by Danielle Friedl

Created on: January 15, 2009

Henry VIII was obsessed with producing a male heir for this throne. After 24 years of marriage, one healthy daughter and six sons that died in infancy Henry created upheaval in England by separating from the the Roman Catholic Church in an effort to divorce Catherine and marry the much younger and hopefully fertile, Anne Boleyn. When Anne gave him another healthy daughter, but still no sons a series of possibly fabricated incidents led to her beheading in 1536. Ten days after Anne's death Henry married Jane Seymour, the woman who historians believe to be Henry's greatest love. On October 12, 1537 Henry's dreams were finally answered - Jane had given him a son, the future Edward VI.

Unlike other sons of Henry that had either been stillborn or died shortly thereafter, Edward was a healthy infant. Henry delighted in the birth of his son. Edward was christened on October 15th with his half-sister Mary serving as Godmother and his other half-sister Elizabeth carrying the baptism cloth. The infant was proclaimed Duke of Cornwall and Earl of Chester and all seemed right with the world. Sadly, Jane developed what are presumed to be complications following the birth and died on October 24. Henry's greatest joy was followed by his greatest sadness.

Edward continued to grow into a strong and robust boy. Despite what many people think about Edward being frail and sickly, he actually enjoyed a healthy life, with occasional illnesses. There are dozens of accounts of him being described as tall and growing rapidly. It wasn't until the last six months of his life that he became the sick gave fire to the rumors that he had always been in poor health.

Edward was placed in a formal royal household in the care of several servants and caregivers. Under Henry's order Edward's house was kept under the strictest of standards for security and cleanliness. He lived in the lap of luxury with many toys and the best of comforts. He was given the standard royal education of the time in the form of tutors. He was very interested in his studies, as was his two sisters. Because he was the first royal to be born into the monarchy during a time of reformation he is likely to have learned the Protestant religion from birth. He took a particular interest in geometry and even learned to play musical instruments like the lute and the virginals.

Edward was very close with his sisters, Mary and Elizabeth. They often came to visit him and doted heavily on him. In 1543 Henry had all three of his children

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