Henry VIII of England(1491 – 1547)

A Psychological Analysis

PC MagnayeEd 282

September 15, 2014

Henry VIII is known for…

Having six wives: two of which he had beheaded, another

two whom he divorced

The English Reformation

Being severely obese and overly

harsh and suspicious

Family Background

Parents:Henry VII and Elizabeth of York

Siblings:Arthur, Prince of WalesMargaret TudorMary Tudor, Consort of France

Childhood and Young Adulthood• Born on June 28, 1941• Second son• was envisioned to be a high-ranking

church official• Was taught by private tutors• turned to be very intelligent and witty

• Athletic• loved jousting and hunting

Childhood and Young Adulthood• Assumed to claim the throne after his

older brother Arthur’s death• Was offered to marry his brother’s

widow, Catherine of Aragon, to keep alliance with Spain• Crowned as King of England on June 24,

1509• Executed two of his father’s ministers,

Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, for high treason *

*this became his default solution to stop anyone who defies him

Wife #1: Catherine of Aragon (m. 1503 – 1533)

• Youngest daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon• Previously married to

Arthur, Prince of Wales• Bore a total of 6 children

to Henry VIII, 3 of which were sons, but only one survived (Mary)• Could not bear Henry

VIII a son

Wife #1: Catherine of Aragon (m. 1503 – 1533)

• Led Henry VIII to have women on the side• Elizabeth Blount and

Mary Boleyn

• Henry petitioned for an annulment, that started the English Reformation

FATE: Divorced

The English Reformation

•Henry VIII declared himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England•He declared that the king was “the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England.”• Led to the separation of Church of England from Rome

Wife #2: Anne Boleyn (m. 1533 – 1536)

“I beseech you now with all my heart definitely to let me know your whole mind as to the love between us; for necessity compels me to plague you for a reply, having been for more than a year now struck by the dart of love, and being uncertain either of failure or of finding a place in your heart and affection."

Wife #2: Anne Boleyn (m. 1533 – 1536)

• Sister of one of Henry VIII’s mistresses• Was speculated to

be already pregnant when Henry VIII married her• Gave birth to a

daughter named Elizabeth

Wife #2: Anne Boleyn (m. 1533 – 1536)

• Miscarried twice• Was accused of

adultery and having relations with three men, and plotting to kill Henry VIII

FATE: Executed

Wife #3: Jane Seymour (m. 1536 – 1537)

• Married to Henry VIII 24 hours after Boleyn’s execution• Bore a son named

Edward• Henry VIII claimed

she is “his one true wife”

FATE: Died

Wife #4: Anne of Cleves (m. Jan – Jul 1540)

• Was sought for for political alliance with Germany• Henry VIII was not

attracted to her as she did not match the painting of her• Was domesticated,

did not grew up with the same upbringing as Henry VIII

Wife #4: Anne of Cleves (m. Jan – Jul 1540)

• She declared that her marriage to Henry VIII has not been consummated• Received a generous

settlement for the annulment

FATE: Divorced

Wife #5: Catherine Howard (m. 1540 – 1542)

• First cousin of Anne Boleyn• Lady in waiting to

Anne of Cleves• Married Henry VIII at

19 years old• Lifted Henry VIII’s

spirits (as his leg was badly ulcerated at this point)

Wife #5: Catherine Howard (m. 1540 – 1542)

• Was called Henry VIII’s rose without a thorn and the very jewel of womanhood• Sentenced to death

because of adultery (relations with men her age)

FATE: Executed

Wife #6: Catherine Parr (m. 1542 – 1547)

• Highly educated• Twice widowed

before marrying Henry VIII• Provided a stable

family life to Henry VIII and his children• Was Henry VIII’s

nurse

FATE: Widowed

Late Adulthood and Death

•His leg was severely ulcerated, from an injury in a jousting tournament•Had a habit of binge eating (probably from stress), was said to have a waistline of 54”•Was thought to have suffered complications of Type II Diabetes•Died on January 28, 1547 at the age of 55

Presenting Problems/ConcernsQ: What happened in his childhood that molded him into becoming self-centered and stubborn?Q: What made Henry VIII so intent to be always in control, that he divorced or beheaded his wives, or executed people who worked for him just to always have his way?Q: In what ways did his declining health affected his overall demeanor?

Underlying Issues

• On his obsessive desire for a male offspringoRooted in his sudden succession of the throne

RECALL: He was yanked into the spotlight after his brother’s death

oPressured to continue the lineage

• On his stubbornness and narcissismoGrew up with the spotlight on himoEveryone followed his wishes at whimoSeemed to be in an eternal state of

adolescence: “Look at me! I am invincible!”-type of thinking

Bottom line: He had a constant need to validate his manliness and how he earned the throne

Counseling Goals•Uncover childhood issues that might have led him to hold on to persistent/lasting notions

•Make him re-evaluate his actions and what he values

• Rationalize events instead of reacting based on intense emotions

Recommended Counseling Techniques• Erikson’s Psychosocial Dynamic Theory• To dig deeper into his childhood and

adolescence and reconcile his unresolved issues in his younger days

• Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy• To lessen intensified emotions and be

able to dissect his immediate reactions to situations

Referenceshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/henry_viiihttp://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensofengland/thetudors/henryviii.aspxhttp://tudorhistory.org/henry8/http://tudorhistory.org/wives/http://www.biography.com/people/henry-viii-9335322