Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.
Yes, in the 1st six terms of Olivier Award–nominated musical Six, we learn the fate of every of Henry VIII’s spouses. But simply how much do you realize about their everyday lives?
Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss dug in to the reputation for Tudor England while the royal court for the words with their pop music opera, and greater historic knowledge means greater admiration for the nuances in Marlow and Moss’ writing. Listed here are the CliffsNotes that will help you navigate this chapter in Uk history.
Catherine of Aragon Queen from 1509–1533The “paragon of royalty” had been the very first spouse of Henry VIII. A spanish princess, she ended up being the child of Isabelle and Ferdinand, hence the Latin beats and Spanish trumpets inside her Six solo “No Way.” Catherine first married Arthur (Henry’s older sibling and heir apparent to your English throne) in 1501 whenever she ukrainian mail bride order catalog had been 15. But five months after their wedding, Arthur passed away. Arthur’s daddy almost had to get back her dowry, however a King could not part with money—or alliances that are european. He married her down to their more youthful son, Henry VIII, in 1509, though Henry had been 5 years her junior. She faithfully served England, ruling as regent in 1513 whenever Henry ended up being away in France. But once she did not create a male heir, things got complicated. Along with her pregnancy that is fifth gave delivery to Mary (the long run Mary we of England), but Henry became preoccupied with siring a kid. He became believing that their wedding to their brother’s widow ended up being cursed by Jesus, or, as Catherine sings, “You state it is a shame ‘cause quoting Leviticus ‘I’ll find yourself kidiless all my entire life.’”
It’s commonly thought he utilized the Bible as a justification to divorce the Spanish princess with a plan to marry her woman in waiting, Anne Boleyn. Catherine ended up being furious he cast her apart; she had tolerated their affairs (“I’ve never lost control regardless of how times that are many knew you lied”) as any Queen had been anticipated. furthermore, Catherine maintained that she had never ever consummated her marriage to Arthur—so that is the wedding which was null. Complicated, we all know. Since the track indicates, Catherine declined an annulment, claiming until her death that she had been the rightful Queen. Catherine had been provided for a “nun-ry” but fundamentally relocated to The greater Castle. She passed away in 1536 in the chronilogical age of 50, nevertheless maintaining she ended up being truly the only wife that is legitimate of VIII.
Anne Boleyn Queen from 1533–1536Though affairs between your King along with his Queen’s women in waiting were common and anticipated, no body expected him to go out of Catherine to wed Anne—the sibling of their mistress that is former that. Anne was raised during the court regarding the Queen of France before going back house to England to participate the royal court.
Anne Boleyn can be depicted given that wife that is devious allegedly plotting to dethrone Catherine—unsatisfied to be merely a mistress, “some woman in a threesome.” Henry and Anne married in key January 25, 1533; they got the Archbishop to declare Henry’s wedding to Catherine null along with his brand new wedding to Anne valid—thus breaking through the Catholic Church and beginning the Church of England. Anne had been crowned queen June 1, 1533; she soon provided delivery to a woman, the long term Elizabeth we. But after three miscarriages, Henry took a brand new mistress: Jane Seymour. Needing a real means to rid himself of Anne, Henry stated that Anne had bewitched him as he had been hitched to Catherine. Anne maybe flirted with a few men “just to help make him jel,” but that merely resulted in accusations of incest and adultery. She had been beheaded in the Tower of London may 15, 1536, at age 35.
Fun reality: Historians think Henry VIII had written “Greensleeves” for Anne Boleyn, who he had been attempting to woo. Ergo, the techno remix of “Greensleeves” in “Ex-Wives.”
Jane Seymour Queen from 1536–1537Just as Anne Boleyn overtook the lady she served, Jane Seymour had been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, after serving Queen Catherine. Henry VIII became betrothed to Jane one day after Anne’s execution. Jane provided delivery up to a son, Edward, in October 1537 and passed away fourteen days later on of postnatal complications. Jane is normally looked at as the favourite, as she actually is really the only spouse Henry freely mourned plus the only 1 to get a queen’s funeral, which is the reason why her song in Six is considered the most just like a energy ballad—even if it she sings that “without my son your love could vanish.” Henry VIII ended up being ultimately hidden beside her at Windsor Castle.
Anne of Cleves Queen from January 1540–July 1540Anne of Cleves lasted just months that are sixth Queen, but she kept her mind. Musician Hans Holbein younger decided to go to Germany to paint Anne and her cousin, as Henry VIII considered which will be their 4th spouse. (We read about these travels in “Haus of Holbein.”)
But once Anne arrived after her portrait, Henry felt she “didn’t didn’t appearance like her profile image.” She revealed a lack that is general of, “sippin’ on mead and I also spill it on my dress,” which additionally displeased the royal. Essentially, the master made excuses for his displeasure her, saying there was no way she was a virgin when they wed with her and found another excuse to be rid of. Issued an annulment, Anne stayed in benefit utilizing the King and sometimes checked out court through the reigns associated with last two queens. She passed away in 1557.
Catherine Howard Queen from 1540–1541Catherine, better referred to as Kitty, ended up being very very very long the item of intimate attention as suggested in “All You Wanna Do.” She ended up being molested by her music instructor, Henry Mannox, as he ended up being 36 ( perhaps maybe not 23 as Six states) and she 13. At 15, she relocated together with her grandmother, “the dowager Duchess,” and became fans with “sexy secretary” Francis Dereham—an event that could started to haunt her later. Her grandmother discovered the affair and sent her to your Tudor court.
Like her relative, Anne Boleyn, she served as a lady-in-waiting however in the court of Anne of Cleves. The master ended up being 49 yrs old as he married the 16-year-old. However the gossips at court—some of who had witnessed her behavior with Dereham—quickly distribute term that Catherine had been committing adultery behind Henry’s back with Henry’s courtier Thomas Culpeper. Culpepper, Dereham, and Catherine had been all performed (Dereham had been drawn and quartered). Catherine, beheaded February 13, 1542, had been buried in a grave that is unmarked.
Catherine Parr Queen from 1543-1547The last spouse of Henry VIII lived in constant concern with her very own execution. Ahead of her wedding to King Henry VIII, she had two past husbands and had been widowed both in instances. She had dropped deeply in love with Thomas Seymour (Jane’s bro) before she caught the optical attention of this King. Plus in “I Don’t Need Your Love,” she pleads with Thomas to keep her alone to save lots of them both through the King’s wrath and particular death.
By the time she wed Henry, he had been 52 as well as in sick wellness.
Catherine ingratiated herself to the master by being a mom to their three kiddies: Catherine of Aragon’s Mary, Anne Boleyn’s Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour’s Edward. This woman is the one who restored Mary and Elizabeth’s royal standing therefore that they’d can be found in the type of succession.
During her reign, Catherine ended up being the initial queen of England and Ireland; she has also been the queen most abundant in influence that is diplomatic Catherine of Aragon, as she served as regent whenever Henry traveled to France once again. Catherine had been an advocate of reformation within the Church, Protestantism. In reality, she published books on prayer inside her own name—and ended up being the very very first Queen of England to do this. That she“fought for female training. so that it’s real” Before Henry VIII passed away January 28, 1547, he instructed that she be respected since the Queen of England even with their death—which is what took place. She stepped down through the throne whenever Prince Edward, Jane Seymour’s son, had been prepared to ascend in 1547. This time around, she ended up being usually the one to re-marry, to gentleman for the court Thomas Seymour. She died September 5, 1548.
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