Who Were Henry VIII’s Six Wives?

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. These were the fates of the wives of the notorious Henry VIII. You may remember learning about the English king in history class and that he was the monarch’s most brutal and merciless ruler that famously had six wives.

But who were the real women married to the 16th century tyrant and what were their stories?

Who Exactly Was Henry VIII?

Henry Tudor was a 16th century King of England and is known for being a ruthless savage. He actually wasn’t first in line to the throne in his family. His brother, Prince Arthur, sadly died before he was installed as king.

Arthur’s death meant that his 10-year-old brother would be the next king; a role he would have for 38 years. Not only did Henry obtain his brother’s job, but he also married his wife.

1 – Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was a Spanish Princess who was married to Prince Arthur (Henry’s brother) at the time of his death. At the age of 16, she was a widow and lived in a strange land knowing very little English.

Years following her husband’s death, at the age of 23, Catherine married her brother-in-law and future King of England, Henry, when he was just 17 years old.

She Was Mother to the First Ever Queen of England

Married for 24 years, Catherine of Aragon was the woman that was married to Henry VIII the longest and is known as the person who taught him how to be king. A fearless queen, she even rode into battle in full armor while she was heavily pregnant.

She was the mother of the first Queen of England, Mary I, who is notoriously referred to as “Bloody Mary” because of her appetite for starting rebellions.

She Owned a Pet Monkey

The Tower of London Menagerie housed many wild animals back in the 16th century, which allowed the Tudor family to own their own array of wildlife pets. As well as lions, tigers and elephants in the zoo, the Queen of England owned her very own pet monkey whom she posed for a portrait painting with.