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Henry VIII of England and Ireland, who reigned from 1509 until he died in 1547, was from the House of Tudor. He was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. See below for more fascinating facts about Henry VIII and his reign or download the comprehensive worksheet pack which can be utilized within the classroom or home environment.

KEY FACTS & INFORMATION

EARLY LIFE

  • Born on June 28, 1491, in Greenwich, Henry VIII was the second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. In 1502, his elder brother Prince Arthur died, which officially made him the next heir to the throne. 
  • Henry was appointed Constable of Dover Castle. He became Earl Marshal of England and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland at three. Before becoming king, Henry was created Duke of York. Accounts of Henry’s early life were limited because he was unexpected to be king. 
  • Young Henry was intelligent and could speak fluent French, Latin, and Spanish. He was also athletic and enjoyed hunting and tennis. He was fond of music, the arts, theology, and especially debate.
  • In 1501, he witnessed and played a part in his brother’s wedding with Catherine of Aragon. The following year, Prince Arthur died of sweating sickness. As a result, 10-year-old Henry became the next heir and the new Duke of Cornwall and Prince of Wales. 
  • Henry VII betrothed young Henry to his elder son’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, to ensure the alliance with Spain. They secured a papal dispensation for affinity to make the union possible.  

HENRY AS KING OF ENGLAND

  • On April 21, 1509, 17 -year-old Henry became the king of England after his father’s death. 
  • Following his father’s death, Henry VIII agreed to marry Catherine of Aragon. 
  • In 1510, Henry VIII ordered the execution of two of his father’s ministers, Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley. 
  • Henry VIII organized England’s military and international affairs upon ascending the throne, specifically its war against France. In 1513, Henry led an invasion of France. The English army captures Thérouanne and Tournai. Henry VIII’s brother-in-law James IV of Scotland launched an attack on England back home. Overseen by Catherine of Aragon, the English army defeated the Scots on September 9, 1513. 
  • During Henry VIII’s reign, a more peaceful Europe occurred when Pope Leo X replaced Julius, Charles V became king of Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor, and Francis I succeeded as king of France.  
  • By 1515, Wolsey was Henry’s Archbishop, Cardinal, and Chief Minister, known as one of the most potent ministers in English history.
  • From 1524, Wolsey became unpopular due to the failing English-Netherlands cloth trade, opposition to a special tax, and the inability to negotiate with the Pope.
  • By 1532, Thomas Cromwell rose to power and took control of the royal council, replacing Wolsey.
  • With Cromwell’s maneuvering, England further broke from Rome, and the English Reformation began. Ministers who opposed the introduction of Protestantism were executed, including Thomas More, Wolsey’s successor.
  • As a result of the Reformation, monasteries were dissolved, and all their wealth and land went to the crown. On the downside, England’s poor and sick people had nowhere to go since monasteries served as their refuge. 
  • During his rule, King Henry VIII invested in the navy to increase England’s number of ships to protect the island nation.
  • In 1534, the Act of Supremacy made Henry VIII the supreme head of the Church of England, also known as Anglicana Ecclesia.
  • In 1536, Henry VIII granted his assent to the 1535 Laws in Wales Act, which officially united England and Wales. 
  • In 1536, the Pilgrimage of Grace in northern England killed about 200 rebels, including its leader Robert Aske. 

HENRY VIII’S WIVES

  • As a result of early modern tradition, a female ruler was not accepted, which resulted in Henry VIII’s radical actions to secure a male heir.
  • While married to Catherine of Aragon, Henry developed a fascination with Anne Boleyn, the sister of one of his mistresses at court and Catherine’s lady-in-waiting. With his impatience with Catherine’s inability to produce a son, Henry pursued Anne. Initially, he offered Anne to be his mistress but was rejected. 
  • At the time, Anne, who was educated in the Netherlands and France, was charismatic. He resisted Henry’s attempts which many believed to have challenged the king’s ego. 
  • Henry requested Pope Clement VII grant him an annulment from Catherine, arguing that marrying his brother’s widow, Catherine, was a crime in God’s eyes.
  • The Pope refused to grant Henry’s request because it might offend the Holy Roman Emperor, who was Catherine’s nephew. The king’s great matter was handed to Cardinal Wolsey and failed. Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon was declared null and void by Thomas Cranmer. The former queen was banished from the court and stripped of her title, while their daughter Mary stayed in one of their estates. 
  • In January 1532, Henry VIII secretly married Anne after breaking away from Rome and making himself the head of the new Church of England. In response, the Pope excommunicated Henry VIII and Cranmer. 
  • In 1533, Henry VIII introduced the Act of Succession, which declared Mary illegitimate and Elizabeth legitimate. 
  • Following Anne’s three miscarriages and inability to produce a male heir, she was accused of incest, adultery, and high treason and executed by beheading on May 19, 1536. It is believed that Cranmer and Cromwell orchestrated the accusations. Aside from Anne, several men, including her brother George Boleyn were arrested and executed for adultery and incest. Archbishop Cranmer annulled Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne on the same day. 
  • A day after Anne’s execution, Henry married Jane Seymour, who successfully gave birth to a son, the future Edward VI. As Seymour died of infection shortly after childbirth, Henry then married Anne of Cleves with the insistence of Cromwell, who he also divorced quickly. After a mutual agreement, Anne of Cleves received a generous allowance.
  • In 1536, Henry VIII declared the Act of Succession, which illegitimized Mary and Elizabeth as heirs to the throne. It only recognized Henry’s children to Jane for the line of succession. 
  • After a few years, he married 17-year-old Catherine Howard, niece of the Duke of Norfolk. At this time, Cromwell fell out of the king’s favor and was executed. The reason was unclear, but some suggest that it was because of their different domestic and foreign policies. However, some argued that the manipulation of the Duke of Norfolk and Henry VIII’s failed marriage put an end to Cromwell. 
  • Similar to Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard was accused of adultery and beheaded. Soon after the marriage, Catherine Howard was accused of having an affair with Thomas Culpeper and Francis Dereham. 
  • In July 1543, Henry VIII married his last wife, Catherine Parr. Catherine Parr was instrumental in raising Henry’s children, and she helped with the father and daughter reconciliation. By 1543, the Third Succession Act placed Mary and Elizabeth as heirs to the throne after Edward. 

LEGACY, DEATH & CONTROVERSIES

  • On January 28, 1546, 55-year-old Henry VIII died in the Palace of Whitehall and was succeeded by his only son, Edward. He suffered from health problems related to obesity, diabetes, and gout.
  • His body was interred at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, next to Jane Seymour. 
  • While much of Henry VIII’s reign was characterized by the intrigue around his six wives and how he executed and divorced them, among his legacy was the establishment of the Church of England and the improvement of the navy.
  • His introduction of Protestantism created a rift between England and Catholic nations and between English Catholic nobility and Protestants.
  • Moreover, many saw the king as a ruthless ruler executing political opponents, for example, the execution of leaders associated with the Pilgrimage of Grace and former advisers Thomas More and Thomas Cromwell.
  • Upon Henry VIII’s death, Edward VI took the throne, but as he was only nine years old, the country was ruled by a Council of Regency composed of 16 executors. At the same time, Jane’s brother Edward Seymour was chosen as Lord Protector of the Realm. 
  • Lastly, Henry fathered three of the last Tudor monarchs of England, Edward VI (1547-1553), Mary I (1553-1558 ), and Elizabeth I (1558-1603). 

Henry VIII  Worksheets

This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use worksheets on English monarch Henry VIII that are perfect for students who want to learn more about Henry VIII of England (1491-1547), who was the successor to the throne from the House of Tudor.

Download includes the following worksheets:

  • Henry VIII Facts
  • Rule of Intrigues
  • The Controversial King
  • King’s Heir
  • Henry’s Six Wives
  • The Tudor Dynasty
  • Rome and England
  • Henry’s Proclamations
  • English Reformation
  • English Naval Power
  • Monarch or Monster?

Frequently Ask Questions

What is Henry VIII most famous for?

Henry VIII is famous for the English Reformation, the dissolution of monasteries, and his six wives. 

How is Queen Elizabeth related to Henry VIII?

Queen Elizabeth I is Henry VIII’s daughter to his second wife, Anne Boleyn. 

How many children did Henry VIII have?

Henry VIII had three legitimate children: Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI. Henry Fitzroy, Henry’s son to his mistress Elizabeth Blount was acknowledged but remained illegitimate. 

How did Henry VIII die?

At 55, Henry VIII’s death was associated with his obesity, gout, and ulcerated wound from jousting. Contemporary studies suggest Henry VIII suffered scurvy and traumatic brain injury. 

Why did Henry divorce Catherine of Aragon?

Henry VIII was frustrated to have a son, a male heir to the throne. Catherine of Aragon, who at the time was 40-year-old had several miscarriages. 

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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