Why did Henry VIII Why did Henry VIII marry six times?marry six times?

Henry VIIIHenry VIII

He was big and He was big and handsomehandsome and and wore fine clotheswore fine clothes

He loved games, He loved games, horse-riding and horse-riding and huntinghunting

He spoke four He spoke four languages, wrote languages, wrote poetry and played poetry and played musicmusic

But most important to him…But most important to him…

He wanted to be a He wanted to be a strong king, with strong king, with a firm hold on the a firm hold on the thronethrone

He most wanted a He most wanted a son to succeed son to succeed himhim

Catherine of AragonCatherine of Aragon

Married 1509Married 1509 She was daughter She was daughter

to the king of Spainto the king of Spain She had a She had a

daughter, Mary, daughter, Mary, but no sonsbut no sons

She was too old for She was too old for more childrenmore children

Henry wanted to Henry wanted to divorce divorce her…her…

ReformationReformation

But it was VERY hard to But it was VERY hard to get a divorce granted get a divorce granted by the Catholic churchby the Catholic church

Ultimately the Pope Ultimately the Pope refused, so Henry took refused, so Henry took matters into his own matters into his own handshands

He separated from the He separated from the Roman Catholic Church Roman Catholic Church and became the head and became the head of the Church of of the Church of EnglandEngland

Anne BoleynAnne Boleyn

Married 1533Married 1533She was young, She was young,

pretty and wittypretty and wittyShe had one She had one

daughter, daughter, ElizabethElizabeth

She was She was beheadedbeheaded for being unfaithful for being unfaithful in 1536in 1536

Jane SeymourJane Seymour

Married 1536 (11 Married 1536 (11 days after days after execution of Anne)execution of Anne)

She had a son, She had a son, Edward, but Edward, but died died soon after (1537)soon after (1537)

Henry probably Henry probably loved her best of loved her best of all his wivesall his wives

Anne of ClevesAnne of Cleves

Married 1540Married 1540The marriage The marriage

made a link made a link between England between England and Germanyand Germany

Henry thought Henry thought she was uglyshe was ugly

DivorcedDivorced 1540 – 1540 – the same year!the same year!

Catherine HowardCatherine Howard

Married 1540Married 1540She was 20, She was 20,

Henry was 49Henry was 49She was She was

unfaithfulunfaithfulExecutedExecuted in 1542 in 1542

Catherine ParrCatherine Parr

Married 1543Married 1543She liked family She liked family

life and looked life and looked after Henryafter Henry’’s s childrenchildren

She outShe outlivedlived HenryHenry