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[Type the document subtitle] | Dave

IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY WITH KING HENRY VIII

How History's Most Famous King Can Help To Train Your Memory

In 2010 one of my granddaughters' Lauren asked if I could help her with her homework.She was

studying history at school and although the teacher was passing on the correct information,the

majority of the pupils had trouble retaining the facts.Mainly the names of his six wives,what

happened to them and the order in which he married them.

Now history is one of my favourite subjects,probably because,at almost 60, I have lived through

most of it according to my children! I pondered on the problem for most of the day and it was only

when I looked at the wives that the solution appeared.It seemed so simple a method I wondered if

it would work with the younger children.I taught Lauren the method and within ten minutes she

was reciting word for word the correct facts.I challenged her on occasions over the next four

weeks to name the wives ,their fate and the marriage order.It wont surprise you to know that she

remembered everything I had told her.It is simple and it is my own method for these history facts.I

did share it in an article online at the time and I would like to share it with you now.

But first what do we know about Henry VIII and what makes him stand out in history.

He was King of England from 1509-until 1547 and he was married six times.That is what he is most

remembered for.Rather than quote facts which can easily be found online ,if you need to find out

more just go to this link Henry VIII

The Six Wives

Their Fate And The Order He Married Them.

Look at the order and see if you can spot anything.

Catherine Of Aragon 1509-1533 Divorced

Anne Boleyn 1533-1536 Beheaded

Jane Seymour 1536-1537 Died

Anne Of Cleves 1540-1540 7 Months Divorced

Catherine Howard 1540-1541 Beheaded

Catherine Parr 1543-1547 Survived

Did you spot a pattern?No.Read on all will be revealed

The Method Revealed

First consider the fate of the six wives in the order Henry married them

Divorced

Beheaded

Died

Divorced

Beheaded

Survived

This is something schoolchildren learn from an early age ,repeat the six fates .It's almost sing-

along.You will soon remember those.

But how do we remember the order of the wives in which he married them?

Look closely and you will see they are almost in alphabetical order!.

Aragon

Boleyn

Seymour

Cleves

Howard

Parr

I have italicised Seymour because she is the odd one out.Now Jane Seymour was Henry's third

wife,but how does that help us to remember the order?As she was his third wife she comes before

four.So as you remember their names in alphabetical order just say "Seymour before four".Think

you can do that.Of course you can.Just practice and you will soon know the method by heart!

But what about the years?This is where a link to the number 4 used earlier comes in handy.Just

think of a 24 hour clock with 1 through to 12 being am and 13 to 24 being pm.If you look closely

you will see that the marriages start at 1509 (almost 3:10 in the afternoon) and finish before

four(3:50pm or 1547).Just think of Henry getting married just after 3 in the afternoon (1500) This

is just one way to improve your memory no doubt there are countless others.It worked for me and

my Grand daughter it will work for you.

Now what was I going to do next?

The study of Brain Training is a fascinating subject and there are countless

books published every year.One of the best guides I have found is “Memorise

Names,Numbers and Everything Else”.

To get your copy just click here.