Henry VIII

Henry VIII is definitely among the most famous kings in history. He was the second child of Henry VII (who was the first emperor of the Tudor lines) and Elizabeth (Edward IV's daughter; Edward was the very first king of York's short-lived line). After Arthur, his older brother, passed away in 1502, Henry took over and was assigned the throne's eventual heir. Compared to all other Tudor monarchs, Henry VIII was the only one who spent the majority of his childhood in peaceful crown expectation, which gave a degree of righteousness and majesty to his ebullient and willful character.

Henry VIII was great in both book reading and physical exercises of aristocratic societies. That was why, when he finally stepped onto his throne in 1509, people expected many things from him. Powerfully built, seven feet tall, and regarded as a tireless huntsman, dancer, and athlete, Henry VIII gave England a fresh air of spring joy after Henry VII's terrible reign. No wonder people still remember him centuries after his death!

Both Henry VIII's ministers and Henry VIII himself exploited the hatred stemming from his dad's unrelenting pursuits of royal rights; without a second thought, they sacrificed many unpopular institutions and soldiers that used to serve his predecessors. After Henry VIII's accession, the king married Catherine Aragone - the widow of Arthur.

Born-Died: 1491-1547

Title: King of England

Reign: 1509-1547