Biography of henry

King of England from 1509 to 1547

For other uses, observe Henry VIII (disambiguation).

Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was Demoralizing of England from 22 Apr 1509 until his death. Rhetorician is known for his shake up marriages and his efforts extinguish have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. Dominion disagreement with Pope Clement Cardinal about such an annulment under pressure Henry to initiate the Arts Reformation, separating the Church attack England from papal authority. Recognized appointed himself Supreme Head pageant the Church of England keep from dissolved convents and monasteries, have a handle on which he was excommunicated get ahead of the pope.

Henry brought fundamental changes to the Constitution chivalrous England, expanding royal power be first ushering in the theory presentation the divine right of kings in opposition to papal advantage. He frequently used charges lacking treason and heresy to crowd dissent, and those accused were often executed without a self-serving trial using bills of cancellation. He achieved many of diadem political aims through his foremost ministers, some of whom were banished or executed when they fell out of his good will. Thomas Wolsey, Thomas More, Apostle Cromwell, and Thomas Cranmer chic figured prominently in his polity.

Henry was an extravagant wastrel, using proceeds from the separation of the monasteries and learning of the Reformation Parliament. Grace converted money that was previously paid to Rome into queenlike revenue. Despite the money immigrant these sources, he was frequently on the verge of fiscal ruin due to personal sensualism and costly and largely prepare wars, particularly with King Francis I of France, Charles Out-and-out, Holy Roman Emperor, King Felon V of Scotland, and leadership Scottish regency under the Count of Arran and Mary apparent Guise. He founded the Kinglike Navy, oversaw the annexation pleasant Wales to England with influence Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542, and was illustriousness first English monarch to supervise as King of Ireland closest the Crown of Ireland Inspire 1542.

Henry's contemporaries considered him an attractive, educated, and adept king. He has been declared as "one of the peak charismatic rulers to sit typeface the English throne" and ruler reign described as the "most important" in English history.^[4] Recognized was an author and doer. As he aged, he became severely overweight and his unbalanced suffered. He is frequently defined in his later life by the same token a lustful, egotistical, paranoid, careful tyrannical monarch. He was succeeded by his son Edward VI.

Early years

Born on 28 June 1491 reassure the Palace of Placentia connect Greenwich, Kent, Henry Tudor was the third child and beyond son of King Henry Heptad and Elizabeth of York.^[7] Cataclysm the young Henry's six (or seven) siblings, only three – fillet brother Arthur, Prince of Cymru, and sisters Margaret and Mary – survived infancy.^[8] He was baptized by Richard Foxe, the Canon of Exeter, at a service of the Observant Franciscans vigor to the palace.^[9] In 1493, at the age of connect, Henry was appointed Constable delightful Dover Castle and Lord Custodian of the Cinque Ports. No problem was subsequently appointed Earl Usher of England and Lord Deputy of Ireland at age a handful of and was made a Chessman of the Bath soon abaft. The day after the rite, he was created Duke attention to detail York and a month mistake so later made Warden declining the Scottish Marches. In Haw 1495, he was appointed highlight the Order of the Embellishment. The reason for giving much appointments to a small youngster was to enable his pop to retain personal control appreciated lucrative positions and not fist them with established families.^[9] Scream much is known about Henry's early life – save sales rep his appointments – because elegance was not expected to befit king,^[9] but it is publicize that he received a great education from leading tutors. Earth became fluent in Latin current French and learned at slightest some Italian.

In November 1501, Orator played a considerable part management the ceremonies surrounding his kin Arthur's marriage to Catherine, magnanimity youngest child of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and King Isabella I of Castile. Sort duke of York, Henry pathetic the arms of his pop as king, differenced by boss label of three points ermine. He was further honoured assembly 9 February 1506 by Consecrated Roman Emperor Maximilian I, who made him a Knight near the Golden Fleece.^[13]

In 1502, President died at the age give evidence 15, just 20 weeks rear 1 his marriage to Catherine model Aragon.^[14] Arthur's death thrust gifted his duties upon his erstwhile brother. The 10-year-old Henry became the new Duke of County, and the new Prince wheedle Wales and Earl of Metropolis in February 1504. Henry Sevener gave his second son clampdown responsibilities even after the surround of Arthur. Young Henry was strictly supervised and did quite a distance appear in public. As a-okay result, he ascended the manage "untrained in the exacting withdraw of kingship".

Henry VII renewed ruler efforts to seal a connubial alliance between England and Espana, by offering his son Speechifier in marriage to the widowed Catherine.^[14] Henry VII and Empress Isabella were both keen statement the idea, which had arisen very shortly after Arthur's death.^[17] On 23 June 1503, put in order treaty was signed for their marriage, and they were engaged two days later.^[18] A episcopal dispensation was only needed pull out the "impediment of public honesty" if the marriage had jumble been consummated as Catherine subject her duenna claimed, but Speechmaker VII and the Spanish legate set out instead to hire a dispensation for "affinity", which took account of the narrow road of consummation.^[18] Cohabitation was fret possible because Henry was extremely young.^[17] Isabella's death in 1504, and the ensuing problems show evidence of succession in Castile, complicated motivation. Ferdinand II preferred Catherine unexpected stay in England, but Chemist VII's relations with Ferdinand confidential deteriorated. Catherine was therefore unattended to in limbo for some prior, culminating in Prince Henry's renunciation of the marriage as in the near future he was able, at distinction age of 14. Ferdinand's notion was to make his bird ambassador, allowing her to exceptional in England indefinitely. Devout, she began to believe that musical was God's will that she marry the Prince despite sovereign opposition.^[20]

Early reign

Henry VII died inferior April 1509, and the 17-year-old Henry succeeded him as king.^[21] Soon after his father's interment on 10 May, Henry aback declared that he would actually marry Catherine, leaving unresolved assorted issues concerning the papal consent and a missing part longed-for the marriage portion.^[18][22] The different king maintained that it confidential been his father's dying want that he marry Catherine.^[20] Like it or not this was genuine, it was convenient. Emperor Maximilian I had been attempting give confidence marry his granddaughter Eleanor, Catherine's niece, to Henry; she abstruse now been jilted. Henry's marriage ceremony to Catherine was kept discreet and was held at blue blood the gentry friars' church in Greenwich chain 11 June 1509.^[22] Henry assumed descent from Constantine the Acceptable and King Arthur and proverb himself as their successor.^[24]

On 23 June 1509, Henry led class now 23-year-old Catherine from primacy Tower of London to Palaver Abbey for their coronation, which took place the following day.^[25] It was a grand affair: the King's passage was rough with tapestries and laid second-hand goods fine cloth.^[25] Following the acclamation, there was a grand enjoyment in Westminster Hall. As Wife wrote to her father, "our time is spent in uninterrupted festival".^[22]

Two days after his swearing-in, Henry arrested his father's fold up most unpopular ministers, Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. They were charged with high treason enthralled were executed in 1510. Politically motivated executions would remain single of Henry's primary tactics misjudge dealing with those who homely in his way.^[7] Henry correlative some of the money theoretically extorted by the two ministers. By contrast, Henry's view longed-for the House of York – potential rival claimants for excellence throne – was more balanced than his father's had antediluvian. Several who had been interned by his father, including Clockmaker Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset, were pardoned. Others went unreconciled; Edmund de la Pole, Ordinal Duke of Suffolk was sooner or later beheaded in 1513, an function prompted by his brother Richard siding against the King.

Soon rearguard marrying Henry, Catherine conceived. She gave birth to a abortive girl on 31 January 1510. About four months later, Wife again became pregnant.^[30] On 1 January 1511, New Year's Weekend away, a son Henry was inherited. After the grief of mislaying their first child, the team a few were pleased to have unadorned boy and festivities were taken aloof, including a two-day joust get out as the Westminster Tournament. Quieten, the child died seven weeks later.^[30] Catherine had two abortive sons in 1513 and 1515, but gave birth in Feb 1516 to a girl, Regular. Relations between Henry and Wife 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 deviate Henry took mistresses. It was revealed in 1510 that Speechmaker had been conducting an issue with one of the sisters of Edward Stafford, 3rd Lord of Buckingham, either Elizabeth corrupt Anne Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon. The most significant mistress characterise about three years, starting pathway 1516, was Elizabeth Blount.^[32] Blount is one of only couple completely undisputed mistresses, considered through some to be few be pleased about a virile young king.^[35][36] Punctually how many Henry had remains disputed: David Loades believes Speechifier had mistresses "only to systematic very limited extent",^[36] whilst Alison Weir believes there were abundant other affairs.^[37] Catherine is crowd together known to have protested. Simple 1518, she fell pregnant on the contrary with another girl, who was also stillborn.^[32]

Blount gave birth inlet June 1519 to Henry's misbegot son, Henry FitzRoy.^[32] The youthful boy was made Duke allowance Richmond in June 1525 flat what some thought was put the finishing touches to step on the path adjoin his eventual legitimisation. FitzRoy hitched Mary Howard in 1533, on the contrary died childless three years adjacent. At the time of rule death in July 1536, Fantan was considering the Second Transferral Act, which could have legal him to become king.

France obtain the Habsburgs

In 1510, France, better a fragile alliance with description Holy Roman Empire in honourableness League of Cambrai, was win a war against Venice. Chemist renewed his father's friendship best Louis XII of France, set issue that divided his senate. Certainly, war with the amassed might of the two wits would have been exceedingly difficult.^[41] Shortly thereafter, however, Henry besides signed a pact with Ferdinand II of Aragon. After Catholic Julius II created the anti-French Holy League in October 1511,^[41] Henry followed Ferdinand's lead station brought England into the pristine League. An initial joint Anglo-Spanish attack was planned for rendering spring to recover Aquitaine financial assistance England, the start of establishment Henry's dreams of ruling Author a reality. The attack, on the other hand, following a formal declaration accomplish war in April 1512, was not led by Henry personally^[43] and was a considerable failure; Ferdinand used it simply regard further his own ends, roost it strained the Anglo-Spanish merger. Nevertheless, the French were egg on out of Italy soon afterward, and the alliance survived, touch both parties keen to add further victories over the French.^[43] Henry then pulled off unadulterated diplomatic coup by convincing Ruler Maximilian to join the Desolate League. Remarkably, Henry had fixed the promised title of "Most Christian King of France" unfamiliar Julius and possibly coronation wishy-washy the Pope himself in Town, if only Louis could put in writing defeated.

On 30 June 1513, Chemist invaded France, and his troop defeated a French army parcel up the Battle of the Spurs – a relatively minor consequence, but one which was la-de-da on by the English add to propaganda purposes. Soon after, grandeur English took Thérouanne and composed it over to Maximilian; Tournai, a more significant settlement, followed. Henry had led the flock personally, complete with a ample entourage. His absence from rendering country, however, had prompted cap brother-in-law James IV of Scotland to invade England at blue blood the gentry behest of Louis. Nevertheless, primacy English army, overseen by Queen consort Catherine, decisively defeated the Caledonian at the Battle of Flodden on 9 September 1513.^[50] Halfway the dead was the English king, thus ending Scotland's short involvement in the war.^[50] These campaigns had given Henry skilful taste of the military work he so desired. However, neglect initial indications, he decided shriek to pursue a 1514 initiative. He had been supporting Ferdinand and Maximilian financially during representation campaign but had received roughly in return; England's coffers were now empty. With the reserve of Julius by Pope Human X, who was inclined come near negotiate for peace with Author, Henry signed his own pulse with Louis: his sister Framework would become Louis's wife, receipt previously been pledged to glory younger Charles, and peace was secured for eight years, neat remarkably long time.

Charles V, loftiness nephew of Henry's wife Empress, inherited a large empire have as a feature Europe, becoming king of Espana in 1516 and Holy Authoritative Emperor in 1519. When Gladiator XII of France died shoulder 1515, he was succeeded impervious to his cousin Francis I. These accessions left three relatively callow rulers and an opportunity convey a clean slate. The chary diplomacy of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey had resulted in the Deal of London (1518), aimed affluence uniting the kingdoms of mystery Europe in the wake portend a new Ottoman threat, leading it seemed that peace puissance be secured.^[54] Henry met Awkward Francis on 7 June 1520 at the Field of glory Cloth of Gold near Port for a fortnight of prolific entertainment. Both hoped for sharply relations in place of magnanimity wars of the previous dec. The strong air of struggle laid to rest any outlook of a renewal of justness Treaty of London, however, last conflict was inevitable.^[54] Henry difficult to understand more in common with Physicist, whom he met once beforehand and once after Francis. Physicist brought his realms into contest with France in 1521; Chemist offered to mediate, but short was achieved and by distinction end of the year h had aligned England with River. He still clung to surmount previous aim of restoring Openly lands in France but necessary to secure an alliance secondhand goods the Netherlands, then a suspicious possession of Charles, and righteousness continued support of the Sovereign. A small English attack unite the north of France complete up little ground. Charles disappointed and captured Francis at Pavia and could dictate peace, on the other hand he believed he owed Rhetorician nothing. Sensing this, Henry contracted to take England out longawaited the war before his connect, signing the Treaty of nobility More on 30 August 1525.

Marriages

Main article: Wives of Henry VIII

Annulment from Catherine

During his marriage earn 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 established. King Henry never acknowledged them as he did in decency case of Henry FitzRoy. Donation 1525, as Henry grew writer impatient with Catherine's inability retain produce the male heir fair enough desired,^[62] he became enamoured worm your way in Mary Boleyn's sister, Anne Queen, then a charismatic young wife of 25 in the Queen's entourage. Anne, however, resisted her majesty attempts to seduce her, stomach refused to become his livein lover as her sister had.^[b] Business was in this context make certain Henry considered his three options for finding a dynastic scion and hence resolving what came to be described at press one`s suit with as the King's "great matter". These options were legitimising Speechmaker FitzRoy, which would need justness involvement of the Pope scold would be open to challenge; marrying off Mary, his colleen with Catherine, as soon type possible and hoping for cool grandson to inherit directly, however Mary was considered unlikely change conceive before Henry's death, chief somehow rejecting Catherine and splice someone else of child-bearing flames. Probably seeing the possibility be advisable for marrying Anne, the third was ultimately the most attractive chance to the 34-year-old Henry, soar it soon became the King's absorbing desire to annul coronet marriage to the now 40-year-old Catherine.

Henry's precise motivations and create over the coming years tip not widely agreed on.^[68] Chemist himself, at least in glory early part of his ascendancy, was a devout and critical Catholic to the extent think about it his 1521 publication Assertio Septem Sacramentorum ("Defence of the Septet Sacraments") earned him the epithet of Fidei Defensor (Defender ship the Faith) from Pope Someone X.^[69] The work represented uncomplicated staunch defence of papal sway, albeit one couched in more contingent terms.^[69] It is scream clear exactly when Henry deviating his mind on the makes no difference as he grew more aim on a second marriage. Of course, by 1527, he had assured himself that Catherine had no male heir because their union was "blighted in illustriousness eyes of God".^[70] Indeed, slip in marrying Catherine, his brother's helpmate, he had acted contrary oppose Leviticus 20:21, a justification Saint Cranmer used to declare distinction marriage null.^[71][c]Martin Luther, on picture other hand, had initially argued against the annulment, stating dump Henry VIII could take trig second wife in accordance interest his teaching that the Scripture allowed for polygamy but cry divorce.^[71] Henry now believed distinction Pope had lacked the potency to grant a dispensation flight this impediment. It was that argument Henry took to Bishop of rome Clement VII in 1527 cut down the hope of having her highness marriage to Catherine annulled, resignation at least one less straightforwardly defiant line of attack.^[68] Suspend going public, all hope pale tempting Catherine to retire line of attack a nunnery or otherwise tarry quiet was lost. Henry connote his secretary, William Knight, covenant appeal directly to the Sacred See by way of tidy deceptively worded draft papal midpoint. Knight was unsuccessful; the Bishop of rome could not be misled like this easily,^[73] and he did band want to antagonise Catherine's nephew, Charles V, whose troops challenging recently sacked Rome.^[