by Eve Redstone

Created on: March 07, 2008   Last Updated: October 30, 2011

Henry VIII came to the English throne at the age of eighteen in 1509. At this time in history, the health of the nation was directly linked to the health of the monarch. As a strong, virile, handsome and athletic young man Henry VIII was seen as one of the strongest monarchs in Europe.

This period in European history was riven by civil wars, as different factions struggled for control of principalities. Henry's position, however, was relatively secure.

The Church played a large part in these conflicts, with the support of the Pope crucial for the success of any would-be ruler. Henry himself was a deeply religious man, who viewed his job as ordained by God, and his power divinely blessed. This was not solely his own view, it was a role he had been taught. The secular world had little to say in his activities.

He married his older brother's widow, and obtained papal blessing to do so. His fondness for Katherine of Aragon was genuine, but the marriage was politically useful, as it allied him to one of the most powerful factions in Europe -  the Spanish.

How then did he get this reputation for cruelty? After all, he was a popular monarch, and he kept the country strong.

His cruel reputation arose because of the necessity for a male heir. He had just one daughter, and at this time a female heir was not acceptable. Katherine's age meant she was unlikely to produce the necessary heir, and the scene was set for Anne Boleyn.

The possibility of a male heir meant that Henry needed to divorce Katherine, but the Pope, under pressure from Katherine's relatives, would not allow this. This led to the Reformation. Henry never in his heart left the Catholic religion, and his excommunication was a bitter blow. The overriding need for an heir meant he had to divorce Katherine.

Initially, Henry was not unreasonable with the monasteries, but they refused to recognize him as the head of the church in England, and faced with this powerful rival he had to do something to maintain absolute power. The wealth of the monasteries at this time was also a thorn in Henry's side. This led to his supposed cruelty; the burning of the heretics and the dissolution of the monasteries was not a religious act, it was a politically expedient act. Henry had to cement his power and prevent challenges to it through the church.

Henry was famous for his outbursts of temper and cruelty, but also for his generosity and hospitality. He must be judged by the standards of his time. He tolerated

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>