A small group enjoyed Terry’s session on the private lives of the six wives of Henry VIII presented by Historian Lucy Worsley.
Married to Catherine of Aragon, a daughter Mary was born, but Katherine failed to provide Henry with a male heir. Poor Katherine was cast aside as the dark haired and sophisticated Anne Boleyn, a lady in waiting in the French royal court, had caught Henry’s wandering eye. Anne kept Henry at arm’s length.
Unable to persuade the Pope to grant him an annulment, Henry broke with the Holy Roman Church and declared himself the head of the Church of England. 1536 then saw the destruction of many monasteries as Henry eyed the wealth that the monasteries held. Anne quickly became pregnant, giving birth to a daughter Princess Elizabeth.
Following a jousting accident that led to a permanent injury to his leg, Anne suffered a miscarriage of their longed for son and heir.
Henry’s wandering eye focused on lady in waiting, Jane Seymour, who was Anne’s cousin. Henry turned to Thomas Cromwell to secure his freedom. Anne, accused of adultery and incest, was sent to the Tower and beheaded, along with her brother and other young men accused of being her lovers.
Jane Seymour provided Henry with a son, Prince Edward, but lost her life after the birth.
In 1539 Henry negotiated a marriage with Anne of Cleves from Germany. Sight unseen, this was a strategic marriage.
The marriage was annulled as Henry had turned his eye to Catherine Howard, who also lost her head for indiscretions and an affair with Thomas Colpepper.
Katherine Parr was Henry’s last wife and was with him when he died.
An interesting Friday afternoon.
Geraldine McCorkell
Married to Catherine of Aragon, a daughter Mary was born, but Katherine failed to provide Henry with a male heir. Poor Katherine was cast aside as the dark haired and sophisticated Anne Boleyn, a lady in waiting in the French royal court, had caught Henry’s wandering eye. Anne kept Henry at arm’s length.
Unable to persuade the Pope to grant him an annulment, Henry broke with the Holy Roman Church and declared himself the head of the Church of England. 1536 then saw the destruction of many monasteries as Henry eyed the wealth that the monasteries held. Anne quickly became pregnant, giving birth to a daughter Princess Elizabeth.
Following a jousting accident that led to a permanent injury to his leg, Anne suffered a miscarriage of their longed for son and heir.
Henry’s wandering eye focused on lady in waiting, Jane Seymour, who was Anne’s cousin. Henry turned to Thomas Cromwell to secure his freedom. Anne, accused of adultery and incest, was sent to the Tower and beheaded, along with her brother and other young men accused of being her lovers.
Jane Seymour provided Henry with a son, Prince Edward, but lost her life after the birth.
In 1539 Henry negotiated a marriage with Anne of Cleves from Germany. Sight unseen, this was a strategic marriage.
The marriage was annulled as Henry had turned his eye to Catherine Howard, who also lost her head for indiscretions and an affair with Thomas Colpepper.
Katherine Parr was Henry’s last wife and was with him when he died.
An interesting Friday afternoon.
Geraldine McCorkell
