Wives of Henry VIII
King Henry VIII of England had six wives between 1509 and his death in 1547. The first wife, Catherine of Aragon, married him on the 11th of June 1509 when he was seventeen years old. She died on the 7th of January 1536 at age fifty after nearly twenty-four years of marriage. Her union ended with an annulment declared by the Church of England on the 23rd of May 1533. Anne Boleyn became his second wife on the 25th of January 1533 following a secret wedding ceremony held months earlier. She faced execution on the 19th of May 1536 at the Tower of London just two days after her own marriage was annulled. Jane Seymour entered the royal household as a maid-of-honour to Catherine of Aragon before marrying Henry on the 30th of May 1536. She gave birth to Edward VI twelve days before dying from childbed fever on the 24th of October 1537. Anne of Cleves arrived in England in 1540 but the marriage lasted only six months until July. She outlived all other wives and died on the 16th of July 1557 at Chelsea Old Manor. Catherine Howard married Henry on the 28th of July 1540 at Oatlands Palace in Surrey while still a teenager about sixteen or eighteen years old. She was beheaded on the 13th of February 1542 for treason related to alleged adultery. Catherine Parr survived Henry's death on the 28th of January 1547 and remarried Thomas Seymour before dying shortly after childbirth in September 1548.
Henry VIII sought papal approval for an annulment based on Leviticus Chapter 20 Verse 21 which stated that taking a brother's wife was impurity leading to childlessness. The Pope refused to grant this annulment despite Henry's persistent demands regarding his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Cardinal Wolsey lost public office when he failed to secure papal agreement for the king's wishes. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer convened a court that ruled the marriage null and void on the 23rd of May 1533. This legal decision allowed Henry to marry Anne Boleyn who had been crowned queen consort on the 1st of June 1533. The Church of England broke from Rome following these events establishing royal control over religious matters. Parliament later revoked the annulment during Mary I's reign declaring Catherine lawful again posthumously. The second annulment involving Anne of Cleves cited non-consummation as grounds rather than any moral failing. These legal battles fundamentally altered England's relationship with the Catholic Church and created lasting religious divisions within the kingdom. Modern historians note such rhymes reflect cultural memory rather than historical accuracy since each generation reinterprets the wives differently.
Catherine of Aragon gave birth to Mary in 1516 after several stillbirths and infant deaths including Henry Duke of Cornwall who died almost two months after birth in 1511. Anne Boleyn delivered Elizabeth on the 7th of September 1536 but suffered multiple miscarriages before her execution in May 1536. Jane Seymour bore Edward VI twelve days before dying from complications related to childbirth on the 24th of October 1537. All three children eventually ascended to the throne as King Edward VI Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I respectively. Henry also had an illegitimate son named Henry FitzRoy through his mistress Elizabeth Blount during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Several of Henry's wives worked in service to another wife typically serving as lady-in-waiting. Anne served Catherine of Aragon while Jane served both predecessors before becoming queen herself. Catherine Howard served Anne of Cleves before marrying Henry at age sixteen or eighteen. The Third Succession Act passed when Catherine Parr was thirty-one confirmed both Mary and Elizabeth's place in line despite their parents' marriages being annulled. This legislation ensured continuity of the Tudor dynasty through these three surviving legitimate heirs.
A popular mnemonic device remembers the order as Arrogant Boys Seem Clever Howard Particularly using last names known to modern audiences. Another rhyme states Divorced beheaded died; divorced beheaded survived though this oversimplifies historical reality for contemporary listeners. The poem should actually read Annulled annulled died; annulled beheaded survived since three marriages ended through legal annulments rather than divorce proceedings. Modern historians note such rhymes reflect cultural memory rather than historical accuracy since each generation reinterprets the wives differently depending on current values. British schoolchildren learn these phrases but they fail to capture complex political and religious contexts surrounding each union. Each wife has been reinterpreted across centuries as victims saints seductresses or feminist icons based on changing societal standards. The basis of Catherine of Aragon's annulment involved retconning narratives about her transition from Arthur to Henry. Anne of Cleves' marriage ended due to non-consummation claims made by both parties without resistance from either side. These simplified versions persist because they offer easy recall mechanisms despite lacking nuance regarding actual historical
circumstances.
Six is a pop-rock musical written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss that originated in Edinburgh in 2017 before moving to Broadway in March 2020. Its tagline Divorced Beheaded LIVE in concert directly references the famous rhyme describing the queens' fates while giving women agency over their stories. The BBC produced a six-part miniseries titled The Six Wives of Henry VIII originally aired in 1970 with each episode dedicated to one queen. A film adaptation called Henry VIII and His Six Wives released in 1972 followed shortly after the television series. Season one episode two of Horrible Histories included a song and comedy skit featuring Henry VIII alongside his wives. The Showtime series The Tudors ran from 2007 to 2010 drawing drama from Henry's pattern of idealizing then discarding wives. Rick Wakeman created an album named The Six Wives of Henry VIII featuring six songs inspired by each queen though not arranged chronologically. A 1910 music hall song I'm Henery the Eighth I Am told the story of a woman who
had eight husbands all named Henry. These adaptations continue to reinterpret historical figures through modern lenses emphasizing themes relevant to contemporary audiences.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When did Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon and when did she die?
Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon on the 11th of June 1509. She died on the 7th of January 1536 at age fifty after nearly twenty-four years of marriage.
How many wives did Henry VIII have and what were their fates?
King Henry VIII of England had six wives between 1509 and his death in 1547. Their marriages ended through annulment, execution, or survival with three dying before him and one outliving all others to die on the 16th of July 1557.
Why was Anne Boleyn executed by Henry VIII?
Anne Boleyn faced execution on the 19th of May 1536 at the Tower of London just two days after her own marriage was annulled. Her union ended following a secret wedding ceremony held months earlier on the 25th of January 1533.
Which wife gave birth to Edward VI and when did Jane Seymour die?
Jane Seymour bore Edward VI twelve days before dying from childbed fever on the 24th of October 1537. She entered the royal household as a maid-of-honour to Catherine of Aragon before marrying Henry on the 30th of May 1536.
What musical features songs about each of Henry VIII's wives?
Six is a pop-rock musical written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss that originated in Edinburgh in 2017 before moving to Broadway in March 2020. Its tagline Divorced Beheaded LIVE in concert directly references the famous rhyme describing the queens' fates while giving women agency over their stories.