Henry VIII

Lore & Background

Henry was born in Greenwich as the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. His elder brother Arthur died in 1502, making Henry heir. He acceded to the throne in 1509 and married Catherine of Aragon, his brother's widow, with a papal dispensation. Early in his reign, he was described as an attractive, educated, and accomplished king. He grew dissatisfied with the marriage and appealed to Pope Clement VII for an annulment, which was not granted. In 1533, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, declared the marriage void in the eyes of the Church of England. Clement excommunicated Henry, who then passed the Acts of Supremacy, establishing himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England. He dissolved Catholic convents and monasteries, seizing their wealth, contributing to the English Reformation.

Reader's Guide

Henry VIII's reign fundamentally altered the religious and political landscape of England. By breaking with the Roman Catholic Church and establishing the Church of England, he initiated the English Reformation, which had lasting effects on English identity and governance. His six marriages, including the beheadings of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, and the annulments of his marriages to Catherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves, are central to his legacy. He is considered one of the greatest monarchs in English history, though he grew more tyrannical, egotistical, and paranoid by the end of his life. His dissolution of monasteries redistributed wealth and power, while his establishment of royal supremacy over the church set a precedent for future monarchs. He was succeeded by his only surviving son, Edward VI.

Did You Know?

• Henry was the first English monarch to rule as king of both England and Ireland.
• He was created Prince of Wales in 1504 and acceded to the throne upon his father's death in 1509.
• He married Catherine of Aragon with a papal dispensation after his brother Arthur's death.
• He suffered a gangrenous leg wound from a jousting accident in 1536.