Henry VIII

Profession: King of England

Nationality:

Biography: Henry was the second Tudor monarch after his father, Henry VII. During his forty-year reign he led England through a series of intense changes, most notably the English Reformation, England's separation from the Roman Catholic Church.

The reformation began when Henry requested from the Pope, an annulment from his first wife Catherine of Aragon. This was refused, as Catherine was the Aunt of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, the most powerful man in Europe. Spurred on by his infatuation with Anne Boleyn Henry then broke with the Catholic Church by marrying his mistress, who would later give birth to Elizabeth I. Pope Clement VII excommunicated Henry.

Henry's marriage did not prosper, Anne's miscarriages and unpopularity at court led him to accuse her of adultery and have her beheaded. A third wife Jane Seymour did present him with a son, the future Edward VI, before dying of childbirth complications. His fourth wife, Anne of Cleves barely lasted a few months before an annulment.

History repeated itself when Henry accused his fifth wife Catherine Howard of adultery, this time there was some truth to it before having her beheaded. His last wife Catherine Parr survived Henry by acting as nurse to an increasingly unwell King.

Outside his notorious marriages Henry is remembered as the "Father of the Royal Navy", increasing the navy from 5 to 50 ships. As part of his split from the Catholic Church Henry dissolved English monasteries, with their land and wealth taken by the crown and changing the make-up of English society forever.

Born: June 28, 1491
Birthplace: London, England
Star Sign: Cancer

Died: January 28, 1547 (aged 55)