A portrait of Henry VIII (1509-1547) by the artist Hans Eworth painted around 1545.

How useful is this painting in understanding what Henry VIII was like?

How well does Henry VIII compare with some of the other monarchs you have studied, like William the Conqueror or Henry II?

How do you How do you solve a solve a

problem problem like like

Catherine?Catherine?

Despite his charisma & Despite his charisma & success, Henry faced success, Henry faced many difficulties & many difficulties &

uncertainties …uncertainties …

LOs TBAT explain the main problems Henry

faced & write a letter of advice to him

Your taskYour task

Listen to the problems Henry faces and Listen to the problems Henry faces and complete a table similar to the one belowcomplete a table similar to the one below

Type of Type of problemproblem

EvidenceEvidence

LoveLove

MoneyMoney

ReligionReligion

PowerPower

Death of ArthurDeath of ArthurHenry, I am the ghost of your brother Arthur. As your elder brother I should really have been king, but sadly I died as a young man before I could be king. Now you are king. May God give you his blessing.

Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon Henry, I know I was not your first choice. I am your dead brother’s widow. But your father decided it would be best for both our countries if we married. I am your most faithful wife, Henry. I love you. I also love God most dearly and I pray to him every day he will grant me a son so I can make you happy. I know you want a son more than anything, Henry. Please be patient. God will grant us our wishes soon. In the meantime, please spend more quality time with our daughter, Mary. She asks after you every day!

Anne BoleynAnne BoleynYour Majesty, you flatter me with your attention. Many thanks for your poems and love songs, but surely you should be sending these to your wife Catherine, not to me a mere lady-in-waiting. I fondly remember the time we spent together at the Field of the Cloth of Gold and would love to see more of you, but remember you are a married man and it would be sinful to be any more than friends… do you not agree?

Pope, Clement VII Pope, Clement VII First of all Henry I would like to thank you for your recent book attacking all the critics of my Church. For this I grant you and all your heirs the title, ‘Defender of the Faith.’ Now, with regard to your marital difficulties … you should work things out with Catherine. What’s all this nonsense I’m hearing about here in Rome concerning you and a six-fingered chambermaid? Have you lost your marbles? Remember a wife is for life. It’s too late to change your mind now.

Charles VCharles VI’m the most

powerful man in Europe, the Holy Roman Emperor.

I own parts of Germany,

Holland, Spain & Italy. If the Pope

arranges the divorce of my

aunt, Catherine, I’ll invade the

Pope’s lands in Italy. So watch

out!

Thomas Cromwell, King’s Thomas Cromwell, King’s Chief Minister (adviser)Chief Minister (adviser)

If you really love this Boleyn girl, why not divorce Catherine. I’m sure something can be arranged … and if his Excellence the Pope disagrees then tell him you’ll start your own Church and get a divorce settled that way! Think about it, your Majesty. Head of your own Church. Think how powerful and wealthy that would make you! And …er … whilst we’re on the subject of wealth, don’t forget there are still quite a few outstanding bills for all your wars with France and Scotland … and for the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Break from Rome and sell off the Church’s property and you could be quids in!

Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of CanterburyCanterbury

You should think very carefully about Thomas Cromwell’s advice. If you set up your own Church you could make drastic changes to the way things are done. The Roman Catholic Church is full of sinful priests who think more about their bellies and their beautiful churches than the word of God. There’s a new religion that everyone’s talking about called Protestantism. If you start a new Church it could be a Protestant one that’s much more holy. Just think, if God was really pleased with the changes you made, he might even grant you a son!

Your taskYour task

Imagine you are Henry VIII and need Imagine you are Henry VIII and need help with all your problems. Write to a help with all your problems. Write to a Tudor Agony Aunt for advice. Focus Tudor Agony Aunt for advice. Focus on the four main problem areas - on the four main problem areas - love, money, power and above all religion.

Extension task: write a letter as Extension task: write a letter as Catherine or Anne to the Tudor Agony Catherine or Anne to the Tudor Agony AuntAunt

Example letter

Satisfactory Good Wow factor!

You have included some, not all of the problems Henry faced

You have included all the problems Henry faced, but you need to explain them further

You include all four problems and explain them clearly, using examples from your notes

It is written like a letter requesting advice

PlenaryPlenary

What qualities did Henry have that made him a powerful leader

What were his weaknesses? Explain these problems: love,

money, power and above all faith What advice would you give Henry?