Wives of Henry VIII

The wives of Henry VIII, of England were:

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1. Catherine of Aragon (December 16, 1485–January 7, 1536; Spanish: Catalina de Aragón) was Henry VIII of England's first wife. Henry annulled his marriage to her after she had borne him a girl, Mary I. She could not produce a male ("Henry's Great Matter") and their marriage was annulled, against Papal orders, starting the schism between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church.

Related Topics:
Catherine of Aragon - December 16 - 1485 - January 7 - 1536 - Spanish - Henry VIII of England - Annulled - Mary I - Henry's Great Matter - Papal - Church of England - Roman Catholic Church

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2. Anne Boleyn, Marchioness of Pembroke and Queen Consort of England ( 1505/1507 – May 19, 1536) was the second wife and queen consort of Henry VIII and the mother of Elizabeth I of England who would become Queen. Born into the English aristocracy, Anne was educated in France from 1514 until 1521. Returning to England in 1522, she caught the eye of Henry VIII who proposed marriage to her in 1527. An intellectual who believed in the Divine Right of Kings and certain aspects of the new Protestant religion, Anne played a major role in the English Reformation. She was crowned in 1533, but after the birth of her eldest daughter that same year she failed to successfully carry another pregnancy to term. She was falsely accused of adultery and treason in order that the King could marry someone else in 1536; she was beheaded by a French swordsman on the 19th May. Before her death, she joked that, "I heardsay the executioner was very good, and I have a little neck."

Related Topics:
Anne Boleyn - Marchioness of Pembroke - England - May 19 - 1536 - Queen consort - Henry VIII - Elizabeth I of England - France - 1514 - 1521 - 1522 - 1527 - Protestant - 1533

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3. Jane Seymour Queen Jane (c. 1509 — October 24, 1537) was the third wife of King Henry VIII of England. She gave him his only male heir, later Edward VI, but died shortly after his birth.

Related Topics:
Jane Seymour - 1509 - October 24 - 1537 - Henry VIII of England - Edward VI

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4. Anne of Cleves also known as "The Mare of Flanders" (see below) (September 22, 1515 - July 16, 1557) was the queen consort of Henry VIII of England from January 6, 1540 to July 9, 1540. She agreed to have an annullment, claiming the marriage hadn't been consummated, and she was given a generous settlement, including Hever Castle, former home of Henry's former in-laws the Boleyns.

Related Topics:
Anne of Cleves - September 22 - 1515 - July 16 - 1557 - Queen consort - Henry VIII of England - January 6 - 1540 - July 9 - Consummated - Hever Castle

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5. Catherine Howard (1520/1525? - February 13, 1542) was the fifth queen consort of Henry VIII of England 1540-1542, sometimes known as "the rose without a thorn." After annulment of marriage, she was beheaded at the Tower of London on February 13, 1542. The night before, Catherine spent hours practicing how to lay her head upon the block, and her last words were for mercy for her family and prayers for her soul. She was buried next to her cousin Anne Boleyn.

Related Topics:
Catherine Howard - 1520 - 1525 - February 13 - 1542 - Henry VIII of England - 1540 - Tower of London

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6. Catherine Parr (about 1512 - September 7, 1548), also spelled Katharine, was the Queen Consort of Henry VIII of England 1543-1547; the last wife of his six. She has a special place in history as the most married queen of England, having had four husbands in all.

Related Topics:
Catherine Parr - 1512 - September 7 - 1548 - Queen Consort - Henry VIII of England - 1543 - 1547

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