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All people know about King 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 and 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 arranged a treaty allowing the marriage but a special dispensation from the Pope was necessary because Katherine had been married to Henry's brother. 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 later; the marriage was not announced for some months. The child was a girl,

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