Henry VIII

read about the life of Henry VIII  click here

visit a junior school website with a super article on Henry VIII click here

Quiz time!


Henry VIII : who was he?

The young Prince Henry, the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York was born on 28 June 1491 at Greenwich.

Henry was a very spoilt Royal Prince. He was so spoiled that he even had his own ‘whipping boy’ who was punished every time Henry did something wrong!

His father died in 1509 and the young Prince became King just before his 18th birthday.

Henry was vigorous and handsome. He was an incredible athlete and loved jousting and hunting. He was very clever also, he was good at Latin, maths, astronomy, cosmology and music.He was a very well educated man, he spoke 4 languages, wrote poetry, and knew a lot about religion. He was excellent at many sports. He was also an excellent musician, and even composed music. (Listen to his music, Hélas Madame)

But he was also a terrible and cruel King. He executed anyone who disagreed with him (including two of his wives!)

When he became King the country was Catholic and was controlled by the Pope in Rome. When the Pope wouldn’t let Henry get divorced from his first wife, Henry made himself head of the church in England instead and gave himself the divorce he wanted. He was excommunicated and the Pope became his enemy.

Henry VIII ordered this painting of the stoning of the Pope by Mathew, Mark, Luke and John, the  writers of the  New Testament.

He had six wives in all.

Later Henry closed all the Monasteries and Nunneries in England and took all the money from the Monks and Nuns. He literally threw all of them out onto the streets to beg and gave their Monasteries to his friends for fine houses.

This time was called the Reformation. 

There is a film that tells the story of Henry VIII. It's title? Henry VIII! You can watch it on youtube. 


Here is part 3, the beginning of the love story between King Henry VIII, who was still married to Catherine of Aragon, and the young Anne Boleyn.

They got married after his divorce and had a baby girl, Princess Elizabeth. 
She was later beheaded after the birth of her stillborn son. King Henry accused her of being responsible for the death of the premature baby prince.

The Mary Rose was Henry VIII's favourite warship. It sank in Portsmouth and resurfaced 400 years later.!