Who were Henry VIII’s wives?

Catherine was Aragon was the princess of Wales while married to Arthur, Prince of Wales. Arthur was Henry VIII’s older brother. Catherine of Aragon and Arthur got married in 1501. However, Arther died five months later, and Catherine spent years in limbo.

During her time in limbo Catherine of Aragon held the position of Ambassador of the Aragonese crown to England in 1507.

(Fun fact: Catherine of Aragon was the first known female Ambassador in European history)

Catherine of Aragon married Henry VIII in 1509, shortly after his accession. Catherine of Aragon was the first of Henry VIII’s wives. It is thought Henry truly loved Catherine of Aragon but his love for an heir won out and after the Pope refused an annulment he moved to Protestant faith and divorced Catherine of Aragon. It’s said she still believed she was his true Queen.

Anne Boleyn was Queen of England from 1533 until her death in 1536, as the second wife of King Henry VIII the circumstances of her marriage made her a key figure in a political and religious world that marked the beginning of the English reformation.

Anne returned to England in early 1522 to marry her cousin James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond, but the marriage plans got broken off and Anne Boleyn got a post at court as maid of honor to Henry VIII’s current wife, Catherine of Aragon.

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn formally married on January 25th 1533 after an alleged and scandalous affair and Anne was crowned queen on June 1st 1533.

Jane Seymour was number three in Henry VIII’s wives, she did, however, die of complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child and future king Edward VI.

Jane Seymour was the only wife of Henry VIII’s that received a queen’s funeral, and King Henry VIII was later buried with her after his death.

Anne of Cleves was queen of England from January 6th until July 12th 1540 was she was the fourth wife of Henry VIII, it is said that in March 1539 the negotiations for Anne’s marriage to Henry began since Henry VIII believed that he needed to form a political alliance with Anne of Cleves brother, William, who was the leader of protestants of Western Germany.

Catherine Howard was queen of England from 1540 until 1541 and she was the fifth wife of Henry VIII, Catherine Howard’s uncle was a prominent politician at Henry VIII’s court, and he was the one that secured Cathrine a place in the household of Henry’s fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. This is where Cathrine Howard got Henry VIII’s attention.

Cathrine Parr was queen of England and she was Henry VIII’s sixth wife, she was also the last wife. They got married on July 12th 1543 and stayed married until Henry VIII’s death on January 28th 1547, she was also the final queen consort in the house of Tudor.
 

How did Henry VIII’s wives live?

The lives of Henry VIII’s wives were varied, some were queens for years while others were only queens for a few months, like Anne of Cleves, and Catherine of Aragon.

But each of Henry VIII’s wives had their own unique stories and strong impacts on English history.

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Georgia Clearless