HENRY VIII

HENRY'S FAVOURITE WIFE, JANE SEYMOUR

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Jane Seymour was likely to be born at Wulfhall, Savernake Forest, Wiltshire, the daughter of Sir John Seymour and Margery Wentworth. She was second-half cousin to Anne Boleyn- Henry's previous wife.
She was born in 1508 and married when she was 27- 28 on the 20th May 1536.
Although she was less educated than Henry's previous wives, she was much better at the art of needlework and household business which at the time was far more useful for a woman to be able to do. It is also said that after her death, Henry said that he was an enthusiastic embroiderer.
She died at the age of 28-29 after giving birth to Edward VI. Her age in not completely known because we are unsure of when she was born.

ANY CHANGES MADE TO ENGLAND WHILE HENRY VIII WAS RULING?

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Henry VIII changed England in many ways. He caused the 'break with Rome' ( where Henry was excommunicated from the catholic church) and he founded the Anglican Church( the Church of England).
He claimed ownership of the church estates in England and closed the monastic houses (from 1539) taking over one quarter of the land. With profits made from this, he founded the Royal Navy
because he was afraid of an attack by the Catholics in Europe.
He paid for the support of the aristocracy as well as funding his prodigious building projects (eg Nonsuch). He spent his money so much that he went from being one of the richest people in the world, to being bankrupt.

HENRY'S RELATIONS WITH THE CHURCH

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As many of you will probably know, Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon when she could not produce a son for him. So he told Cardinal Wolsey (a man who worked and helped Henry VIII, the second most powerful man in England after Henry at the time, the Archbishop of York and he was in charge of the money, law and the Church of England and he was very wealthily aswell) to speak to the Pope about Henry getting a divorce. However, back then it was not legal by the church to divorce people whenever you liked, so the Pope became rather angry. He told Wolsey that he was going to excommunicate Henry from the Catholic church.

When Wolsey told Henry about this he was so annoyed that he fired Wolsey. Henry needed this divorce if he wanted to carry on the Tudor name, so, as he was discussing the matter with some of his advisors, one came up wight he idea that because he was king and controlled the country, he could do whatever he wanted, so he became the head of the Church of England. this way he could grant himself a divorce!

HENRY THE EIGHTH'S WIVES

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As many of you will know, Henry the eighth had 6 wives. his main reason for this was that he needed and wanted a male heir to the throne. He first married his brother Arthur's widow- Catherine of Aragon. when she could not produce a male heir Henry DIVORCED her.

His second wife Ann Boleyn, could again, not produce an heir and he BEHEADED her.

His rthird wife, Jane Seymore was the only wife thta Henry loved. She did have a son- Edward VI. However, she DIED in childbirth. Henry was burried next to her.

Anne of Cleves was his fourth wife. she was DIVORCED by Henry.

His fifth wife, Catherine Howard was BEHEADED, and he was even recorded to have said
that she had the resmblence of a horse.

His last wife, Katherine Parr was more of a nurse to him rather then a wife as he got older. She, in the end, outlived him and SURVIVED!

SO WHO WAS HENRY THE EIGHTH?

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Henry VIII was the reigning king of England for 24 years (28 June, 1491 until 28 January, 1547).
He inherited the throne from his father (Henry VII) and his succesor was his son Edward VI.

His older brother- Arthur the prince of Wales was a hugely important person in the Tudor period. after the Battle of Bosworth, the House of Lancaster were unitied with the House of York and Arthur was one of the main happenings that showed that the two families were properly united. So when Arthur died, possibly of tuberculosis, there was much greaving and Henry was the next inline to he throne.

He also had four sisters- Margaret Queen consort of Scotland, and Mary, Queen consort of France, Elizabeth and Katherine. He did have another brother- Edmund, prince of Sommerset, however, he died at the early age of 1year and 3 months. Henry was the third child in the family, Arthur and Mary were older and Elizabeth, Mary, Edmund and Katherine were younger.