next in Line to be King

Oct 1, 1502

In 1502, Henry's brother Arthur died at the age of 15. He had only been married 20 weeks. Henry was only 10 at the time when he became next in line to the throne, and the new Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales.

New Duties

Feb 1, 1503

At the age of 11 Henry's father (Henry VII) should have started giving him more takes and responsibilities to help him grow to become a capable king but he did not. As a result, Henry would become King untrained.

King

Apr 21, 1509

At 18 Henry became King. From the time his brother Authur died Henry's father had wanted him to marry Katherine of Aragon. However, the Pope had to issue a "impediment of public honesty" claiming Price Auther and Katherine were never truly married.

Marries Katherine of Aragon

Jun 11, 1509

Henry and Katherine were married on June 11, 1509 in Greenwich. On the 24th their coronation took place from London to Westminster Abbey.

Herny's First Child

Feb 18, 1516

Mary I Mini BioFrom 1510 to 1516 Henry and Katherine had lost 3 children (stillborn, died as infant, and miscarrige). However, on Feburary 18, 1516 Katherine gave birth to Mary.

Henry Wants a Son

Jan 1, 1525

By 1525 Henry wanted a son and believed Kathernine would never be able to give him one. Around this time he fell in love with Anne Boleyn (who was one of the Queen's ladies in waiting at the time). Anne wanted to become his wife but they both knew the Pope would never allow a divorice. From this time till Henry finally got what he wanted this problem was known as "The King's Great Matter."

Henry Marries Anne Boleyn

May 28, 1533

ReformationAnne Boleyn Mini Bio During the time leading up to Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn Henry had to fight agianst the Catholic Church to try to get a divorce from Katherine. The Pope would never allow it!Therefore, Henry did the unthinkable and broke away from the Church to create his own Church of England with himself as the head.

Elizabeth is Born

Sep 7, 1533

Elizabeth Mini Bio
Anne gave birth to Elizabeth on Sept. 7, 1533. It was not the son Henry wanted, but Elizabeth would one day be the greatest and first female to rule as queen alone. After the birth Henry and Anne's relationship started to decline.

Henry Takes a Fall

Jan 8, 1536

Henry became unhorsed in a tournament and was badly injured. For awhile the court did not think he would survive. However, he did but would live with a bad wound on his leg that would trouble him the rest of his life.

Anne's Downfall

May 19, 1536

Just like Katherine Henry became frustrated with Anne when she could not bear him a son. Her temper was another issue Henry could not take much longer. Henry suspected Anne of conspiracy, adultery, and witchcraft, and senteced her to death at 8am on May 19, 1536 on Tower Green.

Henry loves Jane

Oct 12, 1537

The day after Anne's execution in 1536 Henry became engaged to Seymour and 10 days later they were married. On 12 October 1537, Jane gave birth to a son, Prince Edward, who would later become King after his father's death. The birth was difficult, and the queen died on October 24, 1537 from an infection and was buried in Windsor. Henry would considered Jane his true wife and miss her the rest of his life.

Anne of Cleaves

Jan 6, 1540

After the death of Jane Henry was urged to remarry quickly. The painter Hans Holbein the Younger was sent sent to Cleves to paint a portrait of Anne for Henry. He agreed to marry her based on that picture. However, he was not please when he discovered that the painter painted her too favorably. He still agreed to marry her but by the 9th of July the marriage was over on grounds of non-consummation and her pre-contract to Francis of Lorraine. She lived her life known as "The King's Sister."

Wife Number Five

Jul 28, 1540

On July 28, 1540 Henry married Cathrine Howard (a relative of Anne Boleyn). Henry was smitten with his new Queen. She was young and full of life, which the 49 year old Henry loved.

Henry's Decline

Jan 1, 1542

Late in life, Henry became obese, with a waist measurement of 54 inches and had to be moved about with the help of mechanical inventions. He was covered with painful, pus-filled boils and and suffered from his leg wound that he suffered years earlier. Many believe it was his physical decline that caused his mood swings and temper.

Bye Bye Cathrine

Feb 13, 1542

Henry found out Catherine had an affiar with the courtier Thomas Culpeper. As was Henry's way he had Cathrine and Culpeper executed on 13 February 1542

Cathernine Parr

Jul 12, 1543

Henry married his 6th and final wife, Catherine Parr, on July 12, 1543. Cathernine is best remembered for reconciling Henry with his daughters Mary and Elizabeth. It was after his marriage to Parr that Henry choose to put his daughters back into the line of succession after Edward, Prince of Wales.

Henry's Death

Jan 28, 1547

Henry died in the Palace of Whitehall on January 28, 1547. As he would have wanted he was buried next to Jane Seymour in St. Geroge's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
The picture shows Henry with his children; Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth, and his much loved fool Will Sommers.

Edward IV

Feb 14, 1547

At his father's death Edward (son of Henry and Jane Seymour) became Edward IV and ruled till 1553.