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[h3]Henry VIII was born in 1491. In Henry’s youth he developed great skill in music and sports. He was created prince of Wales in 1503, following the death of his elder brother Arthur. [/h3]

He also married Arthur's widow, [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/346:0/Catherine_of_Aragon.htm]Catharine of Aragon[/urlnew], the marriage taking place shortly after his accession, in 1509.

Catharine was unable to bear Henry a son, and he decided to divorce her. Pope Clement VII reluctantly authorised cardinals Wolsey and Campeggio to decide the issue in England, but the commission broke down. This led to the initiation, by Henry, of an anti-ecclesiastical policy, intended to force the pope's assent to the divorce. Monies to Rome were stopped and ecclesiastical legislation became subject to royal approval.

Thomas Cranmer, Henry’s new archbishop of Canterbury, pronounced Henry's marriage with Catharine invalid, and crowned [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/340:0/Anne_Boleyn.htm]Anne Boleyn [/urlnew](already secretly married to Henry) queen.

The pope excommunicated Henry and, in 1534, the breach with Rome was completed by the Act of Supremacy, which made the king head of the Church of England.

In 1536, Anne Boleyn, who also failed to provide a male heir, was convicted of adultery and beheaded. Soon afterward, Henry married Jane Seymour, who in 1537 bore a son (later Edward VI) and died.

In 1540 Henry allied himself with the German Protestant princes, by marrying [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/341:0/Anne_of_Cleves.htm]Anne of Cleves[/urlnew]. However, Henry disliked Anne and divorced her almost immediately. Cromwell, who had recommended the marriage, was beheaded.

Henry then married [urlnew=http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biography_home/345:0/Catherine_Howard.htm]Catherine Howard[/urlnew], but in 1542 she too was beheaded. He married his sixth wife, Catherine Parr, in 1543.

Henry defeated (and killed) James V of Scotland, in 1543, and forced the Scots to agree to a marriage between Mary Queen of Scots and his son, Edward, but this came to nothing. In 1543, he joined Charles V of Spain, against France, and took Boulogne.

Henry died in 1547.
Henry VIII biography




Henry VIII biography




Henry VIII biography