-
Period: Jul 11, 1509 to Jan 28, 1547
Henry VIII and the Six Wives
-
Jul 23, 1509
Catherine of Aragon
Henry marries his first wife Catherine of Aragon in June of 1509. She was the widow of his brother. They were married for over twenty years, and had a baby girl Mary. Due to her inability to birth a son, and her age of 40 (seen as way past childbearing years in the Tudors) Henry was worried. He soon caught eyes for one of Catherines ladies in waiting- Anne Boleyn. -
Jan 23, 1533
Anne Bolyen
Henry and Anne married in a low key ceremony. Anne soon fell pregnant however with another girl, Elizabeth. After many babies tragically dying, and Anne's fiery personality no longer appealing to Henry, he started to get angry. Anne was arrested on suspicion of insest and adultery with her brother and swiftly executed. -
May 29, 1536
Jane Seymour
Jane was one of Anne's ladies in waiting when Henry met her. They married 10 days after Anne's execution. Soon, joy would fill the palace as Jane gave birth to a healthy son Edward! However, tragically Jane passed away soon after due to childbirth complications, leading Henry to find another wife. -
1540
Anne of Cleves
Anne of Cleves was from Germany, and Henry was sent her infamous portrait, done by Hans Holbein. It is a popular rumour that she was very ugly and Henry got a divorce after seeing her in real life, yet this is false. He had fallen for the 17 year old Catherine Howard. Anne agreed to the end of the marriage - it had not been consummated - and she was given a large sum of money, houses and land. -
Jul 28, 1540
Catherine Howard
Henry swiftly married the young Catherine. However, soon after she engaged in an affair with Thomas Culpepper and employed Francis Dereham, whom she was informally engaged to and had had an affair with him. Henry was enraged on finding out and Catherine was tried and beheaded at just 19 years old. -
Jul 12, 1543
Catherine Parr
Catherine Parr was the final wife of Henry. She formed a close relationship with his children, and published books under her own name which was a first. She survived Henry after he died in 1547.