22 April 1509
On this day in 1509, Henry VIII became King of England at the age of just 17, following the death of his father, Henry VII. His accession marked the beginning of one of the most dramatic and controversial reigns in English history—a period defined by political intrigue, religious upheaval, and six marriages.
A Prince in waiting
Born on 28 June 1491, Henry Tudor was the second son of Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty. He was never expected to inherit the throne—his elder brother Arthur was the heir. But Arthur’s death in 1502, shortly after marrying Catherine of Aragon, changed the course of English history. Henry suddenly became heir apparent and, seven years later, ascended the throne following his father’s death on 21 April 1509. He was crowned king two months later, in June 1509.
A King like no other
Henry VIII’s early reign was marked by promise. He was handsome, athletic, highly educated, and charismatic—often referred to as the “golden prince”. His marriage to his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, was approved by papal dispensation and initially seemed a happy union.
However, Henry’s desire for a male heir would eventually lead to a religious and political revolution. When Catherine failed to produce a surviving son, Henry sought an annulment—something Pope Clement VII refused to grant. In response, Henry broke with the Roman Catholic Church and declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, initiating the English Reformation.
Henry’s reign was marked by immense change: the dissolution of the monasteries, centralisation of royal power, and the beginnings of England as a major European force. He died in 1547, leaving the throne to his only legitimate son, Edward VI.
His six marriages—Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr—are the subject of enduring fascination and a popular rhyme: “Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.”
Six wives and two beheadings
Henry’s desire for a male heir—and the lack of one—led to a dramatic series of marriages, separations, and executions. His six wives were:
- Catherine of Aragon – Divorced after failing to bear a son.
- Anne Boleyn – Executed in 1536 on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.
- Jane Seymour – Died shortly after giving birth to Henry’s only male heir, Edward VI.
- Anne of Cleves – Marriage annulled after just six months.
- Catherine Howard – Executed in 1542 for alleged adultery.
- Catherine Parr – Outlived Henry and became his sixth and final wife.
The executions of Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, both beheaded at the Tower of London, are among the darkest and most notorious chapters in Tudor history. These brutal acts were as much about politics and control as they were about personal betrayal.
Historical and cultural legacy
Henry VIII remains one of the most recognisable figures in English history. He is remembered not only for his turbulent personal life but also for reshaping the religious landscape of England.
His life and reign inspired numerous writers, most notably William Shakespeare, who explored the Tudor lineage in his historical plays. While Shakespeare’s play “Henry VIII” (co-written with John Fletcher) presents a more flattering image of the king, he more thoroughly dramatised earlier monarchs in his acclaimed Henriad: Henry IV (Parts I & II) and Henry V, among others. Though Henry VIII appears only in one Shakespeare play, the themes of power, legitimacy, succession, and personal ambition that surround him are woven throughout the Bard’s historical canon.
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