Henry VIII

Henry VIII, born on 28 June 1491, was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death on 28 January 1547. His reign was marked by his six marriages and the English Reformation, which he initiated in response to the Pope’s refusal to annul his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Henry established himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England, leading to the dissolution of convents and monasteries and his excommunication by the Pope. His governance included the expansion of royal power and the divine right of kings, often suppressing dissent through accusations of treason and heresy without formal trials. Key figures in his administration, such as Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer, experienced both favor and downfall during his reign.

Henry’s personal extravagance and costly wars led to financial difficulties, despite the income from the dissolution of the monasteries and the Reformation Parliament. He enhanced the Royal Navy and incorporated Wales and Ireland more directly under English control. In his youth, Henry was seen as an attractive and accomplished monarch, later becoming notorious for his physical decline and tyrannical behavior. His legacy includes the transformation of England’s religious and political landscape, as well as his three children who would each take the throne: Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI.