Henry’s Many Wives

While Henry was still married to his first wife, Catherine, he became infatuated with Anne Boleyn. He began to worry that his current marriage was cursed by God, since the Old Testament had a ban on marring the widow of one’s brother. Thus, he decided the best thing to do was to get an annulment, thus allowing him to remarry.

In 1533, the king determined that he did not need the pope’s permission to rule on issues that affected the Church of England and that he could marry Anne. So wed they did, and soon after they welcomed a daughter, named Elizabeth, into the world.

Their marriage lasted for a few short years, until he met Jane Seymour. Henry lost interest in his “great love” Anne after she delivered a stillborn son. Within six month he managed to execute Anne for treason. Thus, freeing himself up to marry Jane.  Jane was able to quickly produce him a son, but died only two weeks later.

Now it was time for marriage number four. She was the ruler of a Protestant duchy in Germany. However, it only took Henry a few days to be over this marriage and ready for the next. Henry had the marriage annulled. Next, he married Catherine Howard. Oddly enough, after two years she too was beheaded for treason and adultery. His final marriage was to Catherine Parr. She was the only wife to survive being married to him. Luckily, she was able to outlive him.

Sources:

http://www.history.com/topics/henry-viii