Henry VIII: A king of contradictions.
Was he a visionary reformer, a ruthless tyrant, or both? From his six wives and the break with Rome to his dramatic legacy, I’m tackling the top 10 questions about England’s most infamous monarch.
Why did he have so many wives?
Who was his favourite?
And why did he break from Rome?
Transcript:
Henry VIII—a king whose name instantly conjures images of power, passion, and upheaval. But beyond the six wives and larger-than-life reputation lies a fascinating story of a man who transformed England forever.
In this video, I’ll be tackling the 10 most frequently asked questions about Henry VIII—from his infamous marriages to his break from Rome, his legacy, and even the man behind the crown. Whether you’re curious about his motivations, his transformations, or the truths behind the myths, this is the video for you! Let’s dive into the world of Bluff King Hal.
Why did Henry VIII have six wives?
Henry VIII is that larger than life monarch who’s famous for having six wives, but why did the king have so many wives?
Well, the answer lies in his desperate pursuit of a male heir. In Tudor England, securing the throne with a male successor was seen as vital to maintaining stability. Henry VIII’s father, Henry VII, was the first monarch of the Tudor dynasty and prior to that, two rival royal houses, the Houses of Lancaster and York, had battled for the throne. Lancastrian Henry VII had brought peace to the land, uniting the houses with his marriage to Elizabeth of York, and had passed the throne successfully on to his second son, the spare, having lost his first son, Arthur Tudor.
Henry VIII was very aware that the security of his throne lay in him having a male heir, and preferably a spare too. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, had been pregnant at least six times but had failed to produce a surviving son. Henry had moved on to Anne Boleyn, a marriage that combined obsession or lust with the promise of a son, but had ultimately failed. His third marriage to Jane Seymour had produced the long-awaited son, before Jane had died, and then his fourth marriage had been a rather short-lived political union. Henry would still have been keen to have a spare and so when his eye was caught by the young attractive Catherine Howard he quickly made her wife number 5, only for her to end her days on the scaffold. And what was marriage number six about. Well, I think he wanted a wife who could be a companion to him in his twilight years.
Catherine was intelligent, mature and charming, the perfect queen consort and someone who could be trusted to be regent while he was campaigning, and although she was no nursemaid, she had experience of being married to a man who had health issues. She had patience and their marriage seems to have been one of affection and mutual respect, apart from a blip or two.
Who was Henry VIII’s favourite wife?
This is one of the most debated questions about Henry VIII! Many suggest Jane Seymour, his third wife, was his favourite because 1) She gave him his only legitimate son, Edward VI, the greatest gift, sacrificing her life in doing so, and 2) He chose to be laid to rest with her in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
Others argue that it could have been Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, as he was married to for over 20 years and shared significant history with her. He chose to marry her, to be her knight in shining armour and save her from an uncertain future, and they were happy for many years.
Still others argue that it was Anne Boleyn, for whom he famously risked everything, breaking with the authority of Rome to marry her, moving heaven and earth to possess her. That theirs was a tragic love story. Hmmm… personally, I think it was more to do with obsession.
Only Henry VIII could answer that question, really, and I suspect he’d choose Jane simply because she gave him a son.
Why did Henry VIII break from the Catholic Church?
Henry VIII’s break from the authority of Rome is one of the most significant events in English history because it brought about the English Reformation.
The official reason for the break is that the king wanted an annulment of his first marriage and the Pope refused to grant it. But there’s more to it—Henry was also frustrated with the power of the Church and the abuses and corruption he saw in it. He saw an opportunity to tackle the abuses while also seizing control of its wealth and authority. This led to Henry declaring himself Supreme Head of the Church in England, which, although that church was very Catholic in flavour in Henry’s reign, was the beginning of the English Reformation. It wasn’t just about love or obsession, it wasn’t just about Anne Boleyn—it was about power, politics, and religion.
Was Henry VIII a good king?
Whether Henry VIII was a good king depends on your perspective. On the one hand, Henry VIII was a charismatic leader who strengthened the monarchy, modernised the navy and government, and reshaped religion in England. On the other hand, he’s remembered as a tyrant, a monster even, a man notorious for his cruelty, executions, and reckless spending. His policies brought lasting change, but his reign also left England divided and financially strained. Like many historical figures, he’s a mix of brilliance and flaws. He’s Bluff King Hal to some and a monster to others, but whatever your view, he’s a fascinating man.
How did Henry VIII change England?
There’s no doubt about it, Henry VIII’s reign transformed England. His break from Rome not only reshaped English religion but also led to the dissolution of monasteries, redistributing wealth and land to the crown and nobility. It changed the English landscape and abbeys were plundered and fell into ruin, and the fall of the abbeys led to a social welfare crisis as the monasteries had provided education and had acted as hospitals, care homes, and shelters.
Henry invested heavily in the navy, laying the foundation for England’s later maritime power. Politically, he centralised authority, making the monarchy more powerful. However, his changes came at a cost—religious divisions, executions, and economic challenges.
Why did Henry VIII execute so many people?
Civil war was in living memory and Henry VIII was very aware that his rule could be challenged, that he could even be deposed. He had to secure his throne, he had to show his strength and stamp on any potential challenges to his authority. He was a paranoid man, but probably with good reason. He dealt with rebellions brutally, he dealt with those who defied him in any way brutally, and he also got rid of those he saw as having any kind of claim to his throne. He became more ruthless as he aged, but then he was dealing with more challenges and he had to eliminate any perceived threats, punish those who crossed him and consolidate his power.
Did Henry VIII really become a tyrant in his later years?
Yes, I believe that Henry VIII can be called a tyrant. I think he always had that streak in him – look at how he started his reign when he was just 17 by having his late father’s former advisors executed on false charges as scapegoats for the late king’s unpopular financial legislation.
I’m sure that as he aged, the chronic pain he lived with contributed to his bad temper, and he became increasingly paranoid and controlling, relying on fear and executions to maintain authority. The once jovial, athletic, charming Renaissance prince transformed into a dangerous, autocratic monster in my view.
What did Henry VIII really look like?
Most of us picture Henry VIII as the stout, imposing figure immortalised by portraits copied from Hans Holbein’s now lost mural. That king with his broad padded shoulders, hands on hips, legs astride, an image of strength and power, a man not to be messed with. That larger than life Henry is from the later years of his reign, when he was overweight. Early in his reign, however, Henry was described as tall, athletic, and handsome, excelling in jousting and dancing. Over time, his health deteriorated, and he gained significant weight due to injuries and ill health preventing him from jousting etc. and his rich diet, which was very meat based. By the end of his life, he was nearly unrecognisable from his younger self.
As far as his colouring was concerned, he had red hair and a fair complexion.
How did Henry VIII die?
Henry VIII died on 28th January 1547, at the age of 55. In his later years, the king suffered from a range of health issues, including obesity, probable diabetes, and chronic leg ulcers that likely led to sepsis. Some theories also suggest heart disease or complications from his injuries.
What is Henry VIII’s legacy?
Henry VIII’s main legacy has to be the English Reformation. Although the Church of England as we know it today wasn’t properly founded until his daughter Elizabeth I’s reign, with her religious settlement, the break with Rome and the monarch becoming the supreme head of the English church was the catalyst of the English Reformation, and Henry VIII’s reign saw reformers like Thomas Cranmer becoming leading figures in the church and also in government.
Henry VIII can be said to have reshaped the nation’s religious and political landscape. His reign saw the English Bible being used in Churches, his Reformation Parliament saw fundamental changes in the nature of Parliament and government, and, as David Starkey notes, he was “the king who reinvented England, presided over the remaking of English as a language and literature… he carried the powers of the English monarchy to their peak.”
However, he’s also remembered for his tyranny, lavish spending, and the human cost of his reign. He plundered the monasteries, destroyed religious shrines, spent money on campaigns abroad with little to show for them, and executed wives, loyal servants to the crown, men of the church and other innocents.
So there you have it—10 burning questions about Henry VIII answered! From his pursuit of a male heir and his dramatic break with Rome to his larger-than-life personality and lasting legacy, it’s clear why Henry VIII remains one of history’s most intriguing and controversial monarchs.
But what do you think? Was he a visionary reformer, a ruthless tyrant, or perhaps a bit of both? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Later this week, I’ll be sharing my view on whether Henry VIII was a tyrant and monster.