I'm Henry VIII, I Am...

By Jennifer L. Wright

 

I'm 'Enery the Eighth, I am,

'Enery the Eighth I am, I am!

I got married to the widow next door,

She's been married seven times before

And every one was an 'Enery

She wouldn't have a Willie nor a Sam

I'm her eighth old man named 'Enery

'Enery the Eighth, I am!

I was not even alive in the 1960's, but please tell me I'm not the only one with this ear-worm stuck perpetually in her head. Although it's been sung by dozens of different British musicians, it's the Herman's Hermits version that lives in my head rent free. So, when I sat down to write today’s post about the actual Henry VIII, I couldn't help but--once again--start to sing along. 

Sorry for ruining your day if it's stuck in your head now too.

Henry VIII

Photo Credit: Brittanica.com

Henry VIII was the second Tudor monarch after his father, Henry VII. He was king from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. During that time, he expanded the Royal Navy, oversaw the annexation of Wales to England, and was the first English monarch to rule as King of Ireland. 

But almost none of that stuff is remembered. 

Because he was also the king with six wives. 

In November 1501, Henry's brother Arthur married Catherine, the youngest child of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. However, Arthur died just 20 weeks after the wedding, leaving Henry as heir to the throne. Still keen on securing a martial alliance between England and Spain, Henry VII offered his other son to the widowed Catherine. On 23 June 1503, a treaty was signed for their marriage, and they were betrothed two days later. When Henry VII died on 21 April 1509, 17-year-old Henry succeeded him as king the following day and vowed to make good on his promise to his father. He and Catherine were wed at the friar's church in Greenwich on 11 June 1509.

Soon after marrying Henry, Catherine conceived. She gave birth to a stillborn girl on 31 January 1510. About four months later, Catherine again became pregnant. On 1 January 1511, New Year's Day, a son--also named Henry--was born. Tragically, however, the child died seven weeks later. Catherine had two stillborn sons in 1513 and 1515, but gave birth in February 1516 to a girl, Mary. By all accounts, relations between Henry and Catherine were understandably strained during this time period. But, rather than uniting in their grief, the king sought solace in the arms of other women. 

One of these was Mary Boleyn, Catherine's lady-in-waiting. In 1525, as Henry grew more impatient with Catherine's inability to produce the male heir he desired, he became enamored of Mary Boleyn's sister, Anne Boleyn. Unlike her sister, however, Anne, resisted his attempts to seduce her and refused to become his mistress, forcing King Henry's hand. Rather than another dalliance, he sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine.

And on this day in 1530, Pope Clement VII sounded rejected the monarch's request. 

Pope Clement VII

Photo Credit: brittanica.com 

What followed was a mess of modern-day soap opera standards. Enraged, Henry broke with the Catholic Church and married his mistress anyway. He initiated the English Reformation, which separated the Church of England from papal authority, and appointed himself Supreme Head of the Church of England, dissolving convents and monasteries.

It was no surprise he ended up excommunicated. 

Not that things got much better on the home front. 

Henry's marriage did not prosper. Anne, too, suffered several miscarriages and refused to play the submissive role expected of her. Unpopular reforms only added to the tension. Although Henry carried on many affairs during their time together, Anne was ultimately arrested, accused of treasonous adultery, and beheaded on 19 May 1536.

A third wife Jane Seymour did present him with a son, the future Edward VI, before dying of childbirth complications. His fourth wife, Anne of Cleves barely lasted a few months before an annulment. History repeated itself when Henry accused his fifth wife Catherine Howard of adultery, having her beheaded as well. His last wife Catherine Parr survived him...but perhaps only because he died less than four years after their wedding. 

Such a catchy song for a, um, not so catchy man.

Jennifer L. Wright grew up wanting to be a reporter, but it only took a few short months of working in journalism for her to abandon those aspirations for fiction writing instead. She loves to reimagine and explore forgotten eras in history, showcasing God's light amidst humanity's darkest days. Her books have won multiple awards, including Golden Scroll and Angel awards. She currently lives in New Mexico with her husband, two kids, a couple of hyperactive dachshunds, and an ever-growing herd of guinea pigs.