Ascended throne 1509.163 Originally the epitome of a medieval-style prince, Henry eventually became a Rennaissance tyrant. While his break with Rome is normally ascribed to his infatuation with Anne Boleyn, it had more to do with Henry’s growing sense that he should be able to do whatever he wanted and answer to no man. It betokened much harsher steps to come, and he eventually became a petty tyrant. His reign is red with the blood of his closest confidantes and advisors, including Cardinal Wolsey and St Thomas More. The parallels between this Henry’s interactions with this St Thomas and Henry II’s interactions with St Thomas a Becket are a fascinating historical tableau that shows how much had changed in the meantime.1

Henry declared his 20-year marriage to Katherine of Aragon invalid due to consanguinuity: she had first been the wife of his brother Arthur. Katherine steadfastly (and believably) clung to her claim that the marriage with Arthur was never consummated (they were both very young and Arthur was ill for much of their 6-month marriage before his death). Henry claimed the issue of consanguinuity had cursed their marriage, making it impossible for Katherine to bear a son. While he was married to Katherine he had two children by Mary Boleyn. When Mary faded in importance to him, he took up Mary’s sister Anne next. Years later, when he’d decided to rid himself of Anne, he trotted out the old issue again: their marriage could not posisbly be valid, since Henry had slept with Anne’s sister beforehand. While men like Thomas More went to the stake rather than submit to the concept that Henry’s marriage to Katherine was invalid (thereby disinheriting her daughter Princess Mary), no one protested by the time Henry used the same excuse to get rid of Anne. It was a sign not only of her unpopularlity but, more importantly, of the consolidation and extent of his power.1

Unlike Henry’s other wives, she seemed to take a somewhat motherly approach to him, which was successful. She reconciled Henry to his children (inasmuch as they were restored to the succession) and acted as mother to Mary, Elizabeth, and even Jane Grey. After Henry’s death she married her old flame, Thomas Seymour, who eventually pursued Elizabeth, ingratiated himself with the young King Edward VI, and attempted to seize power for himself. He was executed for treason. Katherine was a champion of the “new learning” and the Protestant faith, but wisely kept her opinions cloaked when around Henry.1