King Henry VIII and His Six Wives: What You Need to Know
King Henry VIII is one of the most famous figures in British history, and he is a popular topic in the Life in the UK test. You don't need to know his favorite food, but you *do* need to know how his marriage problems changed the religion of the entire country.
Who was he?
Henry VIII ruled from 1509 to 1547. He was a member of the House of Tudor. He is most famous for breaking away from the Catholic Church in Rome and creating the Church of England.
Why did he break from Rome?
Henry needed a son (an heir) to succeed him. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was too old to give him another child. Henry wanted to divorce her and marry Anne Boleyn.
The Pope forbade the divorce. In anger, Henry declared that the King, not the Pope, was the head of the Church in England. This was the start of the Reformation in England.
The Six Wives (And what happened to them)
There is a famous rhyme to help you remember the fate of his six wives: "Divorced, Beheaded, Died, Divorced, Beheaded, Survived."
- Catherine of Aragon (Divorced): A Spanish princess. Mother of Mary I.
- Anne Boleyn (Beheaded): English. Mother of Elizabeth I. Accused of adultery.
- Jane Seymour (Died): She gave Henry his only son, Edward VI, but she died shortly after childbirth.
- Anne of Cleves (Divorced): A German princess. Henry married her for political reasons but disliked her. It was a short marriage.
- Catherine Howard (Beheaded): She was very young and was accused of having lovers.
- Catherine Parr (Survived): She outlived Henry and looked after him in his old age.
Other Key Facts for the Test
- Wales: During Henry VIII's reign, Wales was formally united with England under the Act for the Government of Wales.
- The Navy: Henry modernized the navy and is sometimes called the "father of the Royal Navy."
If you see a question about "The Reformation" or "The Six Wives," the answer is almost always Henry VIII!