Henry VIII: A Detailed Biography

Henry VIII (1491–1547) was King of England from 1509 until his death. Famous for his six wives, break with Rome, and creation of the Church of England, he transformed England from a Catholic country into a Protestant-leaning nation while amassing unprecedented personal power. This biography covers his golden youth, marital crises, religious revolution, tyrannical later years, and monumental legacy, as documented by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the Royal Family, and the Historic Royal Palaces.

Early Life: The Spare Heir

Birth at Greenwich

Born on June 28, 1491, at Greenwich Palace, Henry was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. After his elder brother Arthur died in 1502, 10-year-old Henry became heir. Educated in Renaissance humanism, theology, and music, he was athletic, handsome, and accomplished.

Golden Prince Becomes King (1509)

Henry succeeded at age 17 in 1509. Tall (over 6 ft 2 in), charismatic, and a skilled jouster, he married his brother’s widow Catherine of Aragon six weeks later. Early reign was glamorous: Field of Cloth of Gold (1520), patronage of Holbein and Erasmus, as documented by the British Library.

The King’s “Great Matter”

Quest for Annulment

By 1527, after 18 years and only one surviving daughter (Mary), Henry sought to annul his marriage to Catherine, claiming it violated Leviticus because she had been married to his brother. Pope Clement VII, under pressure from Catherine’s nephew Emperor Charles V, refused an annulment, as detailed by the UK National Archives.

Break with Rome (1532–1534)

Act of Supremacy

With Thomas Cromwell’s help, Henry secretly married pregnant Anne Boleyn in January 1533. Archbishop Cranmer declared the Catherine marriage void. The Act of Supremacy (1534) made Henry “Supreme Head of the Church of England”, beginning the English Reformation, as preserved by the UK Parliament.

Six Wives

“Divorced, beheaded, died…”

Catherine of Aragon (divorced 1533) • Anne Boleyn (beheaded 1536) • Jane Seymour (died 1537 after giving birth to Edward VI) • Anne of Cleves (divorced 1540) • Catherine Howard (beheaded 1542) • Catherine Parr (survived, married 1543).

Dissolution of the Monasteries (1536–1541)

Henry closed over 800 monasteries, confiscated their vast wealth (about 25% of England’s land), and sold it to the gentry — funding wars and palaces while destroying centuries of monastic culture, as documented by the UK National Archives.

Later Tyrannical Years

Injured in a 1536 jousting accident, Henry became obese (waist 54 inches) and possibly suffered brain damage. His temper worsened; he executed former friends (Cromwell 1540, Surrey 1547). By the 1540s he was almost bankrupt despite monastic wealth.

Death and Legacy

Henry VIII’s Enduring Impact

Henry died on January 28, 1547, at Whitehall Palace, aged 55, probably from obesity-related illnesses and possible syphilis. Buried beside Jane Seymour in St George’s Chapel, Windsor. His reign left England Protestant-leaning, with a powerful central monarchy and navy, but also deeply divided religiously. The Church of England he created still exists today, as celebrated by the Church of England.

Frequently Asked Questions About Henry VIII

Why Is Henry VIII Famous?

For six wives, breaking with Rome, and founding the Church of England.

Why Did Henry VIII Have Six Wives?

He needed a male heir; only Jane Seymour gave him a son who survived infancy.

Where Was Henry VIII Born?

Greenwich Palace, London, June 28, 1491.

What Was the Dissolution of the Monasteries?

1536–1541 closure of over 800 monasteries — Henry seized their wealth.

Who Were Henry VIII’s Six Wives?

Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, Catherine Parr.

Did Henry VIII Write Greensleeves?

No — the song dates from after his death.

How Did Henry VIII Die?

Obesity-related illnesses (possibly syphilis) on January 28, 1547, aged 55.