by Maria C Collins

Created on: August 26, 2008   Last Updated: November 25, 2010

All people know about Henry VIII is that he married six times and executed some of his wives. Very few realize that his search was initially for a male heir, then for a happy marriage just like that of his parents.

Henry VII had married his elder son, Arthur, to Katherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess the daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1501. Henry, aged ten, attended the celebrations. When Arthur died, of tuberculosis, within four months of marriage, Henry VII kept Katherine in England, against custom, so that he did not have to return her dowry.

Henry (VIII) fell in love with Katherine, his father (HenryVII)  arranged a treaty, allowing the marriage but a special dispensation from the Pope was necessary, because Katherine had been married to Henry's brother. Church rules forbade such a marriage at that time. Katherine always maintained that Papal permission was unnecessary, since the marriage was unconsummated, but both Spain and England wanted to ensure the legitimacy of the marriage so they sought, and received, Papal dispensation.

Henry ascended the throne aged eighteen, and quickly married Katherine. She bore Henry six children, but only their daughter Mary survived past infancy. Henry was happy in his marriage, although, in later years, he had mistresses. All those pregnancies and dead babies took their toll on Katherine, always a devout Catholic she became very religious. Several of Henry's mistresses had borne him sons. One of Henry's mistresses was Mary Boleyn, who had a son, Henry Fitzroy, by the King.

After twenty years of marriage, when Katherine was over forty and unlikely to bear a male heir, Henry noticed a lady in waiting in Katherine's household. Her name was Anne Boleyn, she had recently returned from the French court. She was handsome, vivacious, intelligent, a lively, witty conversationalist and radiated vitality. She must have provided a stark contrast with Katherine. Henry fell badly in lust and love, Anne, having learned from her sister Mary's experience, would not become his mistress.

Henry persuaded himself that God was telling him that his marriage to Katherine had been wrong, which was why he could not sire a legitimate son. Henry appealed to the pope, who refused to annul the marriage. In 1533, Anne Boleyn was pregnant, having finally given way to Henry. Henry, then, broke with Rome and declared himself head of the Church in England.

He divorced Katherine, and secretly married Anne Boleyn days

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