Henry VIII: man or monster? VICTORIA HOWARD INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS – 11TH AUGUST 2017 Henry’s hildhood • Born 1491 at Palace of Placentia, Greenwich • Third child and second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York • Studied Latin, French, Italian, scripture, music; he was good at sports, but was probably destined for the church • Dagerousl idulged spare – whipping boy • In 1502, he became heir apparent aged 10 Life as heir apparent • Erasus desried hi as a geius • Papal dispensation given for betrothal to Katherine in 1503; he refused her • Already showed traits of wilfulness, tenacity and righteousness – a stickler for the rules • Father kept him away from any duties for protection as the only male heir Accession to the throne • Henry took the throne at 17 in 1509 • Quickly decided to marry Katherine of Aragon - announced it was his fathers dig wish • Demonstrated himself to be moral and fair, but little interest in governance • Tall, good looking, charming and athletic – antithesis of his father: hadsoest prince in Christedo a slim, beautiful, elegant, musical, poetical, reasonable, charming, sweet-tempered young a – Starkey • Henry takes the throne, marries Katherine – 1509 • Thomas More executed – 1535 • War with France; defeat Scottish – 1512 • Anne is executed; he marries Jane Seymour, plus Dissolution of Monasteries & Katherine dies – 1536 • Mary I is born – 1516 • Edward VI is born, Jane dies – 1537 • Illegitimate son, Henry, born – 1519 • Henry marries Anne of Cleeves (and divorces); • Fidei Defensor title; War with France – 1521 marries Catherine Howard; Cromwell executed – 1540 • Decides he wants to be rid of Katherine – 1527 • Catherine Howard executed – 1542 • Henry begins negotiating an annulment & fall of • Marries Catherine Parr; Anne Askew debacle – 1543 Wolsey – 1529 • Dies – 1547 • Henry marries Anne Boleyn; Elizabeth is born – 1533 • Henry becomes Head of Church – 1534 Cardinal Wolsey • Had ee a part of Her VIIs ourt • Arrested in 1529 amidst rumours he was slowing down the annulment proceedings • Stripped of his offices and assets - Henry took Hampton Court • The ar iister Sir Thomas More • Arrested in April 1534 for refusing to swear to the Oath of Succession • Wrote i defee of Catholi Churh ad didt atted Aes oroatio • Put to death in 1535 for rejecting Hers title as Supreme Head of the Church; retroactive justice Anne Boleyn • Genuinely loved – abstained for at least 6 years. He signed off a letter with his initials separated by the Freh autre ne cherche • If not for her sex, she could have defied all the heroes of histor – Thomas Cromwell • Henry got engaged to Jane Seymour on the day of Aes eeutio Thomas Cromwell • Mentored by Cardinal Wolsey, but was the peae iister • Ensured Henry got an annulment, through Parliamentary and ecclesiastical support of the King as head of the church • Something of a religious reformer • Titles and status given three months before he fell from favour mid-1540 • Henry later regretted his frieds death, accusing ministers of plotting it Catherine Howard • Executed in 1543 for treason (adultery) • Young, naïve Queen – possibly abused as a child • Henry felt humiliated by her betrayal Other notable events • Increasing tendency to pursue conviction through attainder after 1536, plus broader definition of treason • English translation of the Bible in 1539 • Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, executed in 1541, because Henry could not find her son • Torture and execution of Anne Askew, 1546 – turned a blind eye • Passed an act in 1543 which prevented all women (and men below the rank of gentlemen) from reading the Bible Man vs. monster – going from firm leader to megalomaniac despot • Henry VIII was only the second King of the new Tudor dynasty – Wars of the Roses still fresh in the atios id, ut rutal puishets for o-conformity • Religious divide set neighbour against neighbour, and confused his subjects • Physically lashed out at people: hit Cromwell, and pulled Jae Seour roughl to her feet and warned her not to meddle in things which were not her oer • Harsh treatment of Katherine of Aragon and Mary – and yet treated Anne of Cleeves like a sister • But… was still desried as gifted, ourageous, getle, ole, rilliat ad aoplished i late 1530s Head injury theory • Yale Memory Cliis researh opares the Kigs ehaiour ith Aeria footallers rai injuries • Injury to the brain would eplai Hers eplosie ager, headahes, isoia, eor problems, impulses, and even impotence • Researh started ith sptos, loalised the to a part of the brain, formed a series of differential diagnosis, and then tests the most probable differetial • Cushigs disease, McLeod syndrome or metabolic syndrome are also possibilities • He scored very highly for emotional detachment and cold-hearted ruthlessness – both harateristis of dagerous pshopaths. Leg pain theory • Tracy Borman believes the change in Henry was down to his constant pain from his leg ulcer • Contemporary accounts of his accidents vary wildly; e.g. 1536 joust description says Henry was unconscious for two hours comes from ambassador not in the country. • Forgetfulness also seems questionable – Her didt forget aout arrat for Katherie Parr; plan cooked up by her enemy, Gardiner • Unusual and sometimes brutal treatments for the ulcer • Increasing weight gain – did Henry feel humiliated by his appearance? Catherine Howard, younger courtiers Survey of Henry’s reign • Wanted to be recognised like Henry V as a warrior King – almost continuous state of war • 52,000-72,000 executions during his 38-year reign… including close friends, wives and ministers. 1.8-2.5% of the population • Created standing navy and advanced the force; built large numbers of defences Earnt title of Fidei Defensor for ritig agaist Luther • Usurped poer fro the Pope ith reak fro Roe • Precariously close to bankruptcy a number of times The King that an’t e ignored • Her VIII as the ultiate unresolvable paradox of Tudor histor • Everything the people wanted in a King – wanted war-glory, hated the French, feared none • Life in England would never be the same again, for better or worse But… • Is there a single generous or selfless act in his entire reign? Thanks for joining me Further suggested reading: - 1536: the year that changed Henry VIII – Suzannah Lipscomb, 2012 - Tudor England – John Guy, 2000 - Henry VIII – JJ Scarrisbrick, 1997 - Reign Of Henry VIII: The Personalities and Politics – David Starkey, 2002 - Henry VIII: Mind of a Tyrant – David Starkey (DVD), 2009 .