101 Henry VIII Facts: History, Childhood, Reign And Much More

England was ruled by some promising leaders and played an important role in developing the country.

In the history of the British monarchs, there are the whizzes, and there are the ones that, even though not forgotten, are less recollected and only there to make up the numbers. The political history of the UK is fascinating.

Today, it is controlled by a parliamentary democracy. It was through the rule of the monarchy that the kingdom flourished. Britain's Royal households have formed the British culture for millennia and kept on dramatically affecting the world as it is today.

Since it was first settled, England has borne many Kings and Queens. They have seen war, battles for the throne, scandal, and court intrigues.

Would you like to find out about Henry VIII and his infamous history? If you enjoyed reading our article, you would also love to read England flag facts and William Booth facts. Here on Kidadl.

Fun Facts About Henry The VIII

Henry VIII was one of the most prominent rulers in English history. Henry XII was born at Greenwich Palace in London on June 28, 1491. He was the second child of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. He died on January 28, 1547.

Henry's life was famous for having many spouses and his choice to execute a few of them. He wanted to set up the Church of England as the country's official religion and to overpower the Catholic church. This act came to be known as the English Reformation act.

Henry VIII was selfish, brutal, and an exceptionally upsetting king. However, it's difficult to deny that Henry VIII was an extremely refined leader despite this fact.

King Henry VIII controlled England for quite a long time, managing significant developments that carried his country into the Protestant Reformation. He is associated with his six wives and cruelty towards and even his two wives' execution. He accomplished military success and carried significance to his realm.

Henry VIII ruled the country with great leadership qualities. King Henry VIII set up the Church of England. His thought processes might have been problematic, but there are other monarchs in history who have been able to bring religious reforms. Henry VIII developed a new religion that is still going on for 500 years.

Henry VIII increased the number of ships in the country's Navy. He had a propensity for war, which saw him coordinating the development of 55 new ships during his rule. Indeed, this denoted the start of England's permanent Navy. An accomplishment not to be sniffed! Henry VIII effectively guarded his country against every French invasion between 1545-1546.

There are some shocking and fun facts about Henry VIII. He was 74.4 in (6.2 feet) tall and weighed around 200 lb (90.71 kg).

However, he had an athletic figure.

Henry VIII had six wives!

Henry married Catherine of Aragon, who he divorced later as she could not provide him a male heir, Anne Boleyn, who Henry turned against and had her executed, Jane Seymour, who passed away after giving birth to a baby boy, Anne of Cleves, who was divorced after six months, Catherine Howard who he married when she was only 19 years old and later executed her, and Katherine Parr who stayed devoted till Henry's death.

During his rule, Henry VIII had countless sicknesses and issues, and it wasn't easy to monitor them all. He was known to self-sedate during his life, and he even composed his prescription book about treating ulcers and reducing inflammation.

Under Henry VIII's rule, England was in debt with its overspending and prosperous way of life. The vast majority of this results from his exceptional craving to accumulate different articles and desirables.

Henry's son was Prince Edward (principal male heir), but he had an illegitimate son called Henry Fitzroy. Henry VIII's daughter Mary is known as 'Bloody Mary' in history.

Historical Facts About Henry The VIII

Henry is described as handsome, clever, and fun-loving as a young child. He was 74.4 in (6.2 feet) tall and was healthy. He loved hunting, jousting, composing music, and throwing lavish, expensive parties. He is often described as rude, selfish, and irritating during his prime age. But as a king, he had great leadership qualities.

Henry VIII is the most popular English king in history, as he was the second son of the Tudor monarch and for having six wives and his cruelty towards them. He went against the church and started the English Reformation. To get a divorce from his wife, Henry appointed Thomas Cranmer as the Archbishop. 

According to history, Henry VIII has also contributed many good things for the country. He was one of the most cultured and complex monarchs to sit on the throne.

His support for arts, passion for music, love for painting and poetry led the country into the ear of creativity. Henry VIII was credited with setting up the Royal Navy, empowering shipbuilding, making jetties and dockyards, and setting up the Church of England.

Here are some of the interesting historical facts about Henry VIII. His rule was progressively dictatorial and often wild.

Most would agree that the well-known image as overweight, a homicidal domineering person isn't a lot of embellishment. He was famous for his part in the reformation when his longing for conjugal dissolution prompted the making of the church of England.

However, Henry VIII is most generally associated with his six wives: Catherine Parr, Catherine of Aragon, Jane Seymour, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Anne of Cleves. Henry led to the reformation of the church rules in his urge to marry Anne Boleyn.

Henry XIII was even famous for capturing the city of Tournai, modern-day Belgium, in 1513, and he administered it here for around six years. However, in 1519, with the Treaty of London, the city was taken back by France.

Facts About Henry The VIII's Characteristics

Henry VIII enjoyed outdoor games and often involved himself in exercising. Henry loved hunting, dancing, reading, and playing tennis for fun.

He also loved eating. There is a lot of proof that Henry VIII's favorite food was fruits.

Cherries and strawberries were his top picks, which he ate raw while cooking most other fruits like apples, peaches, plums, pears, damsons, and apricots in tarts and pies, jellies, and jam. At each meal, the Henry picked from a vast food choice: venison in blends, mutton, swan, carp, stork, beef, green geese, and decorated custard.

Henry VIII was important in history because of his choice to part from the Roman Catholic church in the mid-1530s. He proclaimed himself the head of the church, which led to the English Reformation act and drove England to religious struggle for a long time.

As he lay on his deathbed, Henry VIII turned out to be hallucinating and was burdened with visionary fear as his eyes held moving to the rear of his head. Rumors suggest that his last words were Monks! Monks! Monks!

There are some interesting facts about Henry VIII's characteristics. Henry VIII was crowned king when he was only 18 years of age and, genuinely heavenly with more energy and enthusiasm than the rest of his counterparts, turned into a tangled and confounded man.

His character was fascinating; his intelligence, learning, and curious nature dazzled even the world representatives who came to his court.

His hunger for information was voracious; however, it never turned into the close lunacy that spooky Philip II. Henry VIII didn't spend his declining years scribbling notations, reading dispatches, meeting with politicians and diplomats.

Facts About Henry The VIII's Childhood

During his reign, Henry VIII made significant accomplishments. He initiated the most extensive invasions of France, which took place from the reign of King Henry V. Henry brought energy to the government.

His accentuation on parliament diverted it from a periodic lord's court into a focal mainstay of the English constitution. In 1518 Henry directed his concentration toward the medical field.

Let's find out the facts about Henry VIII's childhood. Henry had one brother and two sisters. Unlike his brother Arthur, young Henry was energetic, healthy, and athletic, and he enjoyed riding horses and loved playing sports.

Since his brother Arthur was always sick, young Henry always wanted to play sports and ride ponies. However, Arthur raised the elder son to be a king, and Henry was raised to enter the church.

He got phenomenal training and figured out how to speak Spanish, Latin, French, and Greek. When Henry was only 10 years of age, it drastically changed his life. His older brother Arthur passed away, and Henry was named the crown prince.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 101 Henry VIII facts: history, childhood, reign and much more, then why not take a look at William Howe facts or Henry Flagler facts.