Henry VIII - 1

Under Henry VIII the power of the throne reached its zenith. Henry VIII made radical changes to the constitution of England, using increasingly repressive means to quell any descent. He is also famous for his six wives – two of which he had executed. Henry VIII was instrumental in splitting the English Church from Rome, cementing the Protestant Reformation in England.


His father was Henry VII, and when he died in 1509, Henry was crowned King, aged just 18. In his youth, Henry VIII cut a dashing figure. He had great physical vitality and prowess. He loved hunting and outdoor pursuits. But, he also fancied himself as a poet and a singer. He could be capable of great charisma and good charm, but also his mood could suddenly violently change, and he could turn even on his closest friends. He tended to surround himself with court sycophants who sought to please him at all costs.