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King Henry VIII
Who was King Henry VIII?
Henry VIII was a famous Tudor king . Most people remember him for having six different wives.
Henry VIII had many interests – he loved sports and music, he was a good fighter in a battle, and he was well educated. He began the English Reformation that established the Church of England , he united England and Wales and he had three children who each went on to rule England after he died.
Top 10 facts
- Henry VIII was born on 28 June 1491 in London, at Greenwich Palace.
- Henry became the King of England at age 17 in 1509, when his father, Henry VII, died.
- Just before Henry VIII became king, he married Catherine of Aragon.
- Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon in 1533, and married Anne Boleyn.
- Henry VIII grew up as a Catholic, but established the Protestant Church of England when the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church, wouldn’t let him divorce Catherine of Aragon.
- Henry VIII married four more times – he had six wives in total.
- From his six marriages, Henry VIII only had three children who lived. Each of them (Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I ), in turn, ruled England after he died.
- Henry VIII enjoyed being outdoors and getting exercise. He loved hunting, playing games like tennis, dancing and reading. He also loved eating, and became very fat as he got older and couldn’t exercise as much.
- Henry loved luxury – he was very well dressed, and wore velvet robes with gold trim and jewels, and rebuilt and redecorated his rooms at Hampton Court Palace at least six times! In 1540, Hampton Court was the most modern and magnificent palace in the world.
- He died in 1547, and is buried at Windsor Castle next to his favourite wife, Jane Seymour.
King Henry VIII timeline
- 28 June 1491 Henry was born at Greenwich Palace
- 24 June 1509 Henry married Catherine of Aragon
- 24 June 1509 Henry was crowned king
- 18 February 1516 Catherine of Aragon gave birth to Mary, who later became Queen
- 1521 The Pope gave Henry the title, ‘Defender of the Faith’, because of how much he supported the Catholic Church
- 1525 Henry met Anne Boleyn
- 1533 Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon was annulled, and he married Anne Boleyn
- 7 September 1533 Anne Boleyn gave birth to Elizabeth, who later became Queen
- November 1534 The First Act of Supremacy declared Henry VIII as the head of the church
- 1536 Henry started closing monasteries
- 1536 England and Wales were legally joined together
- January 1536 Henry was badly hurt in a jousting competition
- 30 May 1536 Henry married Jane Seymour
- 12 October 1537 Jane Seymour gave birth to Edward, who later became king
- 24 October 1537 Jane Seymour died
- 6 January 1540 Henry married Anne of Cleves
- 9 July 1540 Henry divorced Anne of Cleves
- 28 July 1540 Henry married Catherine Howard
- 13 February 1542 Catherine Howard was executed at the Tower of London
- 12 July 1543 Henry married Catherine Parr
- 1545 The Mary Rose sank
- 28 January 1547 Henry VIII died
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Did you know?
- Henry was not born to be king – he became the heir to the throne at age 11 when his older brother Arthur died.
- Described as ‘a golden prince’, Henry wrote music and poetry when he was a young man.
- Henry VIII wanted people to be good at shooting a bow and arrow. In fact, he made it the law that no one age 24 or older could shoot at a target less than 200 metres away – that’s longer than a football pitch!
- Henry was very tall for Tudor times: he was 1.87m tall (6ft 2in) at a time when the average man in London was 1.70m (5ft 5in).
- Henry VIII’s favourite battleship was called the Mary Rose. It sank in 1545.
- Henry got married six different times but only his sixth wife outlived him. Two of Henry VIII’s wives were beheaded on his command – Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard.
- Henry VIII met his second wife Anne Boleyn because she was one of his first wife Catherine of Aragon’s maids. He eventually divorced Catherine so he could marry Anne. Anne Boleyn was Queen Elizabeth I’s mum.
- To help you remember about King Henry VIII’s six wives and what happened to them, learn this mnemonic: ‘Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived.’
- Henry didn’t like it when other important people in his court disagreed with him. Sometimes he’d send them to the Tower of London to be executed!
- One of Henry VIII’s hobbies was falconry, which is a kind of hunting using trained birds of prey called hawks. He also loved jousting, wrestling and playing tennis.
- As well as establishing the Church of England, Henry allowed the Bible to be translated into English and published.
Henry VIII image gallery
- An illustration of Henry VIII
- A portrait of Henry VIII
- King Henry's six wives
- Hampton Court Palace
- The ceiling of the Chapel in Hampton Court
- Henry VIII as a young man, around the time he was crowned king
- Catherine of Aragon
- Henry VIII in later years
- Anne Boleyn
- Jane Seymour
- Anne of Cleves
- Catherine Howard
- Catherine Parr
- Thomas More
- Thomas Cranmer
- Thomas Cromwell
Henry VIII became king when his father, Henry VII, died in 1509. Henry had an older brother, Arthur, but he died in 1502 which meant that Henry was next in line to the throne.
Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was first married to his brother Arthur. They’d only been married a few months when he died. Henry married Catherine seven years later.
Henry was given the title ‘Defender of the Faith’ by the Pope because of his support of the Catholic Church. Henry’s support only went so far, though – when the Church wouldn’t let him divorce Catherine of Aragon, he decided that he, not the Pope, was the Head of the Church in England. The First Act of Supremacy in November 1534 established Henry VIII as the head of the church, which meant the Pope didn’t have any say in religious matters in England. This time in history is also called the English Reformation.
One of the things Henry VIII did as the Head of the Church of England was to close monasteries, which were Catholic institutions. Some monastery ruins that we can see today are a result of this time, known as the dissolution of monasteries .
Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife, only had one child who survived – a girl named Elizabeth, who would later become Queen Elizabeth I . Henry VIII really wanted a boy though, and became angry with Anne. Other people started to not like Anne either, and she was arrested and executed at the Tower of London.
Before Anne died, Henry VIII had met Jane Seymour, whom he married a few days after Anne’s execution. She gave birth to a boy (Edward), which is what Henry really wanted, but then died a few days after Edward was born.
Henry VIII’s fourth wife was Anne of Cleves, from Germany. They didn’t meet before deciding to get married, and by the time the King did see her he wasn’t very impressed. He thought the marriage was a mistake, so divorced her.
Henry VIII’s fifth wife was Catherine Howard. They got married a few days after Henry VIII divorced Anne of Cleves. Catherine was executed a couple of years later because Henry VIII thought she loved someone else.
Henry VIII got married one last time to Catherine Parr in 1543, and he remained married to her for the rest of his life (four years).
Henry VIII wanted a son so badly because it meant that when he died, there wouldn’t be anyone else who might try to claim that they should be king instead of Henry's child. Even though princesses could be Queen, things were clearer when titles could pass from father to son.
Famous friends
Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) – Catherine of Aragon was Henry VIII’s first wife. She had previously married Henry’s brother Arthur, who died a few months after the wedding. Catherine and Henry had just one child who lived – a daughter named Mary, who would later become Queen. Henry divorced Catherine so he could marry Anne Boleyn, but in order to do that he broke his ties with the Catholic Church (who wouldn’t let him get divorced) and became Protestant.
Anne Boleyn (c.1501-1536) – Anne Boleyn was a maid to Catherine of Aragon, and was one of the main reasons why Henry VIII wanted to divorce Catherine. The two were married in 1533, and Anne gave birth to Elizabeth later that year – Elizabeth would later become Queen. Like Catherine of Aragon, Anne didn’t give Henry VIII a son. She became very unpopular, and was executed in 1536.
Jane Seymour (c. 1509-1537) – Jane married Henry VIII a few days after Anne Boleyn was executed. She was Henry’s favourite wife, and was the only one to give birth to a son – Edward, who became king after Henry VIII died. Sadly, Jane died a few days after Edward was born. She and Henry VIII are buried together at Windsor Castle.
Anne of Cleves (1515-1557) – Anne of Cleves was born in Germany. Henry VIII chose to marry her after seeing a portrait of her, but then didn’t like her very much when they actually met. Their marriage only lasted a few months, but Anne stayed in England after they were divorced. She became friends with Henry VIII’s daughter Mary.
Catherine Howard (c.1518/24-1542) – Nobody really knows when Catherine Howard was born. She married Henry VIII in 1540, a few weeks after he divorced Anne of Cleves. They met because she had been one of Anne’s ladies in waiting. They were only married a couple of years – Catherine may have had a love affair with another man, and the King was so furious about the rumours that she was thrown into the Tower of London and later executed.
Catherine Parr (1512-1548) – Catherine Parr married Henry VIII in 1543, a little over a year after Catherine Howard was executed. She was good friends with all three of Henry VIII’s children. She married once more after Henry VIII died in 1547 (her fourth marriage), but then died herself after giving birth to a daughter in 1548.
Thomas Cromwell (c.1485-1540) – Thomas Cromwell was Henry VIII’s chief minister for eight years. He was very supportive of Henry’s plans to break ties with the Catholic Church, and he helped Henry legally divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. A few years later, Thomas also arranged Henry’s marriage with Anne of Cleves, which Henry wasn’t happy with. Thomas was sent to the Tower of London and executed in 1540.
Thomas Cranmer (1489-1556) – Thomas Cranmer was the Archbishop of Canterbury during both Henry VIII’s and Edward VI’s reigns. He helped Thomas Cromwell in arranging for Henry to divorce Catherine of Aragon. When Mary I became Queen and changed the national religion of England to Catholicism, Thomas was in trouble because he was Protestant. He was put in prison, and executed in 1556.
Thomas More (1478-1535) – Thomas More was a trusted friend of Henry VIII and an important philosopher in Tudor times. But, he was also a devout Catholic which made things difficult when Henry wanted to break ties with the Catholic Church and the Pope. He also disagreed with Henry’s plans to divorce Catherine of Aragon. He was executed at the Tower of London in 1535, just under a year before Anne Boleyn was killed.
Related Videos
Just for fun...
- Be an Undercover Time Explorer in King Henry VIII's kitchens
- Download a Henry VIII chatterbox
- Horrible Histories Henry: listen to his song about his wives and watch him looking for the next Queen of England in the Historical First Dates restaurant
- Henry VIII colouring pages: coins showing the King's head , Hampton Court Palace and a portrait of Henry
- Complete a wordsearch about King Henry VIII
- Explore the gardens created for Henry VIII
- Joust in The Quadrangle, hunt in Windsor Great Forest and enjoy a splendid feast fit for a king!
- Walk through Henry VIII's private apartments and discover the Haunted Gallery
- Find out about the lives of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I and learn a ceremonial tune inspired by the rhythm of a pavan with a KS1 song
- Be a portrait detective and examine the famous 1537 portrait of Henry
Children's books about Henry VIII
Find out more about Henry VIII:
- Read a Henry VIII BBC Bitesize guide for KS1
- An overview of King Henry VIII's reign from DKfindout!
- Meet Henry VIII the fierce monarch in a children's introduction from National Geographic Kids
- Barney Harwood presents a whistle-stop tour of Henry VIII's reign through comic sketches in a BBC School Radio programme
- All about the Mary Rose and the museum showing the artefacts found in her.
- The Kiddle Encyclopedia guide to King Henry VIII
- Read some Tudor fiction , books for children set in Tudor times in the reign of Henry VIII
- Download key facts about King Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr , and biographical information about each of Henry VIII's six wives
- Read about Henry VIII on the official website of the British monarchy
- See inside the pages of Henry's Psalter , his personal copy of a beautiful book which he wrote lots of annotations in
- Find out what to look for in one of King Henry's device forts in an English Heritage guide
- Information about Henry VIII in the Kids Rule! Guide to Tudor England
- Learn a mnemonic to help you remember the names of all Henry VIII’s wives
- See lots of paintings from Henry VIII's time
See for yourself
- Visit Hampton Court Palace
- See parts of the Mary Rose , Henry VIII’s favourite ship.
- Explore the Tower of London , and see Henry VIII’s actual armour!
- Look through the 98 portraits of Henry VIII at the National Portrait Gallery
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World History teaching resources for the high school classroom: lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes and simulation games for KS3, IGCSE, IB and A-Level teachers.
Stage 1: forming interpretations based on the essential evidence, raw material: does this evidence suggest henry was a hero, or a villain | accompanying multimedia presentation.
In the first lesson, pairs of students are given this sheet of information slips to cut up and then arrange into two piles: evidence that Henry was a hero, and evidence that he was a villain. Evidence they are not sure of could be placed somewhere in the middle. Then, the teacher discusses each slip of information using this presentation to add extra detail and to highlight how just about every point raised could be interpreted in different ways. By the end of the lesson the students should be pretty evenly divided as to whether Henry was a hero or a villain (and whether it depends really on whether you are rating him as a husband, a ruler, a father...)
Classroom Trial: Was Henry a Hero, or a Villain? [ optional ]
This roleplay exercise divides the class into three teams - prosecution, defence, and judges. The prosecution and the defence gather evidence and prepare their case whilst the judges select some surprise exhibits to use in the trial. The trial itself should be a lively lesson which encourages students to make deductions and question the reliability of their "witnesses".
Stage 2: Conducting Further Independent Research
Apart from the surprise exhibits that can be interspersed through the remaining lesson time, the main way in which students can gain extra information should be through this interactive interview with Henry VIII.
Video and accompanying worksheet
This framework document instructs students to take minute-by-minute notes on an accessible video documentary, to choose images to accompany the various 'chapters' in the story of Henry's life, and to decide which elements suggest he was a 'hero' and which a 'villain'.
Interview King Henry VIII!
As the final part of their research on Henry, students interview the King from "beyond the grave" in this award-winning activity. Their objective is to gather at least five fresh pieces of evidence which backs up their side of the case ("evil" or "wonderful").
Stage 3: The "Wheel of Life" Infographic
Extension / homework activity: henry viii wheel of life.
Students rate Henry VIII according to various criteria and "join the dots" in this diagram to produce a "Wheel of Life". Space is provided for students to explain their reasoning.
Video : At this point, I watch the Henry VIII episode from the Nigel Spivey series " Kings and Queens ", asking students to make notes on Henry's good / bad points as they watch. At the end of the video, ask students to vote on whether they think Spivey's interpretation of Henry is "evil", "wonderful" or (best of all!) "something inbetween" (make sure they can explain this judgement).
Stage 4: Essay or Storybook
Approach 1 - henry viii: "hero or villain" essay.
To tie things together, students should write up their findings in the form of an essay, using this markscheme.
APPROACH 2 - Henry VIII: Storybook for Primary Students
Students use all the work they have done so far to produce a biased children's storybook (in Publisher) about Henry VIII from either a positive or a negative perspective. Thought should be given to the chapter headings, the illustrations, and the facts to be included. Students should also be provided with this markscheme to help them produce good quality work.
Students sit with their books, with a chair available for people to sit down at. Year 5 students are given an introduction to the task: we have been looking at interpretations. Focusing on HVIII. Students have written books trying to persuade you of one side or the other. Your job is to decide on your view of Henry based on criteria like father, husband, friend, ruler, Christian. You will do this by hearing as many stories as you can. Students are given clipboard and record sheet . They are allocated to a reader.
They then hear the story and record their thoughts. When they are finished, they have to come to a 'neutral zone' to show they are waiting for a new book. They then move to a new reader choosing the opposite side of the story. when ready. After 20 minutes we have feedback – line yr5 students up along the wall from "most positive" view of Henry to "least positive". Year 8 students observe if they "won" the argument with the students they read to.
Extension Activities
Role-play exercise: the dissolution of the monasteries.
Gets a bit of kinaesthetic learning into the unit! This is a good way of dealing with the impact of the Henrician Reformation without getting students too bogged down in the theology (which they will have already covered in depth in the European Reformation unit).
Picture Analysis: What is the message of 'The Ambassadors'? [ Interactive ]
A challenging lesson, but students often get a great deal from it, especially if they have some understanding of the Reformation by this point.
Revision / End of Unit Quizzes
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The Six Wives of Henry VIII Worksheet
Download the six wives of henry viii worksheet.
Click the button below to download this worksheet for use in the classroom or at home.
Can you believe that Henry VIII was married to 6 different women?
This fact is one of the most famous facts in English history. Henry VIII is a famous king but his wives are even more talked about! We are going to spend the next 2 lessons learning why Henry had 6 wives and what was so interesting about them!
You are going to make a factfile for each of the wives (just like you see in magazines of pop stars or football players!) You are to include the following information that you will find below:
- Name and number of wife
- Where and when was she born
- Did she have any children?
- Why did Henry get rid of her?
- How did he get rid of her? (Was she divorced? Died? Executed?)
PDF Worksheet:
- Aimed at Students studying at UK Year 8 or equivalent
- Free to download
- Use as you wish in the classroom or home environment
- Structured study guide and challenging questions.
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King Henry VIII Comic: Primary Resource
Learn all about this famous british king in under a minute.
This primary resource offers children an overview of the life of King Henry VIII in a fun comic book format. A key figure in British history, discover significant events that occurred during the king’s lifetime. When did King Henry VIII become king? Who was his first wife? Why and when did King Henry VIII establish the Church of England?
Pupils will learn about King Henry VIII’s coronation, marriages, lifestyle and his political influence during his years on the throne in our National Geographic Kids King History resource sheet.
The teaching resource can be used in study group tasks for learning about King Henry VIII and his important role in British history. It can be used as a printed handout for each pupil to read themselves, or for display on the interactive whiteboard, as part of a whole class reading exercise.
Activity : After reading our primary resource, ask pupils to carry out their own research on King Henry VIII and his six wives – they could use our The Six Wives of King Henry VIII and The Life and Reign of King Henry VIII features to help with their studies. Then, get them to imagine that they are an advisor to the king, in charge of finding him a seventh wife. Their task is to write a letter to a potential queen of England, explaining why she should take King Henry’s hand in marriage. The letter could be fun and humorous – complimenting the king, highlighting his achievements and explaining why his previous marriages were unsuccessful.
N.B. The following information for mapping the resource documents to the school curriculum is specifically tailored to the English National Curriculum and Scottish Curriculum for Excellence . We are currently working to bring specifically tailored curriculum resource links for our other territories; including South Africa , Australia and New Zealand . If you have any queries about our upcoming curriculum resource links, please email: [email protected]
This History primary resource assists with teaching the following History objectives from the National Curriculum :
- Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world
- Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales
National Curriculum Key Stage 1 History objective:
- Pupils should be taught: significant historical events, people and places in their own locality
- Pupils should be taught: the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. Some should be used to compare aspects of life in different periods
National Curriculum Key Stage 2 History objective:
- Pupils should be taught a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
This primary resource also assists with teaching the following English objectives from the National Curriculum :
- Comprehension skills develop through pupils’ experience of high-quality discussion with the teacher, as well as from reading and discussing a range of stories, poems and non-fiction. All pupils must be encouraged to read widely across both fiction and non-fiction to develop their knowledge of themselves and the world in which they live, to establish an appreciation and love of reading, and to gain knowledge across the curriculum
This History primary resource assists with teaching the following Social Studies Second level objective from the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence :
- I can discuss why people and events from a particular time in the past were important, placing them within a historical sequence
- I can compare and contrast a society in the past with my own and contribute to a discussion of the similarities and differences
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A history play in five acts, William Shakespeare ’s Henry VIII was produced in 1613 and published in the First Folio edition of Shakespeare’s works in 1623. The play was based on Raphael Holinshed ’s Chronicles . Henry VIII is usually considered to be Shakespeare’s last completed play. Since the mid-19th century, however, a number of critics have doubted that Shakespeare was the only author of the play. Many scenes and speeches were written in a style similar to that of John Fletcher , who was known to have collaborated with Shakespeare and other dramatists.
As the play opens, the duke of Buckingham and his son-in-law are arrested for having accused Cardinal Wolsey, King Henry VIII’s lord chancellor, of corruption and treason. Although the king is unsure what to do and Queen Katharine pleads for truth and justice, the duke is convicted as a traitor after a former servant lies to the court. As Buckingham is taken away for execution, he conveys a prophetic warning to beware of false friends.
Henry falls in love with the beautiful Anne Bullen (Boleyn) and, concerned over his lack of a male heir, considers leaving his wife. Separately, a reluctant Anne accepts the king’s marriage proposal. Wolsey tries to extend his power over the king by preventing the marriage, but his machinations and corruption are revealed instead. As he leaves the court, Wolsey encourages his servant Thomas Cromwell to work for Henry, who soon promotes Cromwell to high office. Anne is married to Henry in secret and is crowned queen. Although Katharine maintains her dignity throughout her divorce trial and subsequent exile from court, her goodness does not help her in the face of all the political intrigue. She dies shortly after hearing that Wolsey has repented his wrongdoing before his own death.
The new lord chancellor and other court officials attempt to regain power over the king by accusing Thomas Cranmer, Henry’s loyal archbishop of Canterbury, of heresy. The king is no longer so easily manipulated, however, and Cranmer reveals to the plotters a ring he holds as a mark of the king’s favor. Henry further asks Cranmer to baptize his newborn daughter, and the play ends with a final celebration and Cranmer’s prophecy of England’s glory under the future Queen Elizabeth I.
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Henry VIII Wives
Subject: History
Age range: 11-14
Resource type: Lesson (complete)
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Full lesson and homework. Pupils evaluate which wife Henry loved most by firstly completing a carousel activity that allows them to explore each wife and the reasons Henry divorced her before creating an extended writing piece (differentiated) about who he loved most. Homework: to write a letter to the Pope explaining why you want a divorce from Katherine of Aragon.
WALT: Evaluate who Henry loved most. Level 3: Identify Henry’s six wives. Level 4: Describe each of his wives and what happened to them. Level 5: explain why Henry divorced each wife. Level 6: Compare which wife was Henry loved most, give reasons why.
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KS3 Henry VIII
Five lessons well resourced and researched to create a flowing scheme of work for KS3. Each lesson is fully differentiated and includes options for SEN and LA pupils as well as challenging HA+. Pupils enjoy these lessons because they link back to prior knowledge they may have attained through primary school, activities include creating facebook conversations, carousel tasks and levelled extended writing, of which could be marked formally if you so wish. All lessons available to buy singularly for £2-£3 on my TES shop. There are some lessons missing from the SOW as a whole because I hadn't made the other lessons from scratch, for example you may want to include lessons such as the dissolution of the monasteries, pilgrimage of grace, and others.
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How Henry VIII accidentally changed the way we write history
PhD Student, University of East Anglia, School of Literature, Drama, and Creative Writing (LDC)., University of East Anglia
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In 1534, King Henry VIII infamously broke away from the Catholic Church, becoming the head of the Church of England. Following this, two lesser-known acts were passed, the Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1535 and the Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1539 (also known as the “two Acts of Dissolution”).
These acts were the legal instruments of what is now known as the dissolution of the monasteries , a long process throughout which the hundreds of priories, convents, friaries, and other religious houses which fell under the English monarch’s rule saw their holdings confiscated by the Crown. In doing so, Henry unwittingly set in motion a series of events that would forever change how scholars of English history would access the primary sources used in research.
Because monasteries had served various roles throughout history , the dissolution had wide-ranging consequences. It changed the landscape of England, with religious buildings slowly entering private hands – but it also changed the scholarly landscape.
Many of Britain’s early historians came from monasteries (often in the form of chroniclers), including Gerald of Wales, Bede the Venerable and Roger Bacon. As record-keepers, they also preserved the primary sources that continue to be studied by researchers today.
Manuscripts, like the religious houses’ other possessions, slowly changed hands in the decades following the dissolution. The king took several manuscripts for himself and more were taken and hidden by former members of the orders, or local inhabitants. Likely thousands disappeared.
The extent of the loss, while difficult to estimate, was extensively researched by Anglo-Saxonist and palaeographer (historical handwriting analysis expert) Neil Ripley Ker in his book, Medieval Libraries of Great Britain which was first published in 1941. This research is now available as a continually updated database through the combined efforts of current scholars.
Where did the manuscripts go?
Over the past decades, bibliographical research has shown that some were gathered by local, and often little-known, collectors. As for the rest, the writings of contemporary antiquaries (the people interested in the material remains of the past) provide precious information on what existed before the dissolution took place, how much disappeared, and how.
From 1533, English poet and antiquary John Leland undertook the arduous task of inventorying the most important manuscripts from the monastic houses, listing his work to date in a then-unpublished address commonly known as the Newe Yeares Gyfte , in 1546. Meanwhile, Leland’s associate John Bale compiled a Summary of the Famous Writers of Great Britain, founded upon Leland’s work and first published in Latin in 1548, for which the preparatory notes survive in Oxford’s Bodleian Library.
Bale’s preface to the Newe Yeares Gyfte tells us that many of the manuscripts ended up cut up for use as candlesticks or boot polishing cloth, some were sold to foreign nations, and many to book binders.
Such recycling had already taken place in the past. The membrane (treated animal skin, also known as parchment or vellum) from which most manuscripts were made could be reused to make new books , notably as binding material, and also had less obvious but not less useful afterlives. It would continue for many years to come, too. Notably, one of the copies of the Magna Carta allegedly had to be rescued from a tailor’s shop in 1629.
The Magna Carta in question found its way into the collection of antiquary Sir Robert Cotton. Like other collectors before him, Cotton sought to preserve the witnesses of British history, in particular, the now-dispersed monastic manuscripts. His collection still survives today, as the Cotton manuscripts became one of the foundational collections of the British Library.
The dissolution itself came at a turning point in historical methods. The 16th century saw the spreading through England of a new intellectual movement coming from Italy, where it had begun over a century earlier: humanism. Renaissance humanism was concerned (at first) with the study of the classical world, eventually producing a new culture of learning involving the re-evaluation of historical sources (including the aforementioned manuscripts).
On the continent, this often involved consulting the texts in the monasteries themselves . In England, where the monasteries no longer existed, these sources found their ways into the hands of the scholar-collectors who wished to use them, like Matthew Parker and Cotton.
Neither Parker nor Cotton limited themselves to gathering these documents. Their libraries were the centre of research circles, which used, edited, and sometimes published original manuscripts using another continental creation – the printing press. While antiquaries were not necessarily historians, and have generally been considered more interdisciplinary , their work facilitated historical research through both the preservation and the dissemination of primary sources.
Historical research has evolved a lot since the 16th century. The sources saved from destruction or dispersion at the time of the dissolution have been read, re-read, translated, studied, and contextualised in many ways since the days of the early antiquaries.
Henry VIII may have never intended to endanger these manuscripts. However, it is indisputable that the dissolution had a profound effect on English and indeed British scholarship, marking the minds of budding humanistic historians, and giving them unprecedented access to original documents.
Besides its impact on the historiography of its time, the dissolution could have drastically changed the sources we continue to use. Without the preservationist impulse of collectors, the surviving manuscripts may have well disappeared into tailor and cobbler shops, never to be seen again.
More than just a story of loss and destruction, the dissolution is also the story of efforts, both big and small, collective and individual, to preserve a country’s heritage in a time of great change and uncertainty.
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Henry Vlll. (reigned 1509-1547) Age18-56. Second son of Henry VII. Married Catherine of Aragon (Spanish), Anne Boleyn (English), Jane Seymore (English), Anne of Cleves (Flemish-Belgian), Catherine Howard (English), Catherine Parr (English). Buried in Windsor Castle. Henry Vlll is probably the most well known of the Tudor kings.
Primary Homework Help The Tudors. by Mandy Barrow : Celts. Romans. Saxons. Vikings. Normans. Tudors. Victorians. WW ll. 500 BC . AD 43. 450. 793. 1066. ... was born around 1512. She was Henry VIII's sixth and final wife. She married Henry VIII on 12 July 1543 at Hampton Court Palace. Katherine outlived Henry - so she is said to have survived ...
When Henry VII died on 21st April 1509, Henry VIII was crowned - he was 17 years old when he became king. Henry VIII is one of England's most famous monarchs. During his early years as a king, Henry enjoyed holding large and festive feasts, hunting and jousting. He built many fine palaces and also fought wars against France and Scotland.
Henry VIII was born on 28 June 1491 in London, at Greenwich Palace. Henry became the King of England at age 17 in 1509, when his father, Henry VII, died. Just before Henry VIII became king, he married Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII divorced Catherine of Aragon in 1533, and married Anne Boleyn. Henry VIII grew up as a Catholic, but established ...
Amid the worsening turmoil, Henry died on January 28, 1547, in London. He was buried in St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. His nine-year-old son, Edward, succeeded him as king. (1491-1547). Henry VIII was one of England's strongest and least popular monarchs. He reigned as king from 1509 to 1547. He is remembered for his six wives and ...
APPROACH 2 - Henry VIII: Storybook for Primary Students. Students use all the work they have done so far to produce a biased children's storybook (in Publisher) about Henry VIII from either a positive or a negative perspective. Thought should be given to the chapter headings, the illustrations, and the facts to be included.
Henry VIII Activities. Read all about King Henry VIII and his six wives in our Homework Help chapters here. 1 min. Updated: 31st January 2023. If you want to discover more about Henry VIII, try our range of worksheets, powerpoints and activities to consolidate and deepen your knowledge and understanding of this colourful Tudor king.
Henry VIII was arguably the most famous Tudor king and he is remembered for having six wives and a bad temper! He was responsible for a number of significant changes to England and across Europe, including the Protestant Reformation. To learn more, download this informative and beautifully illustrated Henry VIII PowerPoint. Or try our dedicated collection of Tudors resources for KS2 here. If ...
Henry VIII was arguably the most famous Tudor king and he is remembered for having six wives and a bad temper! He was responsible for a number of significant changes to England and across Europe, including the Protestant Reformation. To learn more, download this informative and beautifully illustrated Henry VIII PowerPoint. Or try our dedicated collection of Tudors resources for KS2 here. If ...
Primary Homework Help The Tudors. by Mandy Barrow : Celts. Romans. Saxons. Vikings. Normans. Tudors. Victorians. WW ll. 500 BC . AD 43. 450. 793. 1066. 1485. 1837. 1939 ... They are famous for many things, including the Henry VIII and his six wives, the exploration of America and the plays of William Shakespeare. During the sixteenth century ...
Henry VIII is a famous king but his wives are even more talked about! We are going to spend the next 2 lessons learning why Henry had 6 wives and what was so interesting about them! ... factsMake sure you leave room for a picture of the wife that you will either draw or find on the Internet at home/homework club. PDF Worksheet: Aimed at ...
The teaching resource can be used in study group tasks for learning about King Henry VIII and his important role in British history. It can be used as a printed handout for each pupil to read themselves, or for display on the interactive whiteboard, as part of a whole class reading exercise. Activity: After reading our primary resource, ask ...
Proudly powered by EdShed, Literacy Shed Plus provides teaching resources for literacy, VIPERS, film units, book studies and more.
Investigate the reign of Henry VIII with this challenging source enquiry focused on the changing character of the Tudor Monarch throughout his reign. The enquiry includes both primary and modern sources, as well as challenging students to question each source's reliability and usefulness. By the end of this lesson students will be able to: identify key features of Henry VIII's character and ...
A history play in five acts, William Shakespeare's Henry VIII was produced in 1613 and published in the First Folio edition of Shakespeare's works in 1623. The play was based on Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles. Henry VIII is usually considered to be Shakespeare's last completed play. Since the mid-19th century, however, a number of ...
Homework: to write a letter to the Pope explaining why you want a divorce from Katherine of Aragon. WALT: Evaluate who Henry loved most.u000b. Level 3: Identify Henry's six wives. Level 4: Describe each of his wives and what happened to them. Level 5: explain why Henry divorced each wife. Level 6: Compare which wife was Henry loved most, give ...
Introduction to Tudor ships. and exploration. When Henry VIII came to power, England had only a small navy. During his reign Henry spent a great deal of money building up a large fleet to defend the kingdom. Life at sea was risky and dangerous, but it also offered, fame and riches.
In 1534, King Henry VIII infamously broke away from the Catholic Church, becoming the head of the Church of England. ... As record-keepers, they also preserved the primary sources that continue to ...
This Henry VIII's Wives Mind Map contains a single sheet, which you can print on A4 paper. This sheet contains a mind map with lined boxes for students to write in. Each of these boxes contains the name and picture of one of Henry VIII's wives. These are: You can use this resource as part of a lesson plan covering the topic of Henry VIII, in ...
Henry VII l Henry VIII l Edward VI l Mary I l Elizabeth I l. ( Lady Jane Grey reigned as Queen for just 9 days.) Age 10-16. Son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. Unmarried. Died from consumption. Buried in Westminster Abbey. Edward was the only son of Henry VIII. Edward VI became king at the age of nine upon the death of his father, Henry Vlll.
Primary Homework Help The Tudors. by Mandy Barrow : Celts. Romans. Saxons. Vikings. Normans. Tudors. Victorians. WW ll. 500 BC . AD 43. 450. 793. 1066. 1485. 1837. 1939 ... Some 70,000 people suffered the death penalty during the reign of Henry VIII. Punishment used during Tudor times, if someone broke the law . Methods of execution. Beheading ...
Henry Vll. (reigned 1485-1509) ( Lady Jane Grey reigned as Queen for just 9 days.) Age 28-52. Great-great-great-grandson of Edward III. Married Elizabeth (daughter of Edward IV ). Seven children. Buried in Westminster Abbey. Henry Tudor became King Henry Vll of England and Wales after defeating Richard lll at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485.