The Six Wives of Henry VIII
ANTECEDENTS
• During the 16th century, the Protestant
Reformation played an extraordinary part in
European faith, culture, and politics.
• Reformation began in Germany in 1517.
• England remained Catholic for more than
15 years before crossing over to
Protestantism.
Describing Henry VIII
• Notorious King of England.
• Significant influence on
English history.
• Remember for his wild life
style, his cruel attitudes, and
of course his six wives.
• Well-educated and a skillful
ruler.
• Confidence and supremacy
Henry VIII
One of the most capricious and powerful king
• Increased the authority of
royal government.
• Taxes.
• Increased the clerical
power.
• known for founding the
Anglican Church in order
to obtain his numerous
divorces.
Henry VIII
One of the most capricious and powerful king
• Son of Henry VII and
Elizabeth of York.
• Born in London on
June 28, 1491.
• Good looking man and
was an athlete.
• 38 years as King of
England.
• Man of Blood
Henry VIII’s Family Tree
Edmund m
Margaret
Henry VII m
Elizabeth of York
1485-1509
Henry VIII m 6
women
1509-1547
Margaret m James
IV of Scotland
Arthur m Catherine
of Aragon (*)
Mary m Louis XII
of France
Catherine
of Aragon
Anne
Boleyn
Jane
Seymour
Anne of
Cleves
Catherine
Howard
Katherine
Parr
Divorced
Beheaded
Died
Divorded
Beheaded
Survived
Mary I
Elizabeth I
Edward VI
1553-1558
1558-1603
1547-1553
THE SIX WIVES
Antecedent
Arthur married Catherine of Aragon in 1501.
Their marriage lasted around six months.
Catherine of Aragon
Humble and Loyal
•
•
•
•
•
Born: 16 Dec 1485
Married: 11 June 1509
Divorced/Annulled: 1533
Died: 7 January 1536
a still birth, Prince Henry
(died at 52 days) 8
miscarriages, Mary I, and
died.
• Daughter: Mary I
Catherine faced
Three Mistresses:
Elizabeth Blount (Illegitimate Son)
Mary Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Henry FitzRoy
1st Duke of Richmond
and Somerset
Catherine of Aragon
"blighted in the eyes of God"
• Henry VIII married his
first wife, Catherine of
Aragon because of the
power, money, political
alliance with Spain and
perhaps, at least initially,
for love.
Anne Boleyn
The Most Happy
• Born: c.1500?
• Married: January 1533
• Executed: 19 May
1536.
• Big Temper and
obstinate.
• Two miscarriages.
• Daughter: Elizabeth I
Anne Boleyn
"...to wish myself (specially an evening) in my sweetheart's arms,
whose pretty ducks [breasts] I trust shortly to kiss."
• The reason King Henry
VIII married his second
wife, Anne Boleyn, was
for love and lust. Anne
Boleyn was exciting
and headstrong. Henry
was in love with Anne
Boleyn who also
pregnant when they
married.
Jane Seymour
Bound to Obey and Serve
•
•
•
•
Born: c. 1509
Married: 30 May 1536
Died: 24 October 1537.
In complete contrast to
Anne Boleyn, a dramatic
dark with flaming black eyes
and a spirit and temper to
match
• Son: Edward I, King of
England.
Jane Seymour
"My Dear friend and mistress,
• The reason King Henry
VIII married his third wife,
Jane Seymour, was she
was the total opposite of
Anne Boleyn - meek,
obedient and demure.
Jane Seymour was also
pregnant when she
married the king
Anne of Cleves
God send me Well to Keep
•
•
•
•
•
•
Born: 1515
Married: 6 January 1540
Divorced: July 1540
Died: 16 July 1557
The Ugly Sister.
No children
Anne of Cleves
"You have sent me a Flanders mare!"
• The reason King Henry
VIII married his fourth
wife, Anne of Cleves, was
to gain a political alliance
in Europe.
• He was sorely
disappointed and
promptly divorced her
Catherine Howard
No Other Will that His
• Born: 1521
• Married: 28 July 1540
• Executed: 13 February
1542
• Anne Boleyn’s Cousin
• Young and Beautiful.
• Rejuvenated Henry
• No Children
Catherine Howard
"Rose without a thorn"
• The reason King Henry
VIII married his fifth wife,
Catherine Howard, was
for lust and the infatuation
of an old man.
• Catherine was very young
and pretty - his 'rose
without a thorn' - wrong
again!
Katherine Parr
To Be Useful in All Than I Do
• Born: 1512
• Married: 12 July 1543
• Widowed: 28 January
1547
• Died: 5 September 1548
• Attentive stepmother, a
caring nurse, a faithful
companion.
• No children
Katherine Parr
"most dearly and most entirely beloved wife"
• The reason King Henry
VIII married his last and
sixth wife, Catherine
Parr, was for comfort
and companionship in
his old age.
CONCLUSION
• HENRY the VIII of England, seen here with
his six wives, from left to right, Katherine of
Aragon, Ann Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne
of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Katherine
Parr. Unlike Henry, the real Henry did not
have all his wives at once. (His wives
might have been happier if he had,
considering that two of them were
beheaded.)