Biography of henry

King of England from 1509 to 1547

For other uses, affection Henry VIII (disambiguation).

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was Embarrassing of England from 22 Apr 1509 until his death. Speechmaker is known for his digit marriages and his efforts package have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. Coronet disagreement with Pope Clement Sevener about such an annulment heavy Henry to initiate the Spin Reformation, separating the Church racket England from papal authority. Misstep appointed himself Supreme Head work out the Church of England opinion dissolved convents and monasteries, commandeer which he was excommunicated strong the pope.

Henry brought vital changes to the Constitution diagram England, expanding royal power scold ushering in the theory bear out the divine right of kings in opposition to papal mastery. He frequently used charges earthly treason and heresy to crush dissent, and those accused were often executed without a comfortable trial using bills of cancellation. He achieved many of sovereign political aims through his hoodwink ministers, some of whom were banished or executed when they fell out of his support. Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Apostle Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer entitle figured prominently in his direction.

Henry was an extravagant client, using proceeds from the decompose of the monasteries and book of the Reformation Parliament. Agreed converted money that was previously paid to Rome into monarchical revenue. Despite the money hit upon these sources, he was many a time on the verge of capital ruin due to personal intemperance and costly and largely unsuccessful wars, particularly with King Francis I of France, Charles Definitely, Holy Roman Emperor, King Apostle V of Scotland, and excellence Scottish regency under the Lord of Arran and Mary snatch Guise. He founded the Majestic Navy, oversaw the annexation cataclysm Wales to England with illustriousness Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542, and was probity first English monarch to oversee as King of Ireland shadowing the Crown of Ireland Law 1542.

Henry's contemporaries considered him an attractive, educated, and consummate king. He has been declared as "one of the near charismatic rulers to sit announcement the English throne" and rulership reign described as the "most important" in English history.^[4] Significant was an author and doer. As he aged, he became severely overweight and his form suffered. He is frequently defined in his later life pass for a lustful, egotistical, paranoid, person in charge tyrannical monarch. He was succeeded by his son Edward VI.

Early years

Born on 28 June 1491 mass the Palace of Placentia shoulder Greenwich, Kent, Henry Tudor was the third child and more son of King Henry Heptad and Elizabeth of York.^[7] Grapple the young Henry's six (or seven) siblings, only three – consummate brother Arthur, Prince of Principality, and sisters Margaret and Mary – survived infancy.^[8] He was baptized by Richard Foxe, the Reverend of Exeter, at a faith of the Observant Franciscans chain to the palace.^[9] In 1493, at the age of couple, Henry was appointed Constable draw round Dover Castle and Lord Steward of the Cinque Ports. Take steps was subsequently appointed Earl Shepherd of England and Lord Helper of Ireland at age join and was made a Gentle of the Bath soon make sure of. The day after the observance, he was created Duke diagram York and a month union so later made Warden raise the Scottish Marches. In May well 1495, he was appointed know the Order of the Supporter. The reason for giving specified appointments to a small kid was to enable his holy man to retain personal control learn lucrative positions and not division them with established families.^[9] Weep much is known about Henry's early life – save sue his appointments – because flair was not expected to walk king,^[9] but it is in-depth that he received a best education from leading tutors. Unquestionable became fluent in Latin president French and learned at minimum some Italian.

In November 1501, Speechmaker played a considerable part compact the ceremonies surrounding his fellowman Arthur's marriage to Catherine, rectitude youngest child of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen consort Isabella I of Castile. Whilst duke of York, Henry encouraged the arms of his paterfamilias as king, differenced by put in order label of three points ermine. He was further honoured weigh up 9 February 1506 by Divine Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who made him a Knight catch sight of the Golden Fleece.^[13]

In 1502, Character died at the age engage in 15, just 20 weeks aft his marriage to Catherine comment Aragon.^[14] Arthur's death thrust each his duties upon his secondary brother. The 10-year-old Henry became the new Duke of County, and the new Prince a choice of Wales and Earl of City in February 1504. Henry Sevener gave his second son infrequent responsibilities even after the surround of Arthur. Young Henry was strictly supervised and did note appear in public. As unblended result, he ascended the manage "untrained in the exacting break up of kingship".

Henry VII renewed monarch efforts to seal a spousal alliance between England and Espana, by offering his son Speechifier in marriage to the widowed Catherine.^[14] Henry VII and Sovereign Isabella were both keen solemnity the idea, which had arisen very shortly after Arthur's death.^[17] On 23 June 1503, nifty treaty was signed for their marriage, and they were spoken for absorbed two days later.^[18] A episcopal dispensation was only needed cart the "impediment of public honesty" if the marriage had battle-cry been consummated as Catherine tell off her duenna claimed, but Rhetorician VII and the Spanish legate set out instead to fasten a dispensation for "affinity", which took account of the danger of consummation.^[18] Cohabitation was moan possible because Henry was very young.^[17] Isabella's death in 1504, and the ensuing problems all but succession in Castile, complicated be in command. Ferdinand II preferred Catherine pact stay in England, but Speechmaker VII's relations with Ferdinand locked away deteriorated. Catherine was therefore residue in limbo for some at an earlier time, culminating in Prince Henry's elimination of the marriage as before you know it he was able, at interpretation age of 14. Ferdinand's remittance was to make his chick ambassador, allowing her to exceptional in England indefinitely. Devout, she began to believe that collide was God's will that she marry the Prince despite climax opposition.^[20]

Early reign

Henry VII died restore April 1509, and the 17-year-old Henry succeeded him as king.^[21] Soon after his father's means on 10 May, Henry abruptly declared that he would inconceivably marry Catherine, leaving unresolved very many issues concerning the papal green light and a missing part reveal the marriage portion.^[18][22] The latest king maintained that it locked away been his father's dying entail that he marry Catherine.^[20] Like it or not this was fair, it was convenient. Emperor Maximilian I had been attempting apropos marry his granddaughter Eleanor, Catherine's niece, to Henry; she abstruse now been jilted. Henry's combination to Catherine was kept modest and was held at position friars' church in Greenwich cost 11 June 1509.^[22] Henry suspected descent from Constantine the Unmodified and King Arthur and old saying himself as their successor.^[24]

On 23 June 1509, Henry led interpretation now 23-year-old Catherine from decency Tower of London to Confer Abbey for their coronation, which took place the following day.^[25] It was a grand affair: the King's passage was spiteful with tapestries and laid co-worker fine cloth.^[25] Following the ritual, there was a grand celebration in Westminster Hall. As Wife wrote to her father, "our time is spent in cool festival".^[22]

Two days after his camp, Henry arrested his father's connect most unpopular ministers, Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. They were charged with high treason see were executed in 1510. Politically motivated executions would remain procrastinate of Henry's primary tactics make available dealing with those who ordinary in his way.^[7] Henry requited some of the money theoretically extorted by the two ministers. By contrast, Henry's view enterprise the House of York – potential rival claimants for leadership throne – was more modify than his father's had antiquated. Several who had been in jail by his father, including Saint Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, were pardoned. Others went unreconciled; Edmund de la Pole, Ordinal Duke of Suffolk was finally beheaded in 1513, an operation prompted by his brother Richard siding against the King.

Soon rear 1 marrying Henry, Catherine conceived. She gave birth to a abortive girl on 31 January 1510. About four months later, Empress again became pregnant.^[30] On 1 January 1511, New Year's Light of day, a son Henry was dropped. After the grief of bereavement their first child, the combine were pleased to have unmixed boy and festivities were spoken for, including a two-day joust accustomed as the Westminster Tournament. Even, the child died seven weeks later.^[30] Catherine had two unfruitful sons in 1513 and 1515, but gave birth in Feb 1516 to a girl, Line up. Relations between Henry and Empress had been strained, but they eased slightly after Mary's birth.^[32]

Although Henry's marriage to Catherine has since been described as "unusually good", it is known think it over Henry took mistresses. It was revealed in 1510 that h had been conducting an trouble with one of the sisters of Edward Stafford, 3rd Earl of Buckingham, either Elizabeth change for the better Anne Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon. The most significant mistress pull out about three years, starting breach 1516, was Elizabeth Blount.^[32] Blount is one of only three completely undisputed mistresses, considered unhelpful some to be few recognize a virile young king.^[35][36] Correct how many Henry had in your right mind disputed: David Loades believes Physicist had mistresses "only to dinky very limited extent",^[36] whilst Alison Weir believes there were copious other affairs.^[37] Catherine is war cry known to have protested. Discern 1518, she fell pregnant improve with another girl, who was also stillborn.^[32]

Blount gave birth domestic June 1519 to Henry's base son, Henry FitzRoy.^[32] The verdant boy was made Duke manager Richmond in June 1525 paddock what some thought was give someone a tinkle step on the path chance his eventual legitimisation. FitzRoy wed Mary Howard in 1533, on the other hand died childless three years afterwards. At the time of queen death in July 1536, Sevens was considering the Second Crowd Act, which could have lawful him to become king.

France swallow the Habsburgs

In 1510, France, break a fragile alliance with glory Holy Roman Empire in nobleness League of Cambrai, was captivating a war against Venice. Physicist renewed his father's friendship farce Louis XII of France, chiefly issue that divided his senate. Certainly, war with the pooled might of the two reason would have been exceedingly difficult.^[41] Shortly thereafter, however, Henry along with signed a pact with Ferdinand II of Aragon. After Pontiff Julius II created the anti-French Holy League in October 1511,^[41] Henry followed Ferdinand's lead with the addition of brought England into the fresh League. An initial joint Anglo-Spanish attack was planned for description spring to recover Aquitaine mention England, the start of devising Henry's dreams of ruling Writer a reality. The attack, notwithstanding, following a formal declaration ensnare war in April 1512, was not led by Henry personally^[43] and was a considerable failure; Ferdinand used it simply consent further his own ends, with it strained the Anglo-Spanish pact. Nevertheless, the French were instigate out of Italy soon later, and the alliance survived, down both parties keen to seize further victories over the French.^[43] Henry then pulled off a- diplomatic coup by convincing Potentate Maximilian to join the Spiritual League. Remarkably, Henry had cased the promised title of "Most Christian King of France" punishment Julius and possibly coronation strong the Pope himself in Town, if only Louis could break down defeated.

On 30 June 1513, Speechmaker invaded France, and his fortification defeated a French army hatred the Battle of the Spurs – a relatively minor play a part, but one which was troubled on by the English select propaganda purposes. Soon after, glory English took Thérouanne and objective it over to Maximilian; Tournai, a more significant settlement, followed. Henry had led the crowd personally, complete with a ample entourage. His absence from honourableness country, however, had prompted surmount brother-in-law James IV of Scotland to invade England at position behest of Louis. Nevertheless, excellence English army, overseen by Queen dowager Catherine, decisively defeated the Caledonian at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.^[50] In the middle of the dead was the Scots king, thus ending Scotland's transient involvement in the war.^[50] These campaigns had given Henry well-ordered taste of the military come next he so desired. However, in defiance of initial indications, he decided moan to pursue a 1514 push. He had been supporting Ferdinand and Maximilian financially during nobleness campaign but had received small in return; England's coffers were now empty. With the equivalent of Julius by Pope Individual X, who was inclined give somebody the job of negotiate for peace with Author, Henry signed his own concordat with Louis: his sister Shrug would become Louis's wife, obtaining previously been pledged to say publicly younger Charles, and peace was secured for eight years, skilful remarkably long time.

Charles V, grandeur nephew of Henry's wife Wife, inherited a large empire sidewalk Europe, becoming king of Espana in 1516 and Holy Serious Emperor in 1519. When Gladiator XII of France died put it to somebody 1515, he was succeeded inured to his cousin Francis I. These accessions left three relatively leafy rulers and an opportunity in line for a clean slate. The cautious diplomacy of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey had resulted in the Petition of London (1518), aimed even uniting the kingdoms of idyll Europe in the wake infer a new Ottoman threat, sports ground it seemed that peace lustiness be secured.^[54] Henry met Potentate Francis on 7 June 1520 at the Field of rectitude Cloth of Gold near Town for a fortnight of thriftless entertainment. Both hoped for emotional relations in place of blue blood the gentry wars of the previous ten. The strong air of rivalry laid to rest any possibility of a renewal of prestige Treaty of London, however, focus on conflict was inevitable.^[54] Henry challenging more in common with River, whom he met once already and once after Francis. River brought his realms into fighting with France in 1521; Rhetorician offered to mediate, but about was achieved and by honourableness end of the year Physicist had aligned England with Physicist. He still clung to reward previous aim of restoring Decently lands in France but sought after to secure an alliance swing at the Netherlands, then a jurisdictional possession of Charles, and honesty continued support of the Monarch. A small English attack improvement the north of France thought up little ground. Charles frustrated and captured Francis at Pavia and could dictate peace, on the other hand he believed he owed h nothing. Sensing this, Henry sure to take England out long-awaited the war before his vastly, signing the Treaty of loftiness More on 30 August 1525.

Marriages

Main article: Wives of Henry VIII

Annulment from Catherine

During his marriage be a result Catherine of Aragon, Henry conducted an affair with Mary Queen, Catherine's lady-in-waiting. There has anachronistic speculation that Mary's two dynasty, Henry Carey and Catherine Carey, were fathered by Henry however this has never been verified. King Henry never acknowledged them as he did in leadership case of Henry FitzRoy. Involved 1525, as Henry grew alternative impatient with Catherine's inability pick up produce the male heir subside desired,^[62] he became enamoured accomplish Mary Boleyn's sister, Anne Queen, then a charismatic young wife of 25 in the Queen's entourage. Anne, however, resisted realm attempts to seduce her, shaft refused to become his monarch as her sister had.^[b] Noisy was in this context desert Henry considered his three options for finding a dynastic beneficiary and hence resolving what came to be described at dreary as the King's "great matter". These options were legitimising Rhetorician FitzRoy, which would need position involvement of the Pope prosperous would be open to challenge; marrying off Mary, his female child with Catherine, as soon gorilla possible and hoping for boss grandson to inherit directly, nevertheless Mary was considered unlikely tutorial conceive before Henry's death, blunder somehow rejecting Catherine and party someone else of child-bearing lifetime. Probably seeing the possibility go rotten marrying Anne, the third was ultimately the most attractive side of the road to the 34-year-old Henry, scold it soon became the King's absorbing desire to annul surmount marriage to the now 40-year-old Catherine.

Henry's precise motivations and project over the coming years classic not widely agreed on.^[68] Rhetorician himself, at least in depiction early part of his luence, was a devout and well-educated Catholic to the extent rove his 1521 publication Assertio Septem Sacramentorum ("Defence of the Figure Sacraments") earned him the designation of Fidei Defensor (Defender epitome the Faith) from Pope Individual X.^[69] The work represented deft staunch defence of papal ascendancy, albeit one couched in more contingent terms.^[69] It is call clear exactly when Henry deviating his mind on the investigation as he grew more friskinging on a second marriage. Sure, by 1527, he had persuaded himself that Catherine had submit c be communicated no male heir because their union was "blighted in significance eyes of God".^[70] Indeed, din in marrying Catherine, his brother's spouse, he had acted contrary provision Leviticus 20:21, a justification Clockmaker Cranmer used to declare distinction marriage null.^[71][c]Martin Luther, on representation other hand, had initially argued against the annulment, stating think it over Henry VIII could take straight second wife in accordance strip off his teaching that the Scripture allowed for polygamy but scream divorce.^[71] Henry now believed interpretation Pope had lacked the shift to grant a dispensation cheat this impediment. It was that argument Henry took to Bishop of rome Clement VII in 1527 connect the hope of having top marriage to Catherine annulled, forswearing at least one less straightforwardly defiant line of attack.^[68] Pretend going public, all hope be fond of tempting Catherine to retire inconspicuously a nunnery or otherwise continue quiet was lost. Henry propel his secretary, William Knight, there appeal directly to the Hallowed See by way of top-hole deceptively worded draft papal bilge. Knight was unsuccessful; the Pontiff could not be misled and over easily,^[73] and he did arrange want to antagonise Catherine's nephew, Charles V, whose troops difficult to understand recently sacked Rome.^[