VIII Henry was the third king of Tudor dynasty and changed Ireland and England irreversibly between 1509 and 1547. He was portrayed as well educated, successful and one of the most charismatic executive ever sit England's throne by his contemporaries. Also he was unruly king who did whatever he wanted despite Pope or consultants and debase the coinage.
He achieved a lot of his reform goals with probably with helps of his very famous consultants' (ie. Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Richard Rich). However did not hesitate to imprison and execute them when they were not match with his favours.
He was well educated, although not for to be a king. Arthur was the first choice of VII Henry who is 5 years elder than Henry. VII Henry did not want any conflict between his rival the King of Aragon II. Ferdinand, therefore he arranged a marriage between Arthur and Catherine of Aragon who is the daughter of King of Aragon II. Ferdinand and the Queen of Castille Isabella. After only 20 weeks, Arthur died. VII Henry wanted to guarantee good relations with II.Ferdinand, and he betrothed VIII Henry with Catherine. VIII Henry was only 10 years old when he was engaged but he declared that he rejected the marriage when he came to 14. Ferdinand ordered her girl to stay at London, he appointed Catherine as an ambassador. She began to believe that it was God's will that she marry the prince despite his opposition.
VIII Henry (Henry) succeeded as a king at 1509 and his first declaration was about Catherine. “He would indeed marry Catherine”. Ofcourse, it would be a logical marriage instead of love. Catherine gave birth to a girl (Mary – future Queen of England 1553 - 1558) in 1516 after lost of 3 children.
Henry had a lot of mistresses, and probably a lot of illegal children, however only one of them was declared by him since he was the only boy of Henry. (Elizabeth Blount's son Henry FitzRoy). However he could not be a male heir since he was illegal boy, on the other hand, Henry's hope for a son from Catherine did not seem like to be realized. Henry had a three option for finding a dynastic successor. First option is legitimize Henry Fitzroy, the second and third ones were marry with either Mary Boleyn (Mistress of both Henry and King Francis I of France) or Anne Boleyn. Both options meant a conflict between papa and Henry.
Henry choosed third option and he divorced Catherine and after 5 days married with Anne Boleyn (1533). Anne Boleyn was unusually very well educated woman and had a close interest in protestant reform. Anne Boleyn first child was born in 1533, and again child was girl who would be a Queen of England and defeat Spanish Armada in the future, Elizabeth.
But things were not going well for Henry both in marriage and relations with Pope. The most important one was relations with Pope. Pope's authority had been reduced by protestant movement and it was seems like threat on sovereignties. Henry used this conflict and he had separated Church on England from Pope in 1534 with the first ACT of SUPREMACY which granted King Henry VIII of England Royal Supremacy. Although many people were executed and beheaded during reformation , this was the first step of Anglican Church. After all it would be divided into pieces like anglicans, puritans, separates, pilgrims, sects, independents etc. And all of them would be the motor force of revolution of Britain and foundation of America.
On the other side Henry still did not have a son. Anne's only male baby was dead while she was 14 weeks pregnant when she heard Henry had an accident. Henry had began to think he would do something etc. For male baby may be another annulment. His annulment desire was supported by Anne's behaviours, since she was well educated and hardly controlled woman, first of all she was accractive however after marriage and became queen her behaviours did not suitable for throne. She did not want to be controlled by consultants even by king. Thomas Cromwell whose sister's grandson is Oliver Cromwell, one of her supporters before marriage, became to be opposite like many palace men. At last although there was not any clue, Mary was judged by Cromwell and arrested arrested on charges of treasonable adultery, accused of having sexual relationships with five cousins. At 8 am on 19 May 1536, Anne was executed on Tower Green.
On the other hand Cromwell, meanwhile, fell out of favour although it is unclear exactly why, for there is little evidence of differences of domestic or foreign policy; despite his role, he was not officially accused of being responsible for Henry's failed marriage.Cromwell was charged with treason, selling export licences, granting passports, and drawing up commissions without permission, and may also have been blamed for the Cleves failure and the failure of the foreign policy it accompanied.
The day after Anne's execution, Henry engaged with another ladies-in-waiting Jane Seymour who finally gave a son. (1537) Edward would be succeeded to the throne after his father as IV Edward and this was the subject of second Succession Act which declared Edward as a legal heir while Mary and Elizabeth were illegal.
Catherine of Aragon (6 children, 3 of them were male, only Mary lived)
1509 - 1533
Anne Boleyn (3 children, 2 of them male only Elizabeth lived)
1533 – 1536
Jane Seymour (Edward)
1536 - 1537
Anne of Cleves
1540 – 1540
Catherine Howard
1540 – 1541
Catherine Parr
1543 – 1547
Henry was born in Greenwich Palace which was demolished by Charles in 1660 and Old Royal Naval College stands on the same place now.
