by Suzette Baker

Created on: August 31, 2009

As the second son born to Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Henry VIII was not born to become king, however, he is best remembered as one of the most complex monarchs in British history. Although he was reared for a career in the church, fate would change the course of young Henry's life when, at the age of ten, he found himself being groomed to become his father's successor.

Born June 28th, 1491, at Greenwich Palace, Henry was but one of six children born to King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York to survive infancy. The others were Mary, Margaret, and Arthur who was next in line for the throne. As expected of the royal and nobility class of the era, young Henry received a high rate education from the best tutors available. From this education, Henry became fluent in Spanish, French and Latin. He also developed an interest in theology.

Attempting to align Spain with England, King Henry VII betrothed his oldest son Arthur to Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. When Arthur suddenly died of sweating sickness on April 12, 1502, this left Henry next in line for the throne. With his older brother dead, young Henry made clear his intentions of marrying his brother's widow. However, the marriage of Henry and Catherine posed a problem since any sexual relationship between them meant they would share an affinity. After Catherine swore that her marriage had never been consummated, her parents deemed it wise to push for a papal dispensation from Rome to validate the betrothal. Just one year after Arthur's death, the dispensation was granted by Pope Julius II. Due to Henry's young age, the two were betrothed but not married.

By the time young Henry reached the age that would allow him to marry, King Henry had lost any interest in an alliance with Spain and tried to undo the betrothal but after the death of the King, Henry and Catherine were married on June 11, 1509. Two weeks later, on June 24, 1509, they crowned in a joint ceremony at West Minister Abbey. This was just four days before Henry's 18th birthday.

King Henry VIII was an accomplished poet and an avid sportsman who excelled in hunting and jousting. His faith in Catholic Doctrine remained strong in spite of his romantic lifestyle. He demonstrated his cruelty in his early years when he had his father's advisors Edmund Dudley and Sir Richard Empson arrested on charges of treason. The two were later beheaded.

After the death of Henry and Catherine's only son Prince Henry, their

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