The Wives of Henry VIII

Henry VIII Henry VIII was king of England from 1509 until He was born in 1491, and was only 17 years and 10 months old when he became king. Henry composed music, which we can listen to at ml Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon Born in Spain Had been married to Henry’s brother Arthur who died Married Henry in 1509 She had six children but only one survived – a daughter, Mary After 20 years of marriage Henry tried to get her to become a nun, she refused Henry changed history and divorced Catherine. He had fallen in love with her lady in waiting. Catherine would be forever separated from her daughter

Anne Boleyn Born in England Henry and Anne were married in 1533 in secret – because Henry hadn’t got rid of his first wife yet! Had two children but only one survived, a daughter, Elizabeth When she gave birth to a still- born son, Henry was convinced that God thought that his marriage was wrong, because the annulment had been wrong, and that he was cursing him by not giving him a son. Later Anne was arrested for being unfaithful to Henry She was beheaded at the Tower of London.

Jane Seymour Born in England Maid-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn Jane was betrothed to Henry within 24 hrs of Anne’s death She had one child, a son, Edward (who would die at age 16) Jane died two weeks after giving birth Buried with Henry VIII

Anne of Cleves Born in Germany Married her to form an alliance with Germany Henry had a painting of her made but when he met her he thought she was ugly and called her an ugly horse. They married but did not live together They had no children Henry divorced her

Catherine Howard Born in England She was the lady in waiting for Anne She was very attractive and 19 when she married a 50 year old Henry. They had no children, mainly because she didn’t like Henry and had lots of other boyfriends! Henry wasn’t very happy about this, and she was beheaded in 1542.

Catherine Parr Born in England She had been married twice before They had no children Henry married her to look after him in his old age She outlived him as Henry died in 1547 and she died in 1548.

The Wives of Henry VIII Anne Boleyn Catherine Howard Catherine Parr Anne of Cleves Jane Seymour Catherine of Aragon

Questions Did she have children? YesNo Was she beheaded? YesNo

Yes Anne Boleyn C atherine Howard Back to question page. UNFAITHFUL

No Catherine of Aragon Divorced Catherine Parr Married until Henry’s death Anne of Cleves Divorced Jane Seymour Died after childbirth Back to question page

Yes Anne Boleyn and Elizabeth Jane Seymour and Edward Catherine of Aragon and Mary Back to question page.

No Back to question page. Anne of Cleves. Henry thought she was ugly so no babies!! Catherine Howard was to disgusted with Henry to have babies. Catherine Parr. Some say to old to produce children.

Trivia Henry was an accomplished musician. It is believed that he wrote the song Greensleeves for Anne Bolyn.

It is rumored that Anne Bolyn had six fingers on one hand. All six wives were descended from Edward I. Anne Bolyn’s motto was “grumble all you like, this is how it is going to be.”

The codpiece The codpiece developed into a fashion accessory from the need to fasten the two legs of the trousers together with a bulky seam. It soon became a symbol of male virility. Henry had an obsession in his need for a male heir. It was understood at court that no one’s ostentatious codpiece was allowed to be bigger than Henry’s.

Images taken from: store99.htm - Slide 1 bios/caragon.html - Catherine of Aragon bios/aboleyn.html -Anne Boleyn - Jane Seymour bios/acleves.html - Anne of Cleves gen.culpepper.com/historical/ howard/default.htm - Catherine Howard bios/cparr.html - Catherine Parr