by Danielle Friedl

Created on: January 22, 2009

Henry VIII (1491-1547) was not born to be king, however he remains one of the most well-known British monarchs of all time. A second-born son to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry was originally raised for a position within the Church while his older brother Arthur was groomed to be the ruler of England. Destiny, however, took a different path and a 10 year old Henry would find himself preparing to be his father's accessor, becoming a man who would leave in his wake six wives, a religious reformation and a line of brutality that have become his legacy.

Henry VIII was born June 28, 1491 in Greenwich Palace. His older brother Arthur, older sister Margaret and younger sister Mary were the only siblings that survived past infancy. Henry was given a high-quality royal education provided by the only the best tutors. He became fluent in Spanish, Latin and French and was very interested in theology. It was assumed that as younger brother to the future king Henry would persue a career in the Church.

In an effort to align England and Spain Henry VII had betrothed Arthur to the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella's youngest daughter Catherine. Their marriage would be short-lived, however when Arthur suddenly died in 1502, leaving a young widow behind and Henry next in line for the throne. Still wishing to remain on good terms with Spain Henry VII offered to marry Catherine to Henry, stating that because of their age it was very unlikely that Catherine and Arthur had consummated the marriage. After a push for papal dispensation from Catherine's mother Henry and Catherine were betrothed, but not married because of Henry's young age.

By the time Henry had come of age to marry Henry VII was no longer interested in an alliance with Spain and tried to renig the betrothal. When Henry VII died on April 21, 1509 a 17-year old Henry VIII made it clear that he was indeed going to marry Catherine. They were coronated in a joint ceremony on June 24, 1509, a mere 4 days before Henry's 18th birthday. Catherine was 23.

After the birth and subsequent early death of Catherine and Henry's son Prince Henry, Catherine gave birth to their only surviving child, Mary. Catherine would go on to have several stillbirths and miscarriages until she was approximately 33 years old and approaching the point at which it would no longer be possible for her to conceive. As time went on Henry became increasingly frustrated with Catherine's inability to produce a male heir, and as she reached the point where

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