Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.
Yes, in the 1st six terms of Olivier Award–nominated musical Six, the fate is learned by us of each and every of Henry VIII’s wives. But simply how much do you realize about their everyday lives?
Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss dug in to the history of Tudor England together with court that is royal the words with their pop music opera, and greater historic knowledge means greater admiration associated with nuances in Marlow and Moss’ writing. Listed here are the CliffsNotes to assist you navigate this chapter in Uk history.
Catherine of Aragon Queen from 1509–1533The “paragon of royalty” had been the wife that is first of VIII. a princess that is spanish she had been the child of Isabelle and Ferdinand, hence 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 had been 15. But five months after their wedding, Arthur passed away. Arthur’s dad almost needed 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 ended up being away in France. But once she neglected to create a male heir, things got complicated. Along with her pregnancy that is fifth offered delivery to Mary (the near future Mary we of England), but Henry became preoccupied with siring a child. He became believing that their marriage to their brother’s widow ended up being cursed by Jesus, or, as Catherine sings, “You state it is a pity ‘cause quoting Leviticus ‘I’ll find yourself kidiless all my 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 ended up being furious he cast her apart; she had tolerated their affairs (“I’ve never destroyed control in spite of how times that are many knew you lied”) as any Queen ended up being expected. More over, Catherine maintained that she had never ever consummated her wedding to Arthur—so that is the wedding that was null. Complicated, we understand. While the track indicates, Catherine declined an annulment, claiming until her death that she had been the rightful Queen. Catherine ended up being delivered to a” that is“nun-ry fundamentally relocated to The greater amount of Castle. She passed away in 1536 in 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 between your King and their Queen’s women in waiting were common and anticipated, no body expected him to go out of Catherine to wed Anne—the sis of their mistress that is former that. Anne was raised during the court for the Queen of France before coming back house to England to participate the court that is royal.
Anne Boleyn is oftentimes depicted since the devious spouse, presumably plotting to dethrone Catherine—unsatisfied to be only 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 had been crowned queen June 1, 1533; she quickly offered delivery to a woman, the long term Elizabeth we. But after three miscarriages, Henry took a brand new mistress: Jane Seymour. Needing method to rid himself of Anne, Henry stated that Anne had bewitched him while he ended up being hitched to Catherine. Anne possibly flirted with a few men “just to help make 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 fact: Historians think Henry VIII published “Greensleeves” for Anne Boleyn, who he had been wanting to woo. Ergo, the techno remix of “Greensleeves” in “Ex-Wives.”
Jane Seymour Queen from 1536–1537Just as Anne Boleyn overtook the girl she served, Jane Seymour ended up being a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, after serving Queen Catherine. Henry VIII became betrothed to Jane one time after Anne’s execution. Jane provided delivery up to a son, Edward, in 1537 and died two weeks later of postnatal complications october. Jane can be looked at as the favourite, as this woman is the only real spouse Henry freely mourned and also the just one to receive a queen’s funeral, which is the reason why her song in Six is one of such as for instance a energy ballad—even if it she sings that “without my son your love could vanish.” Henry VIII had been sooner or later 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 mind. Musician Hans Holbein younger visited Germany to paint Anne and her sis, as Henry VIII considered which will be their 4th spouse. (We read about these travels in “Haus of Holbein.”)
But once Anne arrived after her portrait, Henry felt she “didn’t didn’t appearance like her profile image.” She showed a basic not enough elegance, “sippin’ on mead and I also spill it to my dress,” which additionally displeased the royal. Fundamentally, the master made excuses for his displeasure her, saying there was no way she was a virgin when they wed with her and found another excuse to be rid of. Issued an annulment, Anne stayed in benefit with all the King and frequently checked out court throughout the reigns associated with the last 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 sexual attention as recommended in “All You Wanna Do.” She had been molested by her music instructor, japanese women for marriage at rose-brides.com Henry Mannox, as he ended up being 36 ( maybe maybe not 23 as Six states) and she 13. At 15, she relocated together with her grandmother, “the dowager Duchess,” and became enthusiasts with “sexy secretary” Francis Dereham—an event that would come to haunt her later on. Her grandmother discovered the affair and delivered her to your Tudor court.
Like her relative, Anne Boleyn, she served 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. Nevertheless the gossips at court—some of who had witnessed Dereham—quickly spread word to her behavior that Catherine had been committing adultery behind Henry’s straight back with Henry’s courtier Thomas Culpeper. Culpepper, Dereham, and Catherine had been all performed (Dereham ended up being drawn and quartered). Catherine, beheaded February 13, 1542, ended up being hidden within an unmarked grave.
Catherine Parr Queen from 1543-1547The wife that is final of VIII lived in constant anxiety about her very own execution. Ahead of her wedding to King Henry VIII, she had two past husbands and ended up being widowed both in instances. She had dropped deeply in love with Thomas Seymour (Jane’s cousin) before she caught the eye associated with the King. As well as in “I Don’t Need Your Love,” she pleads with Thomas to keep her alone to save lots of them both through the King’s wrath and specific death.
By the time she wed Henry, he had been 52 as well as in sick wellness.
Catherine ingratiated herself to your master by being a mom to their three kiddies: Catherine of Aragon’s Mary, Anne Boleyn’s Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour’s Edward. This woman is the one who restored Mary and Elizabeth’s royal standing therefore that they might come in the type of succession.
During her reign, Catherine had been the very first queen of England and Ireland; she had been additionally the queen most abundant in influence that is diplomatic Catherine of Aragon, as she served as regent when Henry traveled to France once more. Catherine ended up being an advocate of reformation within the Church, Protestantism. In reality, she published publications on prayer in her own name—and that is own was very very first Queen of England to do this. So that it’s correct that she “fought for female education.” 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 whenever Prince Edward, Jane Seymour’s son, ended up being prepared to ascend in 1547. This time around, she had been the only to re-marry, to gentleman of this court Thomas Seymour. She passed away September 5, 1548.