Shake the Spear!

Henry VIII

Henry VIII
(Reign : 1509-1547)

Henry VIII is an extraordinary figure in the successive kings. He married 6 times, executed many people of exalted ranks, including Sir Thomas More, severed all his ties from the Pope, and broke up hundreds of monasteries. He had his fling during his reign. However, I don’t envy his life at all.

His misfortune started with not having his heir between the 1st Queen, Catherine of Aragon. She gave birth to 6 babies. But all of them died during or after their birth except Mary (Mary I). He established the Church of England and divorced from Catherine. Henry was 41, and Catherine was 47 at the time.

He died at 56 years old. So he lived other 5 married lives in 15 years. I cannot believe that he executed his 2nd Queen, Anne Boleyn, 3 years after their marriage. It’s certain that he had syphilis and died of it. Some researcher argues that his syphilis caused his babies’ and his Queens’ early death. His desired Prince, Edward VI, died at 16 years old, and his mother, the 3rd Queen, Jane Seymour died right after his birth at 28. How bloody British history is!

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