Henry VIII of England
Tudor king whose break with Rome transformed the English Church and English politics. His marriages and succession problems shaped the dynastic history of the sixteenth century.
Life of Henry VIII of England
The second Tudor
The son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry was born at Greenwich in 1491. The death of his elder brother Arthur made him heir, and in 1509 he succeeded his father and married Arthur’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, daughter of the Catholic Monarchs. The first years of his reign, largely directed by Cardinal Wolsey, sought prestige in wars against France and in lavish meetings such as the Field of the Cloth of Gold (1520).
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
The “Great Matter” and the break with Rome
Catherine gave him only one surviving child, Mary, and Henry sought an annulment so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. Pope Clement VII, under pressure from Charles V, Catherine’s nephew, refused. With Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer, Parliament passed laws between 1532 and 1534 that ended dependence on Rome; the Act of Supremacy declared him Supreme Head of the Church of England. Those who refused to swear to it, such as Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher, were executed in 1535.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Monasteries, war and royal power
Between 1536 and 1540 he dissolved the monasteries and transferred their lands to the Crown, which sold much of them to the nobility and gentry. The northern rising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace (1536) was suppressed. In doctrine he wavered between reform and conservatism: the English Church broke with the pope without immediately adopting a fully Protestant theology.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Six marriages and the succession
He married six times: Catherine of Aragon (annulled), Anne Boleyn (executed in 1536), Jane Seymour (who died after giving birth to Edward), Anne of Cleves (annulled), Catherine Howard (executed in 1542) and Catherine Parr, who survived him. He died in 1547. His three children succeeded him in turn: Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.
References: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography · Deutsche Biographie · Encyclopaedia Britannica
This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.
Key details
Birth: 1491 Documented
Death: 1547 Documented
Role: King of England · King of Ireland
Other recorded names: Henry VIII · Henry Tudor
Dynasty: Tudor · ES
Territories: England (ES) · Ireland (ES)
Recorded relationships
Their titles over time
Follow the changing territories and offices of Henry VIII of England. Each title retains its own status.
Governments in 1542
- EnglandKing
View titles and jurisdictions
- England · ESKing · Effective rule1509–1547
- IrelandKing
View titles and jurisdictions
- Ireland · ESKing · Effective rule1542–1547
Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.
Sources for this profile
- Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND authority record · Heinrich VIII., England, König
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Encyclopaedia Britannica
Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.
Evidence for this profile
10 recorded claims · 3 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.
Dates (2/2 with a precise source)
- BirthDocumented
1491
The authority record gives the birth as 1491. - DeathDocumented
1547
The authority record gives the death as 1547.
Family and relationships (5/6 with a precise source)
- FatherDocumented
Henry VII of England
The authority record identifies Henry VII of England (GND 118773712) as father. - MotherDocumented
Elizabeth of York
The authority record identifies Elizabeth of York (GND 118999249) as mother. - Marriage or partnershipPending review
Catherine of Aragon
A precise source has not yet been added. - Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Anne Boleyn
The authority record identifies Anne Boleyn (GND 118649442) as spouse. - Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Jane Seymour
The authority record identifies Jane Seymour (GND 121675858) as spouse. - Marriage or partnershipDocumented
Anne of Cleves
The authority record identifies Anne of Cleves (GND 120031027) as spouse.
Governments (0/2 with a precise source)
- GovernmentPending review
King · England · 1509–1547
A precise source has not yet been added. - GovernmentPending review
King · Ireland · 1542–1547
A precise source has not yet been added.
Biographical and contextual references (3)
Editorial history
- 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
- 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
- 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
Follow this person through history
More paths from Henry VIII of England
Family
Henry VII of England · ESKing1457 – 1509Elizabeth of York · ESConsort1466 – 1503
Catherine of Aragon · ESConsort1485 – 1536
Anne BoleynQueen consort of England1501 – 1536Jane Seymour · ESConsort1508 – 1537Anne of Cleves · ESConsort1515 – 1557Same dynasty
Margaret Tudor · ESConsort1489 – 1541Mary Tudor · ESConsort1496 – 1533Arthur, Prince of Wales · ESPrince1486 – 1502Edmund Tudor, Earl of Richmond · ESCount1430 – 1456Owen Tudor · ESNoble1400 – 1461In their lifetime
Philip II of Spain“the Prudent”King of Spain and Portugal · King of England jure uxoris1527 – 1598Murrough O’Brien, Earl of Thomond · ESKing / Earl? – 1551Turlough Donn O’Brien · ESKing? – 1528Conor O’Brien, King of Thomond · ESKing? – 1539Lady Jane Grey · ESDisputed queen1537 – 1554Conn Bacach O’Neill · ESLord / Earlc. 1480 – 1559