Timeline

Henry VIII is married to Katherine of Aragon at Greenwich Palace. He is 17 years old and she is aged 23 years old. When he was 10 years old he attended Katherine's first wedding to his Brother Arthur, Prince of Wales. As she claimed to have remained a virgin during her first marriage, Catherine wore white with her hair loose - a symbol of virginity.

This portrait is displayed at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Henry’s Women exhibition in Henry VIII’s Council Chamber from 10 April 2009.

(C) Philip Mould Ltd

Katherine of Aragon gives birth to Prince Henry at Richmond Palace. Henry only lived for 52 days and died on 22nd/23rd February. He was buried at Windsor. Catherine had six children of which only one girl survived, which threatened the security of the Tudor dynasty and encouraged Henry to pursue Anne Boleyn and the subsequent break with Rome.

This portrait is displayed at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Henry’s Women exhibition in Henry VIII’s Council Chamber from 10 April 2009.

(C) Philip Mould Ltd
 

Princess Mary (later to become Queen Mary I) was born to Katherine of Aragon. She was the only one of their six children to survive and was thus heiress presumptive, but at that time there was no established precedent for a woman on the throne and Henry came under pressure to produce a male heir.

Henry VIII and Francis I meet on the boarder of France and English-occupied Calais. The meeting was arranged to establish an alliance between England and France and lasted for three weeks. It is known as "The Field of the Cloth of Gold" because of the ostentatious display of wealth and power that both monarchs displayed, this included jousts, fireworks, grand balls, and feasts and it was hosted in lavish accommodation. Henry and Francis agreed in principle to an alliance, but just two weeks later Henry met with Charles, Holly Roman Empire and forged a counter alliance.

Anne Boleyn was the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Lady Elizabeth Howard. Anne resisted the King's attempts to seduce her and refused to become his mistress, as her sister, Mary Boleyn, had done. In 1532 Henry married Anne Boleyn in a secret ceremony whilst she was already pregnant and he was still officially married to Katherine.

After a 24-year marriage to Katherine, Henry VIII renounced the power of the Pope in England and organised a special court, at Dunstable Priory to rule on the validity of Henry's marriage to Katherine. Cranmer declared the marriage illegal and Katherine had to renounce the title of Queen and was granted the title Princess Dowager of Wales. The lack of a male heir was a major factor which encouraged the divorce and Henry was spurred on by Anne Boleyn’s pregnancy and the need to ensure that the baby was legitimate.

This portrait is displayed at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Henry’s Women exhibition in Henry VIII’s Council Chamber from 10 April 2009.

(C) Philip Mould Ltd

Henry VIII married Jane Seymour at Whitehall Palace.

This portrait is displayed at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Henry's Women exhibition in Henry VIII's Council Chamber from 10 April 2009.

(C) Society of Antiquaries

At age 48, Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves, 24, at Greenwich.

This portrait is displayed at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Henry's Women exhibition in Henry VIII's Council Chamber from 10 April 2009.

(C) Trinity College, Cambridge

Catherine Howard is executed at the Tower of London.

This portrait is displayed at Hampton Court Palace as part of the Henry's Women exhibition in Henry VIII's Council Chamber from 10 April 2009.

(C) National Portrait Gallery, London

Henry VIII thrust England into a new era and at age 55 he passed away - his obesity had prevented him from exercising in his later years and he also suffered from numerous ulcers which hastened his death. He was buried in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, next to his wife Jane Seymour. Henry’s son Edward VI became the new King of England.

Image: Henry VIII's will.