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| Henry VIII at the age of 18. |
This time we are going back to the 14th and 15th centuries to the times of the Tudor Dinasty.
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (1491–1547) was King of England from 1509 to 1547. Henry was the second monarch of the Tudor Dynasty. He was the second son of King Henry VII (the first Tudor monarch) and Elizabeth of York.
He is famous for having married six times and having beheaded two of his wives. His first wife was Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of the Spanish King and Queen, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. Catherine had first married Henry´s brother, Arthur, and after his death she became King Henry VIII´s wife. After the many years they were married they only had one daughter, Mary Tudor. Willing to marry Ann Boleyn and because of his disagreements with the Pope he separated from the Roman Catholic Church and declared himself as the Supreme Head of the Church of England. His other wives were Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Katherine Parr.
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| Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Young. 1539-40 |
Dear Angelines:
ResponderEliminarThis post provides an excellent opportunity to find out about the interesting history that lies behind the King Henry VIII´s character.
Oh... this unpleasant king and his wives´terrible beheading.
I have no words to describe the deep and painful sense of horror.
Despite that, I would like to share with you this letter that Henry VIII´ wrote to Ana Bolena. Then he was in love but some time later...
Here is the letter, oh my God.
"In turning over in my mind the contents of your last letters, I have put myself into great agony, not knowing how to interpret them, whether to my disadvantage, as you show in some places, or to my advantage, as I understand them in some others, beseeching you earnestly
to let me know expressly your whole mind as to the love between us two.
It is absolutely necessary for me to obtain this answer, having been for above a whole year stricken with the
dart of love, and not yet sure whether I shall fail of finding a place in your heart and afFeftion, which last point has prevented me for some time past from calling you my mistress; because, if you only love me with an
ordinary love, that name is not suitable for you, because it denotes a singular love, which is far from common. But if you please to do the office of a true loyal mistress and friend, and to give up yourself body and heart to me, who will be, and have been, your most loyal servant, (if your rigour does not forbid me) I promise you that not only the name shall be given you, but also that I will take you for my only mistress, casting off all others besides you out of my thoughts and affeftions, and serve you only. I beseech you to give an entire answer to this my rude letter, that I may know on what and how far I may depend. And if it does not please you to answer me in writing, appoint some place where I may have it by word of mouth, and I will go thither with all my heart. No more, for fear of tiring you. Written by the hand of him who would willingly remain yours, H. R."
After that, I can only say: he had an unstable character.
A kiss for you, see you soon.
Helen.
Thanks for the letter, Elena, it was really a very strange love affair which lasted too long and finished as soon as he realized that the heir he was willing to have didn´t come.
ResponderEliminarThere´s a very interesting study about the reasons why Henry VIII´s wives couldn´t give him a heir. In spite of the many times he got married it was difficult for all of his wives to have children and most of them died too early.
His personality changed with the passing of the years and that fact has also been very controversial.
Thanks for coming and sorry for the delay in answering.
A big kiss for you.