Painting of Henry VIII

Henry VIII

Henry VIII (1491–1547) was the second king in the Tudor dynasty who famously had six wives and established the Church of England. He was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York and became heir to the throne after the death of his brother Arthur in 1502. Henry ascended the throne in 1509 and reigned until his death in 1547. He played a significant role in the English Reformation, instigating the English church's break from Rome in the 1530s in order to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and marry his second wife, Anne Boleyn. The Tudor king had six wives in total. These were, successively, Catherine of Aragon; Anne Boleyn; Jane Seymour; Anne of Cleves; Catherine Howard and Katherine Parr. Henry died on 28 January 1547 and was succeeded by his only surviving legitimate son, Edward VI. Henry's two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, would also later rule England

Travelling Mass set, c1535, consisting of a silver-gilt chalice; a paten (Communion plate) and a glass bottle for wine, with a leather box in which to carry them. (Photo by Museum of London/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

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Henry VIII's savage Reformation

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Queen Victoria’s dinners and Henry VIII’s niece. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Engraving of Henry VIII, king of England (Photo by Getty)

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History quiz - holidays and Henry VIII. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Historical fiction and a US murder scandal. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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The Reformation. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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How could the son of Henry VIII become Edward VI?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Through foreign eyes: the forgotten ambassadors to the Tudor court. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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The secrets of 6 of Britain’s most famous castles – with Dan Jones

Full-Length Portrait of King Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger

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Q&AHow big was Henry VIII’s codpiece?

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The reluctant ambassador: the life and times of Tudor diplomat Sir Thomas Chaloner. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Tudor monarchs and a medieval civil war. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Suzannah Lipscomb & Dan Jones discuss Henry VIII's final two wives: Catherine Howard & Katherine Parr

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Dan Jones and Suzannah Lipscomb discuss Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves

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Dan Jones and Suzannah Lipscomb on 'Henry VIII And His Six Wives'

The ruins of Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire. Henry’s motives when dismantling such monasteries “were much more complex than pure revenge or pure avarice alone”, says Adam Morton. (Photo by Getty Images)

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History explorer6 places to explore the dissolution of the monasteries. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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The Dissolution and a forgotten colony. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

An illustration of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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Not such a prude after all: the secrets of Henry VIII’s love life

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The battle over Henry VIII’s will. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Chess, gambling and cards: Tudor games and indoor pastimes. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Who hijacked Henry VIII’s will?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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5 surprising Tudor facts. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Lady Margaret Douglas, a close relative of Henry VIII. Her romantic liaisons landed her in the Tower of London on more than one occasion. (Photo by Florilegius/SSPL/Getty Images)

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Margaret Douglas: The forgotten Tudor princess. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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Was Henry VIII a good king?

Tixall Gatehouse, Staffordshire. (Photo by The Landmark Trust)

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10 of Britain’s most amazing landmark buildings. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Portrait of King Henry VIII

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History heroNathaniel Parker chooses Henry VIII (1491-1547). This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Henry VIII jousting

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How jousting made a man of Henry VIII. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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In pictures: kings and queens through history

Anne Boleyn, who was executed by beheading on 19 May 1536 after being found guilty of high treason, was said to have had "much joy and pleasure in death". (Photo by Ann Ronan Pictures/Print Collector/Getty Images)

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Did Anne Boleyn crave the crown?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Photo of British coins

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Q&AWhy do we have the letters 'FD' on our coins?

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Thomas Cromwell’s life before Henry VIII. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

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