Henry VIII

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During the Wars of Roses, a European royal house of Welsh origins rose to power, a dynasty, which rules England for the next one-hundred and eighteen years. The powerful and most well known dynasty is the House of Tudor. Henry VII became king in 1485 and took Elizabeth of York as his wife. T They had four children: Prince Arthur of Wales, Margaret Tudor, Henry VIII, and Mary Tudor (2). Henry VIII was born June 28, 1491 at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich (2). Being the second born son Henry was raised and educated to take a secular role in life, most likely as the Archbishop of Canterbury(2). His grandmother Margaret Beaufort supervised his early childhood education (2). Henry was reported to excel at book learning as well as athletics required by those apart of the aristocratic society (1). But even as well educated, handsome, and athletic as Henry was his father continued to favor the elder Prince Arthur(2). When Henry had reach the age of 10 he took part in his brothers arranged wedding to the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain(3). His job was to escort the bride; the bride was Catherine of Aragon who was later to be Henry VIII first wife. Shortly after the marriage, Arthur died on April 2, 1502 from night-sweats (2). This left Henry the rightful heir to the English throne right before his 11th birthday. Fourteen months after Arthur’s death, Catherine of Aragon was betrothal to Henry VIII, and then he was too young to marry (5). As Henry VIII grew up his father became less willing to have an alliance with the Spanish and he repudiated the betrothal of Henry and Catherine (5). After seven years his father dies and Henry VIII successes to the throne. He becomes the second monarch of the House ... ... middle of paper ... ... death (5). She was granted the care of Princess Elizabeth but when the marriage to Thomas Seymour gets out the Princess was taken out of her care (5). Catherine moved households with Thomas Seymour. Then at age, 37 Catherine gives birth to her first daughter named Mary. Catherine soon fell ill with puerperal fever, which caused her death on September 5 (5). Catherine was buried, in the chapel at Sudeley Castle. Henry VIII life was marked with tragedy and achievements. The overall reign of the Tudor Dynasty is the same. The next two rulers Edward VI and Mary brought England down slowly. However, Princess Elizabeth saved the country and brought it to the best state the country had been in for years. Henry would have been proud of Elizabeth the Virgin Queen. Too bad the fate of not having an heir to the throne repeated and the dynasty was given over to the Spanish.

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