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Year 8 History

Henry VIII

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What do you think this is all about?

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The Basics

Born: 28 June 1491 at Greenwich Palace Father: King Henry VII Mother: Elizabeth of York Reigned: 1509 - 1547 Died: 28 January 1547

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Greenwich Palace

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About Henry…

Henry VIII was born at Greenwich on 28 June 1491, the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He became heir to the throne on the death of his elder brother, Prince Arthur, in 1502 and succeeded in 1509. What is an ‘heir’?What does to succeed mean in this context?

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From heir to King

After his elder brother died, Henry became next in line to be King. His father died in 1509 and the 18 year old Prince became King.

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Childhood

Henry had a very spoilt childhood as you might expect of a Royal Prince. So spoiled was he that he even had his own ‘whipping boy’ who was punished every time Henry did something wrong!

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Gorgeous!

This is a description of Henry by a Venetain ambassador called Giustinian who visited him in 1509:"His Majesty is the handsomest potentate I ever set eyes on; above the usual height, with an extremely fine calf to his leg, his complexion fair and bright, with auburn hair, combed straight and short in the French fashion, and a round face so very beautiful that it would become a pretty woman, his throat was rather long and thick"

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And later:"He is very fond of hunting, and never takes his diversion without tiring eight or ten horses which he causes to be stationed beforehand along the line of country he means to take, and when one is tired he mounts another, and before he gets home they are all exhausted. He is extremely fond of tennis, at which game it is the prettiest thing in the world to see him play, his fair skin glowing through a shirt of the finest texture."

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Real Tennis

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What is Real Tennis?

One theory is that this game was played by monks in monastery cloisters, and the shape of the court is certainly to this day reminiscent of a courtyard. Another theory is that the court features relate to medieval city streets and squares. The term "tennis" derives from the French word tenez, which means "take it" — a warning from the server to the receiver.

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By the way…

The word "love" in tennis for "naught" or "no score" reportedly comes from French "l'oeuf," an egg, which sitting upright in profile somewhat resembles a zero.

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Fine clothes.

Here is a description of the clothes he wore:"His fingers were one mass of jewelled rings, and around his neck he wore a gold collar from which hung a diamond as big as a walnut. His clothes were magnificent to match, sumptuous silks, cloth of gold, satins, coloured feathers and of course jewels and precious metals sprinkled everywhere."

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A Fine Musician Henry was famous for his love of music. He was a keen musician, composer and singer. It is said that he owned:10 trombones, 14 trumpets, 5 bagpipes, 76 recorders and 78 flutes!

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Well Educated and Sporting

He was a very well educated man, he spoke 4 languages, wrote poetry, and knew a lot about religion. He was excellent at many sports. It is said that he could use a bow and arrow better than any man in England. (Perhaps no other man dared to beat him). He was famous for wrestling and loved hunting stags in the forests which still covered most of England. He played a game very like tennis.

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An intelligent man…

In his youth he was athletic and highly intelligent. A contemporary observer described him thus: 'he speaks good French, Latin and Spanish; is very religious; heard three masses daily when he hunted ... He is extremely fond of hunting, and never takes that diversion without tiring eight or ten horses ... He is also fond of tennis.'

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But Henry has a problems!

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I need a son. I have been married for 20 years and my wife,

Catherine of Aragon is too old to have any more children. Who

will inherit my throne when I die?

I spy an attractive lady – in-waiting called Anne Boleyn. If only I could

marry her instead. Will the Pope give me a

divorce?

The Church is very rich. I need money for my

luxurious court. If only I could get my hands on it.

The new Protestant ideas are spreading

in Germany. Princes there are reforming their churches and

throwing out the Catholic Church.

Some people in England like the new Protestant ideas. They believe that the Bible should be in English not Latin.

The Church takes money out my

country in taxes to help build St

Peter’s in Rome. What do I get in

return?

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So this could be summarised as …

Henry wants son and he likes the look of Anne BoleynThe Catholic church is very rich and takes taxes from the his people for Rome (and so from him)There is a new protestant church that sounds like it may solve his problems

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The issues.

Henry had married his brother's widow, Catherine of Aragon, in 1509. Catherine had produced only one surviving child - a girl, Princess Mary, born in 1516. By the end of the 1520s, Henry's wife was in her forties and he was desperate for a son.

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Death of Arthur

Henry, I am the ghost of your brother Arthur. As your elder brother I should really have been king, but sadly I died as a young man before I could be king. Now you are king. May God give you his blessing.

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Catherine of Aragon

Henry, I know I was not your first choice. I am your dead brother’s widow. But your father decided it would be best for both our countries if we married. I am your most faithful wife, Henry. I love you. I also love God most dearly and I pray to him every day he will grant me a son so I can make you happy. I know you want a son more than anything, Henry. Please be patient. God will grant us our wishes soon. In the meantime, please spend more quality time with our daughter, Mary. She asks after you every day!

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Anne Boleyn

Your Majesty, you flatter me with your attention. Many thanks for your poems and love songs, but surely you should be sending these to your wife Catherine, not to me a mere lady-in-waiting. I fondly remember the time we spent together and would love to see more of you, but remember you are a married man and it would be sinful to be any more than friends… do you not agree?

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Pope, Clement VII

First of all Henry I would like to thank you for your recent book attacking all the critics of my Church. For this I grant you and all your heirs the title, ‘Defender of the Faith.’ Now, with regard to your marital difficulties … you should work things out with Catherine. What’s all this nonsense I’m hearing about here in Rome concerning you and a six-fingered chambermaid? Have you lost your marbles? Remember a wife is for life. It’s too late to change your mind now.

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Charles V

I’m the most powerful man in Europe, the Holy Roman Emperor. I

own parts of Germany,

Holland, Spain & Italy. If the Pope arranges the divorce of

my niece, Catherine, I’ll

invade the Pope’s lands in Italy. So watch

out!

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Thomas Cromwell, King’s Chief Minister (adviser)

If you really love this Boleyn girl, why not divorce Catherine. I’m sure something can be arranged … and if his Excellence the Pope disagrees then tell him you’ll start your own Church and get a divorce settled that way! Think about it, your Majesty. Head of your own Church. Think how powerful and wealthy that would make you! And …er … whilst we’re on the subject of wealth, don’t forget there are still quite a few outstanding bills for all your wars with France and Scotland … and for the Field of the Cloth of Gold. Break from Rome and sell off the Church’s property and you could be quids in!

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Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury

You should think very carefully about Thomas Cromwell’s advice. If you set up your own Church you could make drastic changes to the way things are done. The Roman Catholic Church is full of sinful priests who think more about their bellies and their beautiful churches than the word of God. There’s a new religion that everyone’s talking about called Protestantism. If you start a new Church it could be a Protestant one that’s much more holy. Just think, if God was really pleased with the changes you made, he might even grant you a son!

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So what could Henry do?

What do you think would have been the best way forward?

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Old Mother Hubbard poem

Mother HubbardWent to the cupboardTo get her poor doggie a bone,When she got thereThe cupboard was bareSo the poor little doggie had none

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Homework

Find out the names of Henry’s five other wives and what happened to themFor bonus points, find out why!