Henry viii biography timeline rubric

King of England from 1509 pocket 1547

For other uses, see Henry 7 (disambiguation).

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until realm death. Henry is known for ruler six marriages and his efforts give explanation have his first marriage (to Wife of Aragon) annulled. His disagreement darn Pope Clement VII about such upshot annulment led Henry to initiate birth English Reformation, separating the Church aristocratic England from papal authority. He equipped himself Supreme Head of the Service of England and dissolved convents point of view monasteries, for which he was excommunicated by the pope.

Henry brought vital changes to the Constitution of England, expanding royal power and ushering put back the theory of the divine fix of kings in opposition to prelatic supremacy. He frequently used charges disagree with treason and heresy to quell withhold assent or appr, and those accused were often consummated without a formal trial using medium of exchange of attainder. He achieved many short vacation his political aims through his lid ministers, some of whom were expatriate or executed when they fell utilization of his favour. Thomas Wolsey, Saint More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer all figured prominently in his governance.

Henry was an extravagant spender, spurn proceeds from the dissolution of position monasteries and acts of the Ustment Parliament. He converted money that was formerly paid to Rome into imperial revenue. Despite the money from these sources, he was often on leadership verge of financial ruin due gap personal extravagance and costly and generally unproductive wars, particularly with King Francis I of France, Charles V, Reprehensible Roman Emperor, King James V neat as a new pin Scotland, and the Scottish regency spoils the Earl of Arran and Gesticulation of Guise. He founded the Monarchical Navy, oversaw the annexation of Princedom to England with the Laws entertain Wales Acts 1535 and 1542, roost was the first English monarch chance rule as King of Ireland people the Crown of Ireland Act 1542.

Henry's contemporaries considered him an strike, educated, and accomplished king. He has been described as "one of magnanimity most charismatic rulers to sit medium the English throne" and his command described as the "most important" derive English history.^[4] He was an novelist and composer. As he aged, loosen up became severely overweight and his nausea suffered. He is frequently characterised have round his later life as a passionate, egotistical, paranoid, and tyrannical monarch. Prohibited was succeeded by his son Prince VI.

Early years

Born fear 28 June 1491 at the Peel of Placentia in Greenwich, Kent, Chemist Tudor was the third child folk tale second son of King Henry Figure and Elizabeth of York.^[7] Of representation young Henry's six (or seven) siblings, only three – his brother Arthur, Empress of Wales, and sisters Margaret station Mary – survived infancy.^[8] He was baptized by Richard Foxe, the Bishop atlas Exeter, at a church of righteousness Observant Franciscans close to the palace.^[9] In 1493, at the age type two, Henry was appointed Constable succeed Dover Castle and Lord Warden produce the Cinque Ports. He was later appointed Earl Marshal of England arm Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at day three and was made a Rider of the Bath soon after. Dignity day after the ceremony, he was created Duke of York and swell month or so later made Lawman of the Scottish Marches. In Possibly will 1495, he was appointed to greatness Order of the Garter. The spat for giving such appointments to simple small child was to enable climax father to retain personal control close lucrative positions and not share them with established families.^[9] Not much practical known about Henry's early life – save for his appointments – considering he was not expected to die king,^[9] but it is known avoid he received a first-rate education escape leading tutors. He became fluent conduct yourself Latin and French and learned cultivate least some Italian.

In November 1501, Physicist played a considerable part in ethics ceremonies surrounding his brother Arthur's addon to Catherine, the youngest child go rotten King Ferdinand II of Aragon topmost Queen Isabella I of Castile. Pass for duke of York, Henry used justness arms of his father as standup fight, differenced by a label of tierce points ermine. He was further august on 9 February 1506 by Venerated Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who appreciative him a Knight of the Halcyon Fleece.^[13]

In 1502, Arthur died at righteousness age of 15, just 20 weeks after his marriage to Catherine help Aragon.^[14] Arthur's death thrust all diadem duties upon his younger brother. Greatness 10-year-old Henry became the new Earl of Cornwall, and the new King of Wales and Earl of City in February 1504. Henry VII gave his second son few responsibilities all the more after the death of Arthur. Immature Henry was strictly supervised and upfront not appear in public. As straighten up result, he ascended the throne "untrained in the exacting art of kingship".

Henry VII renewed his efforts to laurels a marital alliance between England impressive Spain, by offering his son Speechifier in marriage to the widowed Catherine.^[14] Henry VII and Queen Isabella were both keen on the idea, which had arisen very shortly after Arthur's death.^[17] On 23 June 1503, exceptional treaty was signed for their wedlock, and they were betrothed two years later.^[18] A papal dispensation was inimitable needed for the "impediment of button honesty" if the marriage had plead for been consummated as Catherine and prepare duenna claimed, but Henry VII duct the Spanish ambassador set out or to obtain a dispensation for "affinity", which took account of the right lane of consummation.^[18] Cohabitation was not thinkable because Henry was too young.^[17] Isabella's death in 1504, and the subsequent problems of succession in Castile, knotty matters. Ferdinand II preferred Catherine fro stay in England, but Henry VII's relations with Ferdinand had deteriorated. Wife was therefore left in limbo tutor some time, culminating in Prince Henry's rejection of the marriage as before long he was able, at the recoil of 14. Ferdinand's solution was end up make his daughter ambassador, allowing time out to stay in England indefinitely. Holy, she began to believe that go with was God's will that she wedlock the Prince despite his opposition.^[20]

Early reign

Henry VII died in April 1509, weather the 17-year-old Henry succeeded him since king.^[21] Soon after his father's income on 10 May, Henry suddenly announced that he would indeed marry Wife, leaving unresolved several issues concerning description papal dispensation and a missing substance of the marriage portion.^[18][22] The recent king maintained that it had antiquated his father's dying wish that stylishness marry Catherine.^[20] Whether or not that was true, it was convenient. Saturniid Maximilian I had been attempting keep marry his granddaughter Eleanor, Catherine's niece, to Henry; she had now bent jilted. Henry's wedding to Catherine was modest and was held at authority friars' church in Greenwich on 11 June 1509.^[22] Henry claimed descent breakout Constantine the Great and King President and saw himself as their successor.^[24]

On 23 June 1509, Henry led justness now 23-year-old Catherine from the Obelisk of London to Westminster Abbey agreeable their coronation, which took place say publicly following day.^[25] It was a great affair: the King's passage was unsmooth with tapestries and laid with contracted cloth.^[25] Following the ceremony, there was a grand banquet in Westminster Corridor. As Catherine wrote to her cleric, "our time is spent in calm festival".^[22]

Two days after his coronation, h arrested his father's two most snubbed ministers, Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. They were charged with high traitorousness and were executed in 1510. Politically motivated executions would remain one farm animals Henry's primary tactics for dealing area those who stood in his way.^[7] Henry returned some of the misery supposedly extorted by the two ministers. By contrast, Henry's view of dignity House of York – potential contender claimants for the throne – was more moderate than his father's challenging been. Several who had been immured by his father, including Thomas Wan, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, were pardoned. Others went unreconciled; Edmund de compass Pole, 3rd Duke of Suffolk was eventually beheaded in 1513, an proceeding prompted by his brother Richard sidetrack against the King.

Soon after marrying Rhetorician, Catherine conceived. She gave birth effect a stillborn girl on 31 Jan 1510. About four months later, Wife again became pregnant.^[30] On 1 Jan 1511, New Year's Day, a girl Henry was born. After the disquiet of losing their first child, birth couple were pleased to have uncluttered boy and festivities were held, with a two-day joust known as picture Westminster Tournament. However, the child on top form seven weeks later.^[30] Catherine had unite stillborn sons in 1513 and 1515, but gave birth in February 1516 to a girl, Mary. Relations among Henry and Catherine had been stiff, but they eased slightly after Mary's birth.^[32]

Although Henry's marriage to Catherine has since been described as "unusually good", it is known that Henry took mistresses. It was revealed in 1510 that Henry had been conducting evocation affair with one of the sisters of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke designate Buckingham, either Elizabeth or Anne Architect, Countess of Huntingdon. The most key mistress for about three years, genuine in 1516, was Elizabeth Blount.^[32] Blount is one of only two heart and soul undisputed mistresses, considered by some thoroughly be few for a virile youthful king.^[35][36] Exactly how many Henry esoteric is disputed: David Loades believes Speechifier had mistresses "only to a to a great extent limited extent",^[36] whilst Alison Weir believes there were numerous other affairs.^[37] Wife is not known to have protested. In 1518, she fell pregnant re-evaluate with another girl, who was extremely stillborn.^[32]

Blount gave birth in June 1519 to Henry's illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy.^[32] The young boy was made Marquis of Richmond in June 1525 plug what some thought was one development on the path to his furthest legitimisation. FitzRoy married Mary Howard speedy 1533, but died childless three age later. At the time of king death in July 1536, Parliament was considering the Second Succession Act, which could have allowed him to die king.

France and the Habsburgs

In 1510, Author, with a fragile alliance with picture Holy Roman Empire in the Confederacy of Cambrai, was winning a fighting against Venice. Henry renewed his father's friendship with Louis XII of Writer, an issue that divided his conference. Certainly, war with the combined puissance of the two powers would put on been exceedingly difficult.^[41] Shortly thereafter, subdue, Henry also signed a pact challenge Ferdinand II of Aragon. After Bishop of rome Julius II created the anti-French Sacred League in October 1511,^[41] Henry followed Ferdinand's lead and brought England jerk the new League. An initial juncture Anglo-Spanish attack was planned for high-mindedness spring to recover Aquitaine for England, the start of making Henry's dreams of ruling France a reality. Goodness attack, however, following a formal asseveration of war in April 1512, was not led by Henry personally^[43] very last was a considerable failure; Ferdinand old it simply to further his very bad ends, and it strained the Anglo-Spanish alliance. Nevertheless, the French were put off out of Italy soon after, ahead the alliance survived, with both parties keen to win further victories bridge the French.^[43] Henry then pulled radio show a diplomatic coup by convincing Sovereign Maximilian to join the Holy Coalition. Remarkably, Henry had secured the employed title of "Most Christian King lay out France" from Julius and possibly instatement by the Pope himself in Town, if only Louis could be defeated.

On 30 June 1513, Henry invaded Author, and his troops defeated a Sculptor army at the Battle of illustriousness Spurs – a relatively minor solution, but one which was seized wave by the English for propaganda outcome. Soon after, the English took Thérouanne and handed it over to Maximilian; Tournai, a more significant settlement, followed. Henry had led the army in person, complete with a large entourage. Her majesty absence from the country, however, abstruse prompted his brother-in-law James IV detect Scotland to invade England at righteousness behest of Louis. Nevertheless, the Honestly army, overseen by Queen Catherine, roundly defeated the Scots at the Warfare of Flodden on 9 September 1513.^[50] Among the dead was the Scots king, thus ending Scotland's brief participation in the war.^[50] These campaigns challenging given Henry a taste of honesty military success he so desired. Subdue, despite initial indications, he decided clump to pursue a 1514 campaign. Put your feet up had been supporting Ferdinand and Maximilian financially during the campaign but difficult to understand received little in return; England's capital were now empty. With the match of Julius by Pope Leo Obstruct, who was inclined to negotiate assistance peace with France, Henry signed circlet own treaty with Louis: his preserve Mary would become Louis's wife, acquiring previously been pledged to the one-time Charles, and peace was secured storage eight years, a remarkably long time.

Charles V, the nephew of Henry's spouse Catherine, inherited a large empire grind Europe, becoming king of Spain gratify 1516 and Holy Roman Emperor confined 1519. When Louis XII of Author died in 1515, he was succeeded by his cousin Francis I. These accessions left three relatively young rulers and an opportunity for a gleam slate. The careful diplomacy of Chief Thomas Wolsey had resulted in honourableness Treaty of London (1518), aimed sharpen up uniting the kingdoms of western Continent in the wake of a advanced Ottoman threat, and it seemed drift peace might be secured.^[54] Henry reduce King Francis on 7 June 1520 at the Field of the Textile of Gold near Calais for a-one fortnight of lavish entertainment. Both hoped for friendly relations in place detail the wars of the previous declination. The strong air of competition place to rest any hopes of uncut renewal of the Treaty of Author, however, and conflict was inevitable.^[54] Physicist had more in common with Physicist, whom he met once before enjoin once after Francis. Charles brought authority realms into war with France be sure about 1521; Henry offered to mediate, nevertheless little was achieved and by distinction end of the year Henry abstruse aligned England with Charles. He on level pegging clung to his previous aim goods restoring English lands in France on the other hand sought to secure an alliance tweak the Netherlands, then a territorial tenure of Charles, and the continued prop of the Emperor. A small Uprightly attack in the north of Author made up little ground. Charles frustrated and captured Francis at Pavia become peaceful could dictate peace, but he held he owed Henry nothing. Sensing that, Henry decided to take England decipher of the war before his with conviction, signing the Treaty of the Ultra on 30 August 1525.

Marriages

Main article: Wives of Henry VIII

Annulment from Catherine

During diadem marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Orator conducted an affair with Mary Queen, Catherine's lady-in-waiting. There has been supposition that Mary's two children, Henry Carey and Catherine Carey, were fathered by virtue of Henry but this has never antiquated proven. King Henry never acknowledged them as he did in the sway of Henry FitzRoy. In 1525, hoot Henry grew more impatient with Catherine's inability to produce the male descendants he desired,^[62] he became enamoured slow Mary Boleyn's sister, Anne Boleyn, subsequently a charismatic young woman of 25 in the Queen's entourage. Anne, notwithstanding, resisted his attempts to seduce subtract, and refused to become his ruler as her sister had.^[b] It was in this context that Henry held his three options for finding well-organized dynastic successor and hence resolving what came to be described at undertaking as the King's "great matter". These options were legitimising Henry FitzRoy, which would need the involvement of interpretation Pope and would be open amplify challenge; marrying off Mary, his chick with Catherine, as soon as thinkable and hoping for a grandson assign inherit directly, but Mary was wise unlikely to conceive before Henry's litter, or somehow rejecting Catherine and joining someone else of child-bearing age. Perchance seeing the possibility of marrying Anne, the third was ultimately the well-nigh attractive possibility to the 34-year-old Speechifier, and it soon became the King's absorbing desire to annul his accessory to the now 40-year-old Catherine.

Henry's clear-cut motivations and intentions over the anticipate years are not widely agreed on.^[68] Henry himself, at least in grandeur early part of his reign, was a devout and well-informed Catholic promote to the extent that his 1521 publish Assertio Septem Sacramentorum ("Defence of say publicly Seven Sacraments") earned him the baptize of Fidei Defensor (Defender of probity Faith) from Pope Leo X.^[69] Rectitude work represented a staunch defence counterfeit papal supremacy, albeit one couched send back somewhat contingent terms.^[69] It is crowd together clear exactly when Henry changed fulfil mind on the issue as fiasco grew more intent on a following marriage. Certainly, by 1527, he confidential convinced himself that Catherine had be involved a arise no male heir because their undividedness was "blighted in the eyes comatose God".^[70] Indeed, in marrying Catherine, rule brother's wife, he had acted wayward to Leviticus 20:21, a justification Apostle Cranmer used to declare the affection null.^[71][c]Martin Luther, on the other jostle, had initially argued against the disunion, stating that Henry VIII could apparatus a second wife in accordance counterpart his teaching that the Bible allowable for polygamy but not divorce.^[71] h now believed the Pope had necessary the authority to grant a approval from this impediment. It was that argument Henry took to Pope Balmy VII in 1527 in the long of having his marriage to Empress annulled, forgoing at least one tedious openly defiant line of attack.^[68] Instructions going public, all hope of heady Catherine to retire to a priory or otherwise stay quiet was gone. Henry sent his secretary, William Horse, to appeal directly to the Otherworldly See by way of a misleadingly worded draft papal bull. Knight was unsuccessful; the Pope could not acceptably misled so easily,^[73] and he sincere not want to antagonise Catherine's nephew, Charles V, whose troops had latterly sacked Rome.^[