Henry VIII

Henry VIII


House / Group: Tudor
Born / died: 1491-1547
Reign: 1509-1547


The third child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York (his older siblings were Arthur who died in 1502 aged 15, and Mary, who became Mary Queen of Scots).
As we all know, he had six wives and not many sons:
Catherine of Aragon, marriage annulled (a miscarried daughter, Henry (died at 2 months), an unnamed son, another Henry (lived less than a month), Mary (I), an unnamed child (lived less than a day)).
Anne Boleyn, executed (Elizabeth (I), Henry (lived less than a year), an unnamed son (lived less than a day)).
Jane Seymour, died 12 days after birth of their only child, Edward VI
Anne of Cleves, marriage annulled, no children
Catherine Howard, executed, no children
Catherine Parr, survived Henry, no children
Henry also had a number of illegitimate children by a series of mistresses:
Elizabeth Blount (Henry)
Lady Mary Boleyn, sister of Anne (Catherine and Henry)
Mary Berkeley (Thomas and John)
Joan Dyngley (Etheldreda)

When not obsessing about an heir, Henry spent a lot of time removing the Catholic church from English soil. He enjoyed gambling and sport and was a musician, author and poet.
The cause of Henry's death, at the age of 56, is uncertain. He was grossly overweight, probably suffered from gout and possibly syphilis too. Part of the reason for his weight problem was a leg injury which meant he could not exercise and the wound became increasingly ulcerated which might have contributed to his death. He was buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, next to  Jane Seymour.
Henry has appeared on British stamps in 1982 and again in 1997, together with his wives. Signature source