Yes, in the 1st six terms of Olivier Award–nominated musical Six, the fate is learned by us of each of Henry VIII’s spouses. But simply how much are you aware about their life?
Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss dug to the reputation for Tudor England in addition to court that is royal the words with their pop music opera, and greater historic knowledge means greater admiration regarding 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” ended up being the very first spouse of Henry VIII. a princess that is spanish she had been the child of Isabelle and Ferdinand, thus the Latin beats and Spanish trumpets inside her Six solo “No Way.” Catherine first married Arthur (Henry’s older cousin and heir obvious to your English throne) in 1501 whenever she ended up being 15. But five months after their wedding, Arthur passed away. Arthur’s daddy almost had to get back her dowry, but a King would not spend money—or European alliances. 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 had been away in France. But once she did not create a male heir, things got complicated. Along with her pregnancy that is fifth provided birth to Mary (the near future Mary we of England), but Henry became preoccupied with siring a child. He became convinced that their marriage to their brother’s widow had been 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 want to marry her woman in waiting, Anne Boleyn. Catherine had been furious he cast her apart; she had tolerated their affairs (“I’ve never destroyed control regardless of how times that are many knew you lied”) as any Queen had been anticipated. furthermore, Catherine maintained that she had never consummated her wedding to Arthur—so that is the wedding that has been null. Complicated, we realize. Because the track recommends, Catherine declined an annulment, claiming until her death that she ended up being the rightful Queen. Catherine ended up being delivered to a” that is“nun-ry fundamentally relocated to The greater Castle. She passed away in 1536 during the chronilogical age of 50, nevertheless keeping she had been the only real genuine spouse of Henry VIII.
Anne Boleyn Queen from 1533–1536Though affairs involving the King along with his Queen’s feamales in waiting were common and anticipated, no body expected him to go out of Catherine to wed Anne—the sis of their previous mistress, at that. Anne spent my youth in the court associated with Queen of France before going back house to England to become listed on the royal court.
Anne Boleyn is usually depicted because the devious spouse, presumably 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 marriage that is new to valid—thus breaking through the Catholic Church and starting the Church of England. Anne ended up being crowned queen 1, 1533; she soon gave birth to a girl, the future Elizabeth I june. But after three miscarriages, mail order wives Henry took a mistress that is new Jane Seymour. Needing a real option to rid himself of Anne, Henry reported that Anne had bewitched him while he ended up being married to Catherine. Anne possibly flirted with a few men “just to produce 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 published “Greensleeves” for Anne Boleyn, who he had been wanting to woo. Hence, the techno remix of “Greensleeves” in “Ex-Wives.”
Jane Seymour Queen from 1536–1537Just as Anne Boleyn overtook the girl she served, Jane Seymour had been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, after serving Queen Catherine. Henry VIII became betrothed to Jane one after Anne’s execution day. Jane offered delivery to a son, Edward, in 1537 and died two weeks later of postnatal complications october. Jane is actually looked at as the favourite, as this woman is really the only spouse Henry openly mourned plus the just one to get a queen’s funeral, and that’s why her song in Six is considered the most just like a power ballad—even if it she sings that “without my son your love could disappear.” Henry VIII had been fundamentally hidden beside her at Windsor Castle.
Anne of Cleves Queen from January 1540–July 1540Anne of Cleves lasted just sixth months as Queen, but she kept her head. Musician Hans Holbein younger went along to Germany to paint Anne and her cousin, as Henry VIII considered which may be their 4th wife. (We read about these travels in “Haus of Holbein.”)
Nevertheless when 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 to my dress,” which also displeased the royal. Fundamentally, the master made excuses for their displeasure along with her and discovered another excuse to be rid of her, saying there clearly was absolutely no way she had been a virgin if they wed. Awarded an annulment, Anne stayed in benefit using the King and sometimes checked out court throughout the reigns associated with final two queens. She passed away in 1557.
Catherine Howard Queen from 1540–1541Catherine, better referred to as Kitty, ended up being very long the item of intimate attention as recommended in “All You Wanna Do.” She had been molested by her music instructor, Henry Mannox, as he ended up being 36 ( perhaps perhaps not 23 as Six states) and she 13. At 15, she relocated along with her grandmother, “the dowager Duchess,” and became enthusiasts with “sexy secretary” Francis Dereham—an event that will started to haunt her later on. Her grandmother discovered the affair and delivered her towards the Tudor court.
Like her relative, Anne Boleyn, she served as being 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 Dereham—quickly spread word to her behavior that Catherine ended up being committing adultery behind Henry’s straight straight back with Henry’s courtier Thomas Culpeper. Culpepper, Dereham, and Catherine had been all performed (Dereham ended up being quartered and drawn). Catherine, beheaded February 13, 1542, had been hidden in a unmarked grave.
Catherine Parr Queen from 1543-1547The wife that is final of VIII lived in constant concern about her very own execution. Ahead of her marriage to King Henry VIII, she had two past husbands and had been widowed both in situations. She had fallen deeply in love with Thomas Seymour (Jane’s cousin) before she caught the optical attention of this King. As well as in “I Don’t Need Your Love,her alone to save them both from the King’s wrath and certain death” she pleads with Thomas to leave.
By the time she wed Henry, he had been 52 plus in sick wellness. Catherine ingratiated herself to your master by becoming a mom to their three kids: Catherine of Aragon’s Mary, Anne Boleyn’s Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour’s Edward. She actually is the one who restored Mary and Elizabeth’s royal standing therefore that they might can be found in the type of succession.
During her reign, Catherine ended up being the very first queen of England and Ireland; she ended up being additionally the queen most abundant in influence that is diplomatic Catherine of Aragon, as she served as regent whenever Henry traveled to France once more. Catherine ended up being an advocate of reformation when you look at the Church, Protestantism. In reality, she published books on prayer in her very own name—and that is own was very first Queen of England to do so. That she“fought for feminine training. so that it’s real” Before Henry VIII passed away 28, 1547, he instructed that she be respected as the Queen of England even after his death—which is what happened january. She stepped down through the throne when Prince Edward, Jane Seymour’s son, ended up being willing to ascend in 1547. This time around, she had been the main one to re-marry, to gentleman associated with court Thomas Seymour. She passed away September 5, 1548.
