King Henry VIII

King Henry VIII, wives and children

Period: Jan 1, 1509 to Dec 31, 1609

Henry VIII Becomes King

Apr 21, 1509

Henry was born on the 28th of June, 1491. He became king when he was only 18. He was considered attractive, educated and accomplished. He also was an author and composer. He was known to the people as being a lustful, egotisticalm harsh and insecure king later in his life.He wanted a male heir to continue his reign and thought women were weak and would not be able to successfully continue the kingdom.

Catherine of Aragon marries Henry VIII

Jun 11, 1509

Catherine of Aragon was the youngest surviving child of Ferdinand and Isabella. When she was three years old, she was betrothed to Arthur, the son of Henry VII of England. Arthur was not even two years. in 1501, Catherine made the journey to England. It took her three months, but she safely made landfall at Plymouth on October 2, 1501. Catherine was pregnant seven times, but only one lived. Catherine was surprised and angered at Henry VIII's annulment to their marriage.

Henry and Catherine's daughter Mary is born

Apr 21, 1516

Mary I was considered illegitimate because she was not a male heir, and was called "The Lady Mary" instead of "Princess." Even though her parent's marriage was considered invalid, she never was restored with her former identity as princess. Mary and her stepmother, Anne of Cleves, became fast friends and remained friends until Mary's death. Mary constantly feared that if she left, England would return to Catholicism, so she stood her ground. She was soon crowned the True Queen of England.

Henry's annulment to Catherine of Aragon

Feb 2, 1527

Henry VIII secretly marries Anne Boleyn/Anne becomes Queen

Jan 25, 1533

We know very little about Anne Boleyn's early history, though she was an important English figure. Anne spent part of her childhood at the court of the Archduchess Margaret. The legend of Anne Boleyn always includes a sixth finger and a large mole on her neck. 17 love letters from Henry to Anne have been found. Anne was eventually excecuted for charges of adultery, though Henry and Anne's marriage ended up to be invalid.

Elizabeth I Is Born

Sep 7, 1533

Act of Supremacy

Nov 1, 1534

King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his first wife Catherine of Aragon but the Pope refused to allow it. Therefore King Henry took a popular way out, he made his own church and became the head of it. The act of Supremacy was an official break from the Roman Church.

Catherine of Aragon dies

Jan 7, 1536

Anne Boleyn is executed

May 17, 1536

Jane Seymour Marries King Henry VIII

May 30, 1536

She was the 3rd wife of King Henry VIII and gave birth to his only son, Edward VI. She got married at the Palace of Whitehall, London. She died less than two weeks after giving birth to her son, due to postnatal complications on October 24, 1537. She was the only one out of his six wives who had a queen's funeral after her death. She was the only wife who King Henry VIII was buried next to later.

Edward VI is Born

Oct 12, 1537

Son of Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour Dies

Oct 24, 1537

Anne of Cleves Marries King Henry VIII

Jan 6, 1540

Was the 4th wife of King Henry VIII and gave birth to Mary I. She was buried in Westminster Abbey. She did not fit in well with the English life and Henry did not love her. They were not consummated and she was on queen of enland for three days. King Henry charged Anne for incest and adultery, but both charges are most likely incorrect. She was later called the "King's beloved sister." She got a divorce with King Henry in July 1540.

Anne of Cleves Divorces

Jul 22, 1540

Kathryn Howard Marries King Henry

Jul 28, 1540

Kathryn was the first cousin of Anne Boleyn. She married King Henry because her uncle pressured her into it, attempting to get more control over the monarch. When they married Kathryn was only 19 and King Henry was 49. Henry had become obese and thought marrying this young girl would make his lfe more interesting, but it didn't. Kathryn even hired one of her admirers as a personal secretary. Less than a year after there marriage there were rumors of Kathryn's infidelity.

Kathryn Howard Beheaded

Feb 13, 1542

She was executed on the Tower Green and her body was buried next to her cousin, also beheaded by King Henry, Ann Boleyn

Katherine Parr Marries King Henry

Jul 12, 1543

Katherine was the last wife of Henry, she outlived him, she was eventually widowed. Katherine was smart, she fluently spoke English, French, Latin and Italian. She also began learning Spanish when she became queen. Katherine had married before and been widowed. After Henry died she secretly married Thomas Seymour. Katherine was the mother of Mary, who she gave birth to when she was 36.

Henry VIII dies

Jan 28, 1547

He leaves his final sixth wife Katherine widowed.

Edward VI Becomes King

Jan 29, 1547

The only son of King Henry, Edward, takes the throne at just ten years old. Edward was very sick his whole childhood, he was believed to be suffering from tuberculosis. Being a devout Protestant he appointed Lady Jane Grey to lead after him, calling his two sisters illegitimate. However nine days after his death Lady Jane Grey was deposed by supporters of the right heir. Edward died young from sicknesses.

Katherine Parr Dies

Sep 5, 1548

Katherine died of Puerperal fever.

King Edward VI Dies

Jul 6, 1553

Henry VIII's daughter Mary declared Queen

Jul 19, 1553

Coronation of Mary I

Oct 1, 1553

Mary I dies

Nov 17, 1558

Queen Elizabeth I Takes the Throne

Nov 17, 1558

She was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor's. Her mother, Anne Boleyn was killed when Elizabeth was two and a half years old. One of the first things she did when she became queen was to create an English Portestant church. She was one of the best educated women in her generation due to the amount of education she received. She is known as the "Virgin Queen" because she ruled for half a century without a husband. Her road to becoming a queen was a dangerous path. She died on March 24, 1603.

1559 Act of Supremacy

Jan 20, 1559

The first act of Supremacy made by King Henry was repealed by his Catholic daughter Mary I. This second act was put in place by Mary's sister, Elizabeth I.

Queen Elizaebth I dies

Mar 24, 1603