Who was Henry VIII? | History for Year 6 PDF Download

The Tudor Family

Henry VII, the father of Henry VIII, established the Tudor dynasty by taking the English throne in 1485. His reign came towards the end of the Wars of the Roses, a conflict between two rival branches of the royal family vying for control of the throne. 

Henry VII married Elizabeth of York, uniting the warring factions, and they had several children. He was succeeded by his son, Henry VIII, and later by his grandchildren, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. The Tudor dynasty ruled England from 1485 to 1603.

Who was the young Henry VIII?

• Henry VIII was the second son of Henry VII, meaning his older brother, Prince Arthur, was groomed to be king. As a result, Henry was raised separately in a palace with his mother and sisters. 
• A highly intelligent child, Henry excelled in music, jousting, and spoke multiple languages. At age nine, he impressed the renowned Dutch scholar Erasmus, who praised his education and regal demeanor.
• In 1502, Henry’s brother Arthur died, followed by their mother, Elizabeth of York, in 1503. After these losses, Henry lived with his father, Henry VII, under strict supervision and with limited public appearances. 
• When Henry VII died in 1509, Henry VIII ascended the throne and married Catherine of Aragon, his brother’s widow, aiming to create a vibrant court.

Henry VIII's foreign policy

• Henry VIII sought to emulate Henry V by conquering France. His first attempt in 1512 failed due to unfulfilled promises of support from his father-in-law, Ferdinand II of Aragon, and illness among his troops. 
• In 1513, a second invasion succeeded at the Battle of the Spurs, where Henry’s forces defeated French soldiers and captured the towns of Thérouanne and Tournai. Large paintings of this campaign are displayed at Hampton Court Palace.
• Henry’s ongoing wars with France and Scotland, a French ally, were costly, leading to heavy debt and increased taxes. Alongside warfare, Henry aimed to enhance England’s reputation as a peacemaker in Europe. 
• With his minister, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, he organized peace summits, including the famous Field of Cloth of Gold, to foster alliances among European royal families.

Religion

• Henry VIII, like many in Tudor England, believed men should rule. Desperate for a male heir, he was frustrated that his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, produced only a daughter, Mary. In the 1520s, Henry sought to annul his marriage, arguing that marrying his brother’s widow was biblically wrong and caused his lack of a son. 
• The Pope sent Cardinal Campeggio to oversee a trial in England, but after lengthy deliberations, the annulment was denied.
• Disappointed but determined, Henry was influenced by Protestant writings questioning papal authority and by reformist courtiers. 
• In January 1533, he married Anne Boleyn and established the Church of England, declaring himself its Supreme Head with the support of his ministers and Parliament, breaking from the Pope’s authority. For more details on the Pope’s refusal and its consequences, see the guide on the Reformation.

Government under Henry VIII

• Historians debate how much control Henry VIII exercised versus his reliance on ministers. Early in his reign, Henry focused on leisurely pursuits like hunting, jousting, and parties, even composing a song, Pastyme with Good Companye. He handled state affairs after daily Mass, advised by a council. Over time, he depended heavily on key ministers like Thomas Wolsey and Thomas Cromwell for day-to-day governance.
• Despite their influence, Henry retained ultimate authority. Ministers who failed him faced severe consequences: Wolsey died en route to prison after failing to secure Henry’s annulment, and Cromwell was executed in 1540 as a traitor, partly due to his support for religious radicals and the unsuccessful marriage to Anne of Cleves. Henry’s willingness to heed their rivals contributed to their downfalls.
• The Reformation significantly increased Henry’s power. As Supreme Head of the Church of England, he wielded authority over a deeply religious nation. Additionally, through the 1539 Statute of Proclamations, he could enact changes by decree, bypassing traditional legislative processes, with Parliament’s support.

Marriages and children

Henry VIII is notorious for his six wives, three of whom bore heirs to the throne. His treatment of them was often harsh, leading to the rhyme: “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.” Scroll through the slides for more details about these queens.

Catherine of Aragon was a Spanish princess, the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

Key points

• Henry VIII, a Tudor monarch, reigned over England from 1509 to 1547. 
• He is famously known for his six marriages and the harsh treatment of his wives. 
• Driven by ambitions of military triumph and national glory, he made a pivotal decision to sever ties with the Catholic Church, founding the Church of England, which left a profound and lasting impact on the nation.