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Henry VIII Biography

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HENRY VIII., king of England, second son of Henry VII., born at Greenwich, June 28, 1491; died Jan. 28, 1547. The rival claims of the York and Lancaster lines were united through his mother, Elizabeth of York, and, when his brother Arthur died, in 1502, he became heir apparent. At the age of twelve he was betrothed to Catharine of Aragon, the widow of his brother, and in 1509 succeeded his father. Personally he possessed many strong points, since he had been educated with considerable care, was a pronounced Englishman, and had a reputation for much personal beauty. During the first twenty years of his reign his prime minister, Wolsey, pursued a policy of making England important as a mediator between France and Spain, and within this time occurred the meeting between Henry and Francis at the Field of the Cloth of Gold (1520) and the battles of Pavia and Rome. In 1520 Henry decided to divorce Catharine. This step was taken for various reasons, the alleged causes being that she was older than he and had been his elder brother's wife. Besides, she had borne him no male heir. However, it is probable that he wanted a divorce because of having formed an attachment to Anne Boleyn. In his design to become separated from Catharine he was refused sanction from the pope, which caused the separation of England from the Roman Church to take form. Next he referred his case to the universities. Through these he obtained an affirmative decision, and the marriage with Catharine was annulled in 1533. About the same time the marriage with Anne Boleyn was declared lawful, but the pope. still refused to recognize the marriage and parliament came to his rescue with two acts-one in 1534, setting aside the papal authority in England, and another in 1535, by which Henry became head of the church in England. By suppressing the monasteries he inflicted a severe blow to Catholicism and England became Protestant.

Next Henry became enamored of Jane Seymour, and Anne Boleyn was executed in the Tower in 1536, the marriage with Jane Seymour having been solemnized the day before. The birth of Prince Edward in 1537 gave Henry an heir apparent, but his mother died soon after. In 1540 Henry contracted his fourth marriage, with Anne of Cleves, in accordance with negotiations conducted by Thomas Cromwell for the purpose of gaining the Protestant influence of Germany. The unfortunate relations between Anne of Cleves and Henry resulted in a divorce, and also caused the execution of Thomas Cromwell. Catharine Howard now became Henry's fifth wife, but she was executed on a charge of infidelity in 1542. His sixth wife was Catharine Parr, whom he married in 1543, and she had the good fortune to survive the king. An alliance between France and Scotland plunged England into a war. Henry renewed his alliance with Charles V. of Germany, but the latter withdrew soon after and the war continued until 1546, when a treaty was negotiated. Among the persons to suffer death through the designs of Henry are such men as More, Wolsey, Cromwell, Fisher, and Surrey. He reigned thirty-eight years, but died unmourned by the people. His son, Edward VI., succeeded him as king.