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VIIIEnglish king nicknamed Bluebeard
Date of Birth: 28.06.1491
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Henry VIII: The Bluebeard of England
Henry VIII, famously known as the Bluebeard of England, was undoubtedly more fond of women than men. It is often said that statistically, there are nine women for every ten men on Earth. And Henry VIII, the English king, founder of the Tudor dynasty, seemed to be well aware of this fact, as he actively indulged in his numerous love affairs. He was notorious among the people for his vile character, being a cruel tyrant who continued his father's policy of strengthening royal authority. Changing women like gloves, Henry dismissed them effortlessly, without remorse, and it seemed to be merely influenced by the fashion of the time. Perhaps it was the thrill of conquest, the excitement of the chase and the struggle that attracted him? Although, what struggle was there between a king and his subjects? He commanded, they obeyed. Other foreign states, however, were a different story. In 1537, the French ambassador to Henry VIII's court received clear instructions not to promise any of Francis I's daughters to the "English monster." But Henry was stubborn and persistent. He had the audacity to visit the embassy and invite the French princesses to England to personally choose his bride! The ambassador countered, "Perhaps, sir, you would like to try them one by one and keep the one you find most pleasant." Henry turned purple. Rumors that the king killed his wives spread like wildfire. Bluebeard, perhaps, frightened little princesses like our children are scared of Baba Yaga.
The Early Years
Henry VIII, the younger son of Henry VII, was not initially expected to inherit the throne. According to all the rules, the throne was supposed to pass to his older brother, Arthur, who was married to Princess Catherine of Aragon. However, Henry's fortunes changed with the sudden death of Arthur. He inherited both the power of the state and his brother's beautiful wife. In his youth, Henry received a good education, was talented, and possessed a strong character. He was determined and ambitious, preferring to resolve interstate issues diplomatically rather than seeking military glory that would bankrupt the country.
The Marriages
Henry's wives, each representing a specific political or religious group, sometimes forced him to change his political or religious priorities. In 1524, while in the company of Catherine of Aragon, who had already grown tiresome to the king, he noticed a new attractive face. This was Anne Boleyn, the daughter of one of the king's officials, Count Thomas Boleyn. The lovesick monarch became infatuated, and the fate of the young woman was sealed. Her engagement to her previous fiancé, Lord Percy, was broken, and preparations for a new wedding began. However, there was still one "insignificant" obstacle - the lawful wife. Henry had long been resentful of Catherine, and even their daughter Mary did not ignite any paternal feelings in him. Only the head of the Catholic Church in Rome could grant the divorce Henry desired. Impatient to remarry, Henry VIII gathered a parliament in 1530, which passed a series of bills freeing the English church from Roman authority and declaring the English king the supreme head of the Anglican Church. The head of the new church annulled Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII's long-standing marriage. In 1533, Henry married Anne Boleyn, and in September, their daughter Elizabeth was born. This passionate love cost the king a rupture with Rome, the elimination of Catholicism and its institutions in the country, and a cooling of relations with Spain.
The love affair with Anne Boleyn lasted only two years. In the entourage of his wife, Henry met a new object of adoration - Jane Seymour. Possessing her became his goal for the near future. Unfortunately, his wife would not grant him a divorce, which was worse for her. One must understand that the heart cannot be commanded. The king found a way to achieve freedom. If they couldn't separate, then they had to "remove" (using the language of criminal elements). The most convenient pretext was marital infidelity. "Eagle-eyed" witnesses began gathering "evidence" for him. At one of the balls, the queen dropped her glove. Henry Norris, who was in love with her, picked it up and returned it to her. The ever-watchful eye took note of this. The casualness in communication with his brother-in-law, Lord Rochford, provided a reason to accuse him of incest. Several other nobles who were in love with the queen were also noticed. One of them, Smeaton, promised to "testify" about her infidelity for a "moderate fee."
On May 15, 1536, Anne was beheaded. Her daughter, like Mary, was deprived of her right to inherit the throne. The next day, the newly widowed Henry married Jane Seymour. However, her life was also not easy. Young Queen Jane suffered in labor for two days. She had to choose between saving her own life or that of her child. The doctors, aware of the king's explosive temper, were even afraid to mention it. "Save the child. I can find as many women as I want," he decisively and calmly replied.
The king did not hold his beloved women in high regard. They were as plentiful as flowers in a field. He simply had to choose (and rule).
Europe began to fear the monarch who so ruthlessly disposed of his wives.
But his fourth wife was perhaps in the best position. Anne, the daughter of Duke John of Cleves, was a simpleton who didn't even know what happened on the wedding night. She remained convinced throughout her marriage to Henry that fulfilling her marital duty simply meant taking her husband's hand and wishing him a good night.
This match was chosen for the king by the Protestant party, led by his favorite and chief minister, Thomas Cromwell. In 1539, Henry VIII met his "beloved" through a portrait. The portrait greatly excited the heart of the 48-year-old monarch. The original, however, was a great disappointment. "Where did you find this carcass? Send her back immediately!" he snapped at Cromwell. "That's impossible, Your Majesty! If you break off the marriage contract, Europe may declare war on England." And Henry acquiesced. However, he was unable to fulfill his marital duty. Anne would apply egg yolk to her hair at night. On their wedding night, it turned out to be stale and emitted an unbearable smell. The king couldn't bear it.
The divorce went surprisingly smoothly. Anne, thinking clearly and weighing all the pros and cons, convened a Secret Council to respond to the divorce proposal. As a result, she became the owner of magnificent castles and an annual pension of 4,000 pounds.
Katherine Howard, the 19-year-old, became Henry's new favorite and wife. However, her time in that position was short-lived. Being a passionate beauty, she had many lovers before and after her marriage, for which she paid with her head.
Henry's sixth wife, Catherine Parr, the daughter of a baronet, was the widow of the elderly Lord Neville and later Baron Latimer. Intelligent and energetic, she skillfully neutralized the court intrigues that surrounded her. Despite her husband's increasing suspicion, Catherine managed to avoid giving him any reason for dissatisfaction during their four years of marriage and became a widow for the third time in 1547...
Perhaps Henry VIII was not as evil as he is portrayed? Maybe he was simply deeply in love? And love and passion, as we know, come and go.
