Historical Author Michelle Brandon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Henry VIII -- Looking vibrant and fit.  Henry became king, after his father Henry VII passed away. However, Henry was not originally the heir to the throne. In fact, he was a second son. However, his brother Arthur passed away shortly after marrying Catherine of Aragon, making Henry the new heir to the English throne. You will note that Henry's first wife bears the name Catherine of Aragon--he did indeed marry his brother's wife, who claims her marriage to Arthur was never consummated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

Catherine of Aragon was set aside after nineteen years of marraige when Henry finally decided he'd found his conscience and could not be married to his brother's wife. He also conveniently wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. This saga, called the King's Great Dilemma, would spur the Reformation of the church in England, their break from the Pope in Rome, the Dissolution of monasteries, and a great number of other poignant historical occurances. Henry was eventually able to dissolve their marriage and named their only surviving child, Mary a  bastard.  Catherine died a few short years later, many say of heartache, and she proclaimed to love the king and think of him often until the end. Her daughter Mary would rule eventually as Mary I of England -- also known as Bloody Mary.

 

 

 

                                   

 

 

 

Anne Boleyn, was often called a witch for how she entranced the king and somehow convinced him to change the church in her favor. But her reign as queen did not last long. Anne, was accused of treason, adultery and incest and sentenced to death. The only living child she gave Henry was Elizabeth, who would one day be the known as the Virgin Queen and rule longer than any other Tudor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jane Seymour, pure and simple Jane. Henry considered her to be his only true love and his first wife.  She bore him a son, Edward, who would live long enough to reign as King of England for a short time. Henry rests eternally beside his Jane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

Anne of Cleves was Henry's wife for less than a year. He found her to be appalling, and could not even be brought to consummate the marriage. He offered her an agreement, that should she allow their marriage to be annulled she could remain in England as his "sister" and live in her own castle, with a staff and large annuity. She acquiesced, and live a long life, even riding into London with Mary I.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                  

    

 

Catherine Howard was Henry's fifth wife. Catherine happened to be cousin to Anne Boleyn.  While Anne's adultery was suspect, Catherine was actually... well she was less than couth. Having come to the king, no longer a virgin, and then continuing to have at least one affair after marrying him, her fate was sealed. Catherine was exectured for treason -- which Henry had made a law that if a wife was unfaithful to him it was treason -- less than two years after they were married. She was just seventeen.