author
King of England Henry VIII
1491–1547
Famous for six marriages and a forceful personality, this Tudor king reshaped England in ways that lasted far beyond his own lifetime. His reign mixed court drama, political ruthlessness, and major religious change.
1 Audiobook
The Love Letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn; With Notes
by King of England Henry VIII
About the author
Born on June 28, 1491, at Greenwich, he was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He became heir after the death of his older brother Arthur and took the throne in 1509. Early in his reign he was known as athletic, well educated, and accomplished, with interests that included music and writing.
He is best remembered for his six marriages and for the break with Rome that helped launch the English Reformation. When his marriage to Catherine of Aragon failed to produce the male heir he wanted, the struggle to end that marriage led to a historic shift in royal and religious power. During his reign, the English crown became more dominant in church affairs, and the Church of England took shape.
He ruled until his death on January 28, 1547. Historians and popular culture alike remember him as one of the most dramatic figures of the Tudor age: a charismatic ruler, a demanding monarch, and a man whose personal decisions changed the course of English history.