Tag Archives: Henry VIII

Which wife did Henry VIII love the most?

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In a recent Facebook poll, run by History in an Hour, Jane Seymour was voted as the wife Henry VIII loved the most.

The poll attracted lots of interest with over 10,000 votes and the results are:

Catherine of Aragon 1,341 13%
Anne Boleyn 3,063 29.5%
Jane Seymour 5,449 52.5%
Anne of Cleves 88 0.8%
Catherine Howard 136 1.4%
Catherine Parr 292 2.8%

What is Love?

Henry VIIIThe problem with data from a choice like this is that we all perceive love in a similar but completely personal way.  In some respects it seems Henry was looking for an ideal in love that we still seek some 500 years later.  He tried again and again to marry for love not politics. With so many people all looking for something so unique and so personal, love is certainly far from one-size-fits-all and Henry was a complex, ever evolving character. As Prince Charles was to say over four and a half centuries later, ‘What is love?’

Many respondents pointed out that Henry had asked for Jane whilst on his deathbed and also insisted he must be buried beside her – which he was.  This, many argued, confirmed his love for her above the others. One comment read, ‘I think he loved her the most, not only because she gave him a son, but also because she was subservient and a good wife in his eyes.’  So, is the fact that someone will do precisely as we ask, how we define love? Or merely how Henry defined love?

Love of his life

When we consider runner-up Anne Boleyn, one comment read, ‘Anne Boleyn could be considered “the love of his life” their courtship was long and elaborate, and he risked and accepted Papal Excommunication in order to win her.’ Certainly Henry was prepared to, publicly, move heaven and earth to be with Anne.  He played a much more subservient role in this relationship.  Anne refused to become his mistress; it was wife and queen or nothing at all. When one considers him as a narcissistic and tyrannical king, it is surprising that he allowed such obvious dominance and defiance from Anne before the members of his court.  However we describe the emotion he felt for her, it was hugely powerful and all-consuming.

First and last loves

Responses for other queens included Catherine of Aragon, because ‘she was his first love’ and Catherine Parr because ‘she cared for him to the end.’

This of course returns us to the variance of perceptions of love.  As an onlooker to a relationship, is love measured by how much a person gives, as in the case of Jane Seymour and Catherine Parr?  Or is it the lengths someone will go in order to win their heart’s desire or a public declaration as in the case of Anne Boleyn? Or quite simply, do we feel that the first love is always ‘the real one’?

We know he had no affection for his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. He married her on the strength of a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger but when he met her for the first time the reality fell well short of the expectation. The marriage went ahead but was never consummated and was annulled within six months. Anne of Cleves, however, unlike Anne Boleyn, kept her head.

Many thanks to the 10,369 who voted, the most succinct comment being – ‘None of them he was narcissistic and only loved himself…I guess! ;) ’

Julie Wheeler

Read more about the life of Henry VIII and his six wives in Henry VIII’s Wives: History In An Hour published by Harper Press and available in various digital formats.

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Henry VIII’s Wives: History in an Hour

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The reign of Henry VIII was one of the most revolutionary periods in English History.  The King’s obsessive search for true-love and intense desire for a male heir led to England’s break from the rule of Catholicism and the complete Reformation of the Church. ‘Divorced, Beheaded, Died; Divorced, Beheaded, Survived’ - This popular rhyme that many use to remember the fate of the six wives of Henry VIII shows us just that; their final destiny.

Although many rulers of the time married only for political reasons, Henry wanted an ideal we still crave today; a truly loving matrimony.  His quest for this improbable perfection changed him from a fun-loving prince into a belligerent tyrant.

The women he tried to squash to fit this perfect mould differed vastly.  First came the devoutly Catholic and devoted Catherine of Aragon, then the tantalising, volatile, Reforming Protestant Anne Boleyn.  She in turn was ousted by the gentle and submissive touch of Jane Seymour. After her death, Henry made his only attempt at a wholly political alliance by choosing Anne of Cleves and he even tried to turn that into a romantic story.  He went on to allow his heart free rein in the rule of his head in selecting the party-loving teenage tease, Katherine Howard before finally settling for the intelligent and independent Catherine Parr.  This book, in an hour, will introduce you to these six entirely diverse and captivating personalities and the events that propelled them to their individual fate.

Also available as an audio download and an app for the iPhone / iPad

Contents

  • Catherine of Aragon
  • Anne Boleyn
  • Divorcing Catherine to Marry Anne
  • Anne’s Fall From Favour
  • Jane Seymour
  • Anne of Cleves
  • Katherine Howard
  • Catherine Parr

Reader Reviews:

“This book helped enormously, learning about the wives I did not know much about. Concise, not too much of a commitment, easy to read and recall, I loved the book, loved the subject matter, and loved the learning experience.” From review on Mrs Christine.

“Julie Wheeler has managed to compress history and still make it very interesting. Her book is a good starting point for a study of Henry VIII’s wives.”

“I am fairly well read on this era but I still thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. I’d recommend this as a really good starting point for anyone interested in Henry VIII’s wives and/or Tudor history in general. I really enjoyed Julie Wheeler’s version of Anne of Cleves; some of the books I’ve read or listened to have not been so kind to her. There are pictures of paintings scattered throughout, which are particularly good for an ebook and the one of Anne of Cleves is one of my favourites and very flattering. Well written and concise there is a lot of history compressed into this little book.”

“Straight talking. Many historical books baffle you by jumping decades and then reverting back – this book is a credit to the author – very interesting. I have learnt more from this book than reading several others on the same subject.”

“Loved it! Excellently written. Wish there were more books on English kings and queens like this one. Should be read in schools as part of history education.”

“I learnt so much about Henry VIII’s wives without all the waffle. This book is concise and to the point. Highly recommended!”

“I discovered the life and history of Henry and his six wives, as if it was a fiction, with great characters and amazing stories. It is fun, easy to read and you learn a lot! I would recommend it!”

“Ms. Wheeler does an excellent job of leaving the reader wanting more. By making complex history simple, readable, and enjoyable you are soon drawn in. This is an excellent read and has me keen to venture further into the lives of Henry’s wives!”

“As someone who finds it difficult to read large volumes, I found this perfect for giving me a quick overview of this topic. An interesting read and once started I wanted to finish it which I did within the hour! As someone who enjoys history I’m sure I will download the other books in this series.”

“I enjoyed reading this short hour long book, I was interested in the background of his wife’s after watching the video series of the Tudors. I would definitely recommend this book.”

“Loved this book. A great way to spend an hour. Certainly not a boring history book, very interesting indeed. Plentiful with information.”

“I was never interested [in Tudor history] at school, but this was a really good read. Will be getting some family members to have a good go at this.”

“Well written book that goes into a bit more detail about the wives. Well worth the read.”

“I have to say this book is pretty good! I’m fascinated with the Tudor Era and have read a lot about Henry VIII and his wives… and this book is a good intro to the story. It’s accurate and touches on the politics of the day, which is no mean feat. Did I manage to read this in an hour? Yes, I think I did. Its a nice handy into to the era, and I’ll look out for the others in the series.”

“Excellent reading and researched well. Took a little longer than an hour to read but still enjoyable. Highly recommend it.”

“I found this an entertaining read and gave a short description of the lives of all of the king’s wives. Good as a short intro to the wives of Henry.”

“A very interesting read and a good starting point for anyone interested in Henry the VIII and his wives. Covers the relevant facts without getting bogged down with too many dates and names. Ideal for a long train or plane journey.”

“I love history and the tudor period and I am always on the look out for a new authors. This ebook is a great read, full of facts, well researched and concise. Because I don’t always get as much time as would I like to feed my addiction for historical facts, this book was perfect for me. I loved the way the facts were presented in such a way that I really felt the people come alive. Cannot wait for more!!”

“It was a very concise history of that period and amazingly easy to read and absorb in one hour. I will now read the other recommended history in an hour books.”

“This was very informative and interesting. Also a very quick read. Highly recommend!! Very enjoyable and entertaining. Can’t wait to read more history in an hour!”

“This was a quick read, but very well put together. It really only took about an hour to read because the book stated facts in a concise manner. Easy to follow and interesting.”

“It’s short but to the point and gives the facts you need. As it says it’s good for an hour’s read and brilliant if you want the basics.”

“What a thrilling and concise read. Well written and had all the facts to hand. Perfect for someone like myself and sufficient references to allow further research.”

“Absolutely true to its title – a full history in one hour which told me everything I never learnt at school.”

“Enjoyable and concise review of the lives of the wives of Henry VIII, easy to read and informative and great value.”

“Very informative and well written. A very good read in a short amount of time. Fantastic.”

Anne Boleyn – A Mother Remembered

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Elizabeth I lost her mother, Anne Boleyn, to the executioner’s block before her third birthday.  Despite this, the brief memory of her mother and loyalty to her maternal family remained powerful forces within Elizabeth.

When married to Elizabeth’s father, Henry VIII, Anne (pictured) had become the victim of a cruel plot to oust her as queen.  Her enemies found easy success because Henry had tired of her sharp tongue and she had not provided him a male heir. Furthermore he had fallen for one of her maids; Jane Seymour, who would become his third wife following Anne’s death.

Anne was executed on 19 May 1536 on charges relating to treason, adultery and incest.  Little Elizabeth was immediately declared illegitimate and out of royal favour.

By the time Elizabeth was allowed back to court, it was Christmas 1536.  She found herself amidst courtiers who dare not mention her mother, or in fact, the very name of Boleyn.

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The Birth of Henry VIII

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Over half a millennium ago, the child who would one day reign as Henry VIII was born June 28, 1491 at Greenwich Palace, London to parents, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York.

The Tudor Dynasty into which Henry had been born was still in its infancy.  His father, Henry VII (pictured), had usurped the crown of England from Richard III at the battle of Bosworth in August 1485.  The six years that Henry VII had held the English throne had been turbulent, to say the least.  His marriage to Elizabeth had not entirely put an end to ‘The Wars of The Roses’ but the combination of her Yorkist lineage with that of his Lancastrian descent went some way to appease the English.  They may not have relished Henry VII but no-one could dislike the gentle, demure and utterly enchanting Queen.  She was peace-loving and able to maintain a respectful distance from her mother-in-law Margaret Beaufort, accepting this powerful influence over her husband.  The King clearly loved and respected his wife very much.  He took his marriage vows very seriously and unlike the majority of monarchs, both contemporary and previous, he practised monogamy.

Despite the hazardous process of childbirth, Elizabeth of York was safely delivered of Henry, just as she had been with his older siblings; Arthur in 1486 and Margaret in 1489.  King Henry VII could now relax safe in the knowledge he had an ‘heir and a spare’.  With each child, particularly the boys, his position on the throne could grow stronger.  Elizabeth would go on to have three more children after Henry but only Mary, born in 1496, would survive to adulthood.

The Christening of the Future King

The christening service for baby Henry was conducted by Richard Foxe, Bishop of Exeter.  It was conducted with Royal protocol in mind.  According to, ‘the Ryalle book’ this would have included a stage and canopy decorated in lavish fabric as well as the sounding of trumpets to mark the occasion.

Maybe it was because little Henry was only the ‘spare’ that few concerned themselves with great outpouring over Henry’s christening.   No poet or contemporary chronicler seems to have provided a written record.  Even Henry’s own grandmother, Margaret Beaufort, makes only a minor mention of his arrival in her calendar.

The Young Henry

As a toddler all that is known about Henry is that he was a confident and attractive child whose appearance soon leaned towards his Yorkist ancestry.  He was a stocky, red-haired infant unlike his fair, slender father and elder brother Arthur. The two boys experienced incredibly different and separate nurture too.

Arthur was being specifically educated for Kingship, away from his siblings.  Alternatively, at the beginning of his life, Henry was surrounded by the feminine influence of his mother and sisters.  More formal education was introduced when he reached six-years-old.  The accomplished poet, John Skelton became his main tutor.  The theological instruction of young Henry was considered very important.  He developed a deep interest in philosophy and theology and the issues that surrounded the subjects, relishing learned debates.  His learning in this field followed the fashionable trend towards Humanist thinking.

There seems little doubt that although loving parents, Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth never lost sight of the dynastic and future importance of their children.  Although debated, some historians believe that whilst Arthur underwent training for the throne, Henry was being prepared for a high profile role within the church.  King Henry VII’s dream, it appears, was to unite the crown and the church within their familial power.

This dream was shattered on April 2, 1502 when Prince Arthur died and the ten-year-old Henry became heir apparent.

Julie Wheeler

Read more about the life of Henry VIII and his six wives in Henry VIII’s Wives: History In An Hour published by Harper Press and available in various digital formats.

Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon: A Joint Coronation

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On 24 June 1509 Henry, Prince of Wales, second son to the recently dead King Henry VII, gloried in a joint coronation with his wife of two weeks, Catherine of Aragon.

As they took the rule of England the country rejoiced and optimism flourished.  A new era was dawning.  A charming, handsome, young extrovert was replacing a tyrannical, paranoid old miser as King of England.  A Spanish princess was to fill a throne long since vacated by a previously beloved Queen.

The Joint Coronation

The previous day the couple had enjoyed a procession through the richly decorated streets of London, towards Westminster.  Catherine, despite her Spanish heritage, embraced English traditions for her part in the procedure.  She was carried in a litter, draped in white, as were the horses that clattered beside her, one of them ridden by her husband.  Catherine’s embroidered, satin dress was also white and her hair tumbled loose about her shoulders, delicately adorned with a coronet set with pearls. Henry’s attire was no less striking.  He wore red velvet, trimmed with ermine and glimmering with precious stones.

The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey.  Two thrones were placed ready before the high altar.  Henry and Catherine were solemnly anointed and crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Party

After the serious solemnity of the ceremony came the party.  An enormous feast was enjoyed by all the guests in Westminster Hall and continued long into the night.  Further celebrations spilled over into the following days and included, dancing, concerts and jousting.  The new king, Henry VIII, had not disappointed.  He had confirmed the guests’ belief that this gregarious Prince knew how to celebrate like a King.

The poet, and former tutor of Henry, John Skelton, produced poetry to be read or sung during the celebrations. Skelton’s writing demonstrated that he believed the new King would always be fair and protect his people. However, the full extent of the joy experienced by the English on this day is beautifully surmised by a letter sent from Lord Mountjoy to the renowned Dutch Scholar, Erasmus: “Heaven and earth rejoices, everything is full of milk and honey and nectar.  Avarice has fled the country.  Our King is not after gold, or gems, or precious metals, but virtue, glory, immortality.”

This was unquestionably the feeling of the King as well as his people, for Henry was already looking towards the legend of King Arthur and the example of his own ancestor (and victor at the battle of Agincourt), Henry V, for his Royal inspiration.

And without doubt Henry’s need for glory and immortality would change England forever.

Julie Wheeler

See also Which wife did Henry VIII love the most?, the birth of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves – the luckiest Queen?

Read more in Henry VIII’s Wives: History In An Hour published by Harper Press and available in various digital formats.

The Death of Anne Boleyn – Her Fall From Favour

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After the loss of another baby in January 1536, Anne Boleyn’s hold over Henry VIII was desperately weakened.  He had his sights on one of her ladies; Jane Seymour.   Whilst the tempestuous nature of Anne Boleyn made her a beguiling and captivating mistress, this very nature did not lend itself to the requirements of a sixteenth-century wife.  Duty, modesty and obedience ranked higher within Jane’s skill range.  She was the very model of calm domesticity, gentle and fully aware of her ‘place’.

The Cruel Plot

Anne was not short of enemies at court.  She had a close ring of male supporters, that included her beloved brother George, but otherwise she was disliked for her ousting of Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, her religious beliefs and her sharp tongue.  Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s chief minister, who had since replaced Cardinal Wolsey in the King’s favour, also wanted the fiery Queen discredited.  He saw the King’s waning desire and engineered a cruel plot.

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The Tudors – Loving Relations

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Julie Wheeler considers the politics of marriage within Henry VIII’s reign.

The marital politics of the sixteenth-century were often centred on a policy of retaining familial wealth. Therefore it was not unusual, during this time, to find yourself married to a cousin at the behest of your relatives.  It didn’t stop there, when it came to wealth and sometimes love, any number of connections that today would seem dubious, in the Tudor period, were part of a socially accepted norm.

Henry VIII and his wives provide a snapshot that illuminates this trend.

Henry and Catherine of Aragon

Henry and his first wife Catherine of Aragon shared a common ancestor in John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, and son of the English king Edward III.  Catherine descended from the Duke’s second marriage to Constance of Castile and Henry followed the illegitimate Beaufort line created by his affair with, and subsequent marriage to, Katherine Swynford.

Catherine may have been Henry’s first wife but he wasn’t her first husband. Prior to Henry, Catherine had married his older brother Arthur (pictured) and been left widowed at just 16.  It did not take long for powers still keen on an Anglo-Spanish alliance to float the idea of the widow marrying her brother-in-law.

Henry and Anne Boleyn

When Henry VIII decided to take Anne Boleyn as his second wife, he was already more than familiar with her sister Mary.  During her affair with the King, Mary Boleyn had two children, Catherine in 1524 and Henry in 1526.  The King refused to publicly recognise these as his, but Mary’s Husband, William Carey, was awarded with appointments to stewardships and bestowed with royal annuities for four years running, 1522-1525.

Having enjoyed Mary’s company and ‘shared’ her with Francis I of France, Henry calmly moved on from their intimacy to openly pursue her sister.

As his marriage to Anne Boleyn progressed Henry began to experience disillusionment within the relationship and he took one of her cousins, Madge Shelton, as a mistress.

Henry and Katherine Howard

After the death of Anne Boleyn (and two subsequent wives through death and divorce), Henry had no compunction in marrying within her family.  Fifth wife Katherine Howard, like Anne Boleyn, was part of the powerful Howard dynasty.  Katherine’s father, Edmund Howard, was brother to Anne’s mother, Lady Elizabeth Howard, making them first cousins.

Young Katherine was also no stranger to amorous associations with relatives.  A lover she took before marrying the king, Francis Dereham, was yet another cousin of the Howard family, and Thomas Culpepper, with whom she had a very dangerous liaison, was a distant relation on her mother Jocasta Culpepper’s side.

Although sometimes such relations may have earned the odd frown, justification and exoneration could usually be extracted from the Papacy in Rome in the form of a legal document known as a dispensation in the instance of marriage.  As long as one didn’t marry into an inferior social class, it seems the pursuit of in-laws and cousins presented many opportunities for happiness and the financial or dynastic expansion of the family.

Julie Wheeler

Read more about the life of Henry VIII and his six wives in Henry VIII’s Wives: History In An Hour published by Harper Press and available in various digital formats.

A Tudor Romance: Mary Tudor and Charles Brandon

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Henry VIII was not the only Tudor prepared to throw contemporary convention aside and marry for love.  His younger sister, Mary Tudor, was equally desperate to forge a romantic marital attachment rather than a diplomatic union.

The King’s Beautiful Sister

Born 18 March 1496, the teenage Mary Tudor (pictured) was reputed to be a great beauty and a vivacious member of Henry’s court.  He was incredibly fond of her and allowed her to attend parties and enjoy dancing and dressing up.  With their father, Henry VII, dead, Mary was an indispensable asset to Henry VIII, offering fantastic, marriageable potential. Having complete control of her dowry, Henry was therefore in control over who could place a ring on Mary’s finger.

In 1514 Henry made his decision.  His beautiful, eligible sister should forge an alliance with France; young Mary Tudor would marry 52-year-old King Louis XII of France.  Peace between France and England would be secure.  The spirited socialite was distraught; her suitor was known to be sickly, gouty and ‘pocky’.  Her real distress however was due to a growing attachment and developing love for the dynastically challenged Charles Brandon.

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Anne of Cleves – The Luckiest Queen?

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Julie Wheeler summarises Anne of Cleves’ marriage to Henry VIII and the subsequent divorce and asks why Anne survived where others were not so fortunate.

Two of Henry VIII’s wives, Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard, ended their lives on the executioner’s block as traitors.  Another, Catherine of Aragon, had been humiliated by him before all the courts of Europe.  It is surprising then, that a young woman from the Rhineland who barely spoke English, survived Henry and the machinations of the English court.  Anne of Cleves managed to marry him and escape his tyranny with her life and her dignity in tact.

Henry VIII married chiefly for romance and with the hope that true-love and God’s will would produce a plethora of healthy male heirs.  It was uncommon during the sixteenth-century for the nobility to opt for romance; marriage was usually a political or status-driven manoeuvre.  With wife number three, Jane Seymour, dead after producing Henry’s much longed for son, his chief advisor Thomas Cromwell decided that in the future foreign policy should triumph over love in the pursuit of a new queen.

Romance, Religion and Politics

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Henry VIII’s Succession Problem: Syphilis or Bad Luck?

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The tales of Henry VIII’s many wives and failed attempts to father a legitimate male heir to succeed him are legendary. Film studios have often taken on these stories, producing such films as Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), and, most recently, the mini-series titled The Tudors (2007-2010). 

While many monarchs in different times and places have struggled to produce an heir, there is something notable about Henry VIII’s struggle. He is likely one of the first monarchs to suffer from syphilis, pass it along to his wife who in turn passed it along to their children in the form of congenital syphilis.

Henry’s health

Henry VIIIStories of Henry’s failing health in his later years are usually focused on his mammoth weight and the jousting injury he suffered that eventually became immensely ulcerated.  Some scholars have postulated that Henry suffered from type II diabetes, and it is possible that he had diabetes. The diabetes theory, however, does not explain the many tragic miscarriages, stillbirths, and early deaths of his children particularly with his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

The pregnancies of Catherine of Aragon

Altogether, Catherine of Aragon is known to have had at least six pregnancies (and more that ended early in miscarriage), so she was not infertile, nor was King Henry.  Her first pregnancy resulted in a stillborn daughter. Her second resulted in a son, Henry, Duke of Cornwall, who lived only 52 days. Her third pregnancy resulted in a son who was either stillborn or died very soon after birth and her fourth child was a stillborn son. Finally, with her fifth pregnancy, Catherine delivered a daughter who survived infancy — Mary. Catherine’s sixth pregnancy resulted in a daughter who lived only a few hours. Soon after this last birth, Catherine ceased menstruating.

Of course, pre-natal care was limited in the sixteenth century and it was common for women to miscarry and have stillbirths. Many children did not outgrow infancy because widespread diseases. However, the King and Queen had access to more resources with which to both avoid and treat any ailments. So, even for that time period, the number of stillbirths, miscarriages, and infant deaths from Catherine and Henry’s union was high.  (Four of Henry VII’s children with Elizabeth of York survived infancy, including Henry VIII.) Although many of Henry’s own health problems (skin ulcers, boils, mental disturbances) can be explained by other theories of disease, there is still a solid argument to be made that he had syphilis.

A postmortem performed on Catherine revealed an abnormality of the heart described as “black and hideous with a black excrescence which clung closely to the outside.”  It is possible that this heart irregularity was a saccular syphilitic aneurysm low in the aorta. Syphilis infects the heart affecting the aorta. Syphilis is generally not as transmissible after two years of infection when it enters the latent stage. So, it is possible that Catherine became infected with syphilis and none of Henry’s subsequent wives (or mistresses) became infected. (Thus, Elizabeth I and Edward VI were less likely to have been infected with syphilis.)

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), today 40% of births to syphilitic mothers are stillborn, 40-70% of the survivors will be infected, and 12% of these will subsequently die in infancy. Now, compare these figures to Catherine:  50% were stillborn, 33% died as infants, and 17% (Mary) lived.

Mary’s health

There is strong evidence that indicates Mary I may have had congenital syphilis. Mary was sickly as a child suffering from poor eyesight, sinus conditions, and severe headaches—all of which can point to congenital syphilis. Mary is also known to have had dental abnormalities, a very strong indictor of congenital syphilis.Mary complained of illness throughout her life and even had two phantom pregnancies, ultimately remaining childless. It is possible that congenital syphilis led to secondary problems, as there are various theories that Mary had a tumor on her pituitary gland and that she died of ovarian cancer.

Mercury

There is no evidence that Henry was treated for syphilis, which, before the twentieth century, was treated with mercury. However, the treatment of syphilis with mercury did not originate until the early 1530s when the physician Paracelsus first prescribed it. If Henry VIII had syphilis as early as 1509 when he married Catherine (or from early in their marriage), his syphilis would likely have been latent (no visible symptoms) by the time Paracelsus first used mercury as a treatment. Therefore it is not likely that Henry would have been treated with mercury unless he contracted syphilis closer to 1530.

Neither is there evidence that Catherine or Mary were treated with mercury. Catherine would have suffered from syphilis on a similar timeline as Henry and so would have missed mercury treatments, too. Mary would have had congenital syphilis, which would not manifest in the same way. So she may have had syphilis in spite of not receiving mercury treatments.

In the end, without physical evidence, it is impossible to say with certainty what medical problems Henry, his wives, and their children suffered. What can be said, though, is that syphilis cannot be ruled out. Thus, syphilis may have played a major part in the succession problems of the English monarchy in the sixteenth century.

Sarah Jane Bodell

Read more about the life of Henry VIII and his six wives in Henry VIII’s Wives: History In An Hour published by Harper Press and available in various digital formats.