Henry viii

I have always been fascinated by the stories of Henry VIII and all six of his wives. It's interesting to wonder what was on his mind and how he actually felt when he either divorced or had his wives beheaded. I also find it ironic that Anne Bolyn's daughter, Elizabeth, finally claimed the throne as the monarch of the UK.
 

fibi ducks

Active Member
i was looking up about wood turning online recently and found that Henry VIII was reported to be a keen hobby wood turner. apparantly at that time there were no bowl turning attachments so we shouldn't think of him making bowls.
 
I love reading about Henry VIII but more so about his wives. I am very intrigued by Anne Boleyn, of course, but I'm also interested in hearing more about the mistresses I'm sure he had. I also wonder how things would have worked out if Jane Seymour had not died after childbirth.
 

Pegasis

New Member
I would imagine that the same thing that was usually on his mind---power---was on his mind when he decided to be-head them. I'm guessing he be-headed them simply because he could.
 

serenity

New Member
I love reading about Henry VIII but more so about his wives. I am very intrigued by Anne Boleyn, of course, but I'm also interested in hearing more about the mistresses I'm sure he had. I also wonder how things would have worked out if Jane Seymour had not died after childbirth.
From everything I read, he was desperately in love with Jane, and she was such a gentle and kind woman that, had she lived, I think she could have been a true love match for him. I can't discount that he might have had a wondering eye, but he probably wouldn't have divorced her or had any reason to behead her. She gave him a legitimate son, after all. :)
 

greekgoddess31

Active Member
Henry VIII was a lecher to be sure. Chasing after all the girls. I think it is nuts that he married that many times and had the bulk of them beheaded, imprisoned or both. It is fascinating stuff though.
 
You really have to wonder if power was the only thing on his mind. Maybe he actually thought he was doing the right thing? I would have to be very convinced they were either treasonous or wicked before I would even have someone jailed let alone beheaded. I think Anne Boelyn was one of the most powerful of the wives that he took. Maybe that's why he had her beheaded, he was afraid she would become more powerful than he was.
 

fibi ducks

Active Member
i still think that having a hobby of woodturning is relevant here. i mean, its so difficult to reconcile a mass murderer with a man who likes to pass the time making oak newel posts or something. but i think that Hannah Arrendt said something about the banality of evil after seeing the Nuremberg trials. perhaps henry wasn't thinking at all about his wives, he just liked some quiet time in the shed after work.
 

serenity

New Member
You really have to wonder if power was the only thing on his mind. Maybe he actually thought he was doing the right thing? I would have to be very convinced they were either treasonous or wicked before I would even have someone jailed let alone beheaded. I think Anne Boelyn was one of the most powerful of the wives that he took. Maybe that's why he had her beheaded, he was afraid she would become more powerful than he was.
If I had to pick a wife that was the most powerful it would have been his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. She was loved by the people, was a daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain and had the sympathies and support of the Pope. I think the wife that I find the most interesting is Anne of Cleves. Henry found her to be too plain and he divorced her only 7 months after he married her, but he grew quite fond of her and not only gave her a generous settlement, but referred to her as "The King's Beloved Sister". They remained good friends for the rest of Henry's life. I find all of them utterly fascinating, actually. :)
 

Myrddin

Well-Known Member
If I had to pick a wife that was the most powerful it would have been his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. She was loved by the people, was a daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain and had the sympathies and support of the Pope. I think the wife that I find the most interesting is Anne of Cleves. Henry found her to be too plain and he divorced her only 7 months after he married her, but he grew quite fond of her and not only gave her a generous settlement, but referred to her as "The King's Beloved Sister". They remained good friends for the rest of Henry's life. I find all of them utterly fascinating, actually. :)
You mean there was a wife he didn't behead? :confused:
 
If I had to pick a wife that was the most powerful it would have been his first wife, Katherine of Aragon. She was loved by the people, was a daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain and had the sympathies and support of the Pope. I think the wife that I find the most interesting is Anne of Cleves. Henry found her to be too plain and he divorced her only 7 months after he married her, but he grew quite fond of her and not only gave her a generous settlement, but referred to her as "The King's Beloved Sister". They remained good friends for the rest of Henry's life. I find all of them utterly fascinating, actually. :)

You're right. I had forgotten about that. It's just amazing to me that the more powerful people of the kingdom didn't hide their daughter's and sisters or marry them off to ANYONE to get them out of his way. I wonder how many actually did this?

Myrddin,
There is actually a saying that tells the fate of each wife. It's "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, alive. His last wife survived him when he passed away. So he actually killed two, divorced two, one died in childbirth and the last, as I said, survived him.
 
He only beheaded two wives but he gets quite a reputation. Well, reading that back to myself, that's a silly sentence.

There is a Horrible Histories music video that get stuck in my head that uses the saying Wise Old Owl referenced - "Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. It's called Terrible Tudors - Wives of Henry VIII or something like that if anybody is interested.
 

serenity

New Member
You're right. I had forgotten about that. It's just amazing to me that the more powerful people of the kingdom didn't hide their daughter's and sisters or marry them off to ANYONE to get them out of his way. I wonder how many actually did this?
You would think that would be the case, right?? I think the most disgusting part of the story is how the families of Anne Boelyn, Jane Seymour, and Catherine Howard actually plotted and schemed to get their daughters to be with him! In the case of Anne Boelyn, She and her older sister were actually encouraged by her parents to become the King's mistress...Catherine Howard, too! Anne Boelyn wanted more... she just played her cards right. Anne was carrying on a courtship with Henry while her older sister was supposedly in childbirth with Henry's illegitimate son. It must have been awful having your parent's prostitute you off for power and favor.
 
Power and money are as much drugs as the chemical kind are. People have always sought it, will always seek it, I don't see that changing anytime soon.
 

jerri

Member
It could also be that when he started really loving him he was worried about her having the power over him or him being betrayed by that love.
 

OracleLady

Member
I like to think Henry's last wife, Katherine Parr, breathed a long sigh of relief upon realizing she had made it through. The saddest wife must have been Catherine of Aragon, who had to watch the entire spectacle unfold over the years. A devout Catholic, she was both widowed by her promised Arthur (Henry's brother) and cast aside after failing to deliver her substitute husband (Henry) a healthy son. We could fill an entire website on Catherine's story alone. How this one marriage changed the entire world!
 
OracleLady, I agree that Catherine of Aragon had a difficult time. Henry wanted to be divorced from her so much that he created a new church, didn't he? It would be terrible to have watched all of that unfold over time from her point of view. Not only that but her daughter was also cast aside and she had to watch that happen. Catherine is not my favorite of his wives to study but I do feel for her.
 

Argus

New Member
OracleLady, I agree that Catherine of Aragon had a difficult time. Henry wanted to be divorced from her so much that he created a new church, didn't he? It would be terrible to have watched all of that unfold over time from her point of view. Not only that but her daughter was also cast aside and she had to watch that happen. Catherine is not my favorite of his wives to study but I do feel for her.
Protestantsm was around before Henry. Henry became head of Church of England (as the queen is today) to cut ties with the pope and papal interference. So now the people didnt owe there loyalties to king and pope but king and head of church.
 
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