H e n r y viii


henry viii , tudor king of england 1509-1547 , and founder of the church of england . the son of henry vii , he profoundly influenced the character of the english monarchy . henry was born in london on june 28 , 1491 , and on the death of his father in 1509 succeeded to the throne his elder brother arthur having died in 1502 . he then married his brothers widow , catherine of aragon , having been betrother to her through a papal dispensation secured in 1503 . this was the first of henrys six marriages , all of which were affected by the political and religious conditions of the time and by the monarchs increasingly despotic behaviour . at the beginning of his reign henrys good looks and hearty personality his fondness for sport and the hunt , and his military prowess endeared him to his subjects . a monarch of the renaissance , he entertained numerous scholars and artists , including the german painter hans holbein the younger who painted several port...