The life and wives of ...

King Henry VIII

Click to continue

Henry VIII succeeded to the throne in 1509 after his father, Henry VII, died. He then married to his late

brother’s widow – Catherine of Aragon.

Henry VIII – King of England

Click to Continue

King Henry VIII’s Life

Henry was very sporty and loved

music, he was also very

intelligent. He could speak

four languages,

loved hunting and played

tennis.

It has been said that Henry

was a very cruel King. He

executed anyone who

disagreed with him. Including

two of his wives!

When Henry became King, England was catholic and controlled by the Pope in Rome. The

Pope wouldn’t allow Henry to

divorce.

Henry made himself head of the Church of England and

then took over the

monasteries and gave them to his friends for houses.

Click to Continue

Henry VIII was famous for having six wives! Let’s find out who they were...

Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was Henry’s first wife. She was originally married to Henry’s older brother Arthur, but he died after 6 months

so Catherine was engaged to Henry instead.

They were married for over 20 years and she gave birth to many children but only one survived – Mary.

He fell in love with another woman and in 1526 he granted himself a divorce by making himself head of the Church of England.DIV

ORCED

Click to Continue

Anne Boleyn

Henry broke away from the Church in Rome to get a divorce so he could marry Anne Boleyn in 1533. Anne gave birth to a

daughter - Elizabeth

Anne was grumpy and Henry soon tired of her. He accused her of meeting other men.

Anne pleaded innocence but Henry did not believe her and so she was beheaded in 1536BE

HEAD

ED

Click to Continue

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour was from a noble family. She was a gentle person. She gave birth to a Son – Edward who

would become King after his Father

Sadly, Jane died 12 days after giving birth to Edward.

It is believed that Henry loved Jane the most and he waited 2 years until marrying again.

DIED

Click to Continue

Anne of Cleves

Henry searched Europe for a new bride and sent artists to paint possible brides so he could see what they looked like. He saw a picture of Anne of Cleves and agreed to marry her without even

meeting her.

However, when Henry met Anne he thought she was ugly and he found her repulsive.

Henry kept his promise and married her but it only lasted 6 months and he divorced her.DIV

ORCED

Click to Continue

Katherine Howard

Katherine was Anne Boleyn’s cousin and was only a teenager when she married Henry who was 49 at the time. Henry thought

she was perfect.

However, Katherine was previously secretly engaged to another man, and possibly another one.

Henry did not like this and so beheaded the two men and then beheaded Katherine.BE

HEAD

ED

Click to Continue

Kathryn Parr

Kathryn had been married twice before she married Henry in 1543. She was in love with someone else but was too scared to refuse the King. By this point Henry was fat and ill. Kathryn acted as a nurse as

well as a wife.

Katherine was a kind woman and brought all of Henry’s children to live together

King Henry VIII died in 1547.

SURVIV

ED

Click to Continue

Catherine of AragonAnne Boleyn

Jane Seymour

Anne of Cleves

Katherine Howard Kathryn Parr

The Six Wives of King Henry VIII

Can you put them in order?Anne Boleyn

Katherine HowardCatherine of

Aragon

Kathryn ParrJane Seymour

Anne of Cleves

Click to find out if you’re right

Did you get it right?

Click to Continue

Anne BoleynKatherine HowardCatherine of

Aragon

Kathryn ParrJane Seymour

Anne of Cleves

What happened to each of Henry VIII’s wives?

DIVORCED

DIVORCED BEHEADED

BEHEADED

DIEDSURVIVED

Click to find out whether you were right

A good way of remembering is using the rhyme: Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced , beheaded,

survived!

Click to finish