10 Average Questions about Henry VIII

Answer: Arthur

It has been often said that before the death of Arthur, Prince of Wales, Henry lived in his shadow. Henry was to live as a monk while Arthur grew to be the next king of England, while married to Spanish Princess Catherine of Aragon. Though the cause of his death was unknown, Arthur died at the age of fifteen, most likely due to a sickness.

Answer: Mary

Catherine of Aragorn was six years older than Henry, and she was often blamed for the miscarriages and inability to have a male heir to the throne because of the age difference.

Answer: Yes

Along with the ability to speak and read many different languages, and play several different musical instruments, Henry was an unusually tall, attractive young man. He sported the red "Tudor hair" and he apparently made many women swoon. Henry had a spectacular build from the different activities he partook in, but after a nasty fall from a horse he became paranoid that he would fall again, and stopped most activities.

He developed a painful ulcer on his leg which was said to cause his poor humour later in life.

His physique became anything but beautiful ...

Answer: Louis XII

The Anglo-French treaty of 1514 gave temporary peace between the two nations, but also entailed Henry's sister, Mary, marrying the decrepit French king Louis XII. Louis died a year after the loveless marriage, and Mary was later able to marry her true love, Charles Brandon.

Answer: False

Though she was Henry's second wife, Anne was executed in 1536 at the Tower of London for alleged infidelity, three years after giving birth to the king's second daughter, Elizabeth. It's really exciting to visit the Tower and see where Anne was held captive in her last days!

Answer: Jane Seymour

Jane had been one of the previous Queen's ladies-in-waiting (maidservants), and had received much attention and affection from Henry prior to Anne's execution. She gave birth to Henry's only son, the future Edward VI, and died tragically from puerperal fever ("childbed fever", an infection contracted through childbirth or abortion).

Answer: Pilgrimage of Grace

In an attempt to please the Roman Catholics, Henry agreed to allow Parliament to address their concerns regarding the religious split. Unfortunately, he did not keep this promise and another rebellion rose in 1537. Instead of false promises, Henry chose to execute the rebels for treason.

Answer: Thomas Cromwell

Henry agreed to marry Anne of Cleves on the recommendation of Thomas Cromwell and on the basis of an inaccurate portrait by Hans Holbein. Will Somers was Henry's court jester, and Cardinal Wolsey had died from illness in 1530.

Answer: Henry, Earl of Surrey

It is said that by the end of Henry's reign, over 72,000 had been executed!

Answer: His father would have reached age 90 that day if he had still been alive

Henry's actual cause of death is still unknown, but his infected ulcer, syphilis, and just plain ole' old age are all possibilities.

I'll leave you with my favourite Henry rhyme: "King Henry the Eighth, to six wives he was wedded: One died, one survived, two divorced, two beheaded".