King Henry VIII

Henry and His Six Wives

“Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.”

Henry VIII What would King Henry’s

Personal Advertisement read?

Eligible Bachelor- 6’4” gentleman with 54” waist. Position of Power and prestige in England. Known as “Defender of the Catholic Faith”. May be infected with syphilis. Likes to sing love songs, and is known for a very famous one called: “Pastime with Good Company”. Looking for a single female who wants to pastime with good company and help produce a male heir to the British throne

Bachelorette #1: Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon

• Daughter of Spanish Monarchs- Ferdinand and Isabella

• Widow of British Monarch- King Arthur (Henry’s Oldest Brother)

• Was pregnant 6 times total– 1 Resulted in son who died after birth– 1 resulted in Princess Mary– None of the other pregnancies were fruitful

• Charming young women- red-gold hair

Bachelorette #2:Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn

• Not born of royal ancestry• Worked as a maid for Catherine• Vivacious personality• Carefully concealed a deformity- 6th Finger • For six years she met with Henry VIII and hunted

and danced together• She wouldn’t sleep with Henry VIII unless he

married her and made her queen.• After six years she became pregnant and gave

birth to Princess Elizabeth.• 2 miscarriages

Bachelorette #3: Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour

• No royal blood• Sweet natured, sensible, and docile• 27 at time of marriage- old to be unmarried• Modest and virtuous• October 12, 1537- Prince Edward was born! • Bonfires were lit and two thousand guns were

fired to celebrate in England• October 24- 12 days after giving birth- Jane died

from common infection

Bachelorette #4: Anne of Cleaves

Anne of Cleaves

• From the state of Cleves in Germany, King Henry VIII was interested in having political alliances with the Protestant Country

• German speaking and had limited talent • She did not play an instrument, read books, sing

or sew• She was not good looking• The marriage was never consummated and King

Henry VIII divorced Anne within 6 months

Bachelorette #5: Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard

• Daughter of Lord Howard• High spirited• Vivacious and fun loving • King Henry VIII married this teenager 19

days after his divorce to Anne of Cleaves• King Henry VIII was enraged when her

learned that she was unchaste when they wed and that she was having another affair.

Bachelorette #6: Catherine Parr

Catherine Parr

• Widowed two times

• She married King Henry VIII out of duty

• She was childless and put cared for Elizabeth and Edward

• She outlived King Henry VIII

What if???

• 6 Wives???

• King Henry VIII – was he greedy and lustful?

• What if he had to choose just one? Which one should it be? Which one would he choose for love? Which one would he choose for offspring?