King Henry VIII had six wives, and their names are:
- Catherine of Aragon
- Anne Boleyn
- Jane Seymour
- Anne of Cleves
- Catherine Howard
- Catherine Parr
Henry’s marriages were a significant part of his reign, and they had profound impacts on English history and culture. Henry’s desire for a male heir, and his belief that his wives were to blame for his lack of one, led to the dissolution of the monasteries, the establishment of the Church of England, and the deaths of several of his wives.
Here are some brief summaries about each of King Henry VIII’s six wives:
- Catherine of Aragon: Catherine was Henry’s first wife and the daughter of the Spanish monarchs, Isabella I and Ferdinand II. She was initially married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur, but when he died, she married Henry to secure the alliance between England and Spain. Catherine was a devout Catholic and was deeply loyal to Henry, even when he sought to divorce her on the grounds of her inability to produce a male heir. Their divorce led to a split with the Catholic Church and the establishment of the Church of England.
- Anne Boleyn: Anne was Henry’s second wife and a member of the English nobility. She caught Henry’s eye with her beauty and wit, and they began a tumultuous relationship. Anne was a passionate advocate for the Protestant Reformation, which put her at odds with Henry’s Catholic beliefs. When Anne also failed to produce a male heir, Henry had her executed on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.
- Jane Seymour: Jane was Henry’s third wife and the daughter of a wealthy landowner. She was known for her gentle nature and her support for Catholicism. Jane gave birth to Henry’s long-awaited son, Edward VI, but died soon after due to complications from childbirth.
- Anne of Cleves: Anne was Henry’s fourth wife and a German noblewoman. Henry was initially attracted to her portrait, but when he met her in person, he found her unattractive and unappealing. They divorced after just six months of marriage, but Anne was given a generous settlement and became known as the “King’s Sister.”
- Catherine Howard: Catherine was Henry’s fifth wife and a cousin of Anne Boleyn. She was known for her beauty and her scandalous past, which included affairs with other men. Catherine’s behavior led to her execution on charges of adultery and treason.
- Catherine Parr: Catherine was Henry’s sixth and final wife and a widow twice over. She was known for her intelligence and her love of learning, and she played an important role in the education of Henry’s children. Catherine outlived Henry and went on to marry her true love, Thomas Seymour, but died soon after giving birth to their daughter.
Each of Henry’s wives played a unique role in his reign, and their stories shed light on the religious and political turmoil of Tudor England.
12 multiple-choice questions about King Henry VIII’s wives:
- Who was Henry’s first wife?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Jane Seymour
c) Catherine of Aragon
d) Anne of Cleves - Why did Henry seek to divorce Catherine of Aragon?
a) She was unfaithful to him
b) She was too old to have children
c) He had fallen in love with Anne Boleyn
d) He wanted to marry a French princess - Which of Henry’s wives was executed on charges of adultery, incest, and treason?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Catherine Howard
c) Jane Seymour
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives was a German noblewoman who was married to him for only six months?
a) Jane Seymour
b) Catherine of Aragon
c) Anne Boleyn
d) Anne of Cleves - Which of Henry’s wives gave birth to his long-awaited son, Edward VI?
a) Catherine of Aragon
b) Anne Boleyn
c) Jane Seymour
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives was known for her beauty and flirtatious behavior?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Catherine Howard
c) Catherine of Aragon
d) Jane Seymour - Which of Henry’s wives was a devout Catholic who was deeply loyal to him?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Jane Seymour
c) Catherine of Aragon
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives outlived him and went on to marry her true love?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Catherine Howard
c) Jane Seymour
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives was the daughter of the Spanish monarchs, Isabella I and Ferdinand II?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Catherine Howard
c) Catherine of Aragon
d) Jane Seymour - Which of Henry’s wives was known for her love of learning and played an important role in the education of his children?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Catherine Howard
c) Jane Seymour
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives was given a generous settlement after her brief marriage to the King and became known as the “King’s Sister”?
a) Anne Boleyn
b) Catherine Howard
c) Catherine of Aragon
d) Anne of Cleves - Which of Henry’s wives did he marry because he was initially attracted to her portrait, but found her unattractive in person?
a) Jane Seymour
b) Catherine of Aragon
c) Anne Boleyn
d) Anne of Cleves
And here are the answers to the 12 multiple-choice questions about King Henry VIII’s wives:
- Who was Henry’s first wife?
c) Catherine of Aragon - Why did Henry seek to divorce Catherine of Aragon?
b) She was too old to have children - Which of Henry’s wives was executed on charges of adultery, incest, and treason?
a) Anne Boleyn - Which of Henry’s wives was a German noblewoman who was married to him for only six months?
d) Anne of Cleves - Which of Henry’s wives gave birth to his long-awaited son, Edward VI?
c) Jane Seymour - Which of Henry’s wives was known for her beauty and flirtatious behaviour?
b) Catherine Howard - Which of Henry’s wives was a devout Catholic who was deeply loyal to him?
c) Catherine of Aragon - Which of Henry’s wives outlived him and went on to marry her true love?
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives was the daughter of the Spanish monarchs, Isabella I and Ferdinand II?
c) Catherine of Aragon - Which of Henry’s wives was known for her love of learning and played an important role in the education of his children?
d) Catherine Parr - Which of Henry’s wives was given a generous settlement after her brief marriage to the King and became known as the “King’s Sister”?
d) Anne of Cleves - Which of Henry’s wives did he marry because he was initially attracted to her portrait, but found her unattractive in person?
d) Anne of Cleves