Henry VIII, King of England

Henry, the son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, was born at Greenwich Palace June 28 1491
He married firstly Catherine, widow of his brother, Arthur, and daughter of Fernando II of Aragon and Isabel of Castile, at Grey Friars' church, Greenwich, June 11 1509. They were divorced in May 1533.
He married secondly Anne, daughter of Thomas Boleyn and Elizabeth Howard, In London, January 1533.  She was executed in May 1536.
He married thirdly Jane, daughter of Sir John Seymour and Mary Wentworth, at York Place, London, May 1536. She died at Hampton Court Palace, October 24 1537.
He married fourthly Anne, daughter of Johann III, Duke of Cleves, and Marie of Julich, at Greenwich Palace, January 6 1540. The marriage was annulled and Anne died at Chelsea in July 1557.
He married fifthly Catherine, daughter of Edmund, Lord Howard, and Joyce Culpepper, at Hampton Court, July 28 1540. She was executed, February 13 1542.
He married sixthly Katherine, widow of John Nevill, and daughter of Sir Thomas Parr and Maud Green, at Hampton Court in 1543.

Henry VIII

Left: Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, centre: right: Jane Seymour.

Left: Anne of Cleves, centre: Catherine Howard, right: Katherine Parr

On June 11th 1509, within weeks of succeeding his father, Henry VII to the throne, Henry VIII married Catherine, the widow of his brother, Arthur. She was a daughter of Fernando II, the King of the powerful Spanish Empire. Six feet tall, rich, handsome, talented and only eighteen-years-old, Henry VIII was crowned in Westminster Abbey a few days later.

When Prince Henry was born on January 1st 1511, guns were fired in salute, bonfires were lit in the streets and bells rang throughout the country to celebrate the birth of an heir to the English throne. Two months later the prince was dead.

The problems of succession were not helped when relations with France broke down. In the summer of 1511 Henry VIII response was create an alliance with Spain in preparation for war in Europe. He built up the army and navy, constructing a fleet of more than 50 modern war ships. The resulting battles with France and Scotland crippled England's finances. In 1536 Henry VIII united Wales with England and attempted a union with Scotland when he betrothed his son, Edward, to Mary, Queen of Scots. But the Scots were not willing to accept the arrangement.

Henry VIII died at Whitehall Palace in January 1547 and was succeeded by his son, Edward.

In March 1547 his widow, Katerine Parr, married Thomas Seyour. She died and was buried at Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire, September 7 1548.

Whitehall Palace, where Henry VIII died.