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Questions tagged [henry-viii]

King Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509-1547 AD. Use this tag for questions about his life, politics, and influence.

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9 votes
1 answer
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By what legal mechanism was Catherine Howard deprived of her title of Queen of England?

To the best of my knowledge, under English (and later British) law, a peerage can only be revoked via a conviction for treason by a bill of attainder. Peerages have sometimes been surrendered ...
Tom Hosker's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
124 views

How accurate is Belloc's version of European economic history in The Servile State, with regards to the seizing of the monastic lands?

This is my own short summary of Belloc's version of European economic history, which he lays out in The Servile State (1912): In 1541, the lands of the monasteries were expropriated by Henry VIII. ...
user270124's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
287 views

What benefit was there in executing Anne Boleyn instead of poisoning her and pretending she was ill?

When Henry VIII decided to abandon Anne Boleyn in favor of another woman, due in part to the lack of Anne Boleyn providing a male heir, he had her investigated for treason, adultery, and incest, and ...
Jamin Grey's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

How many people were executed during the reign of Henry VIII?

I've read something from a few online sources that I don't quite trust (probably because I'm British), but I suspect the reality of the suggestion is in fact highly likely. Going on the data we have ...
Sam Cottle's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What was the motivation for the Church of England to begin recording births, marriages and deaths in 1538?

I have heard that Thomas Cromwell convinced Henry VIII to institute the keeping of these registers, after seeing the practice during a tour of Europe. It took many parishes a long time (and the ...
g2a's user avatar
  • 407
8 votes
1 answer
906 views

Why are there shields present on the sides of Henry VIII ships, did they serve any function or was it pure decoration?

reading about the Field of the cloth of gold, I came across some paintings commissioned by Henry VIII himself. This painting of Henry VIII embarking at Dover to meet with Francis I caught my eye as ...
Tom Sol's user avatar
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4 votes
4 answers
3k views

Why didn't Anne Boleyn consent to divorce?

In the recent past I've seen two televised depictions of the life-and-times of Henry VIII: The Tudors and Wolf Hall. Henry VIII wanted out from his marriage to Anne Boleyn because she failed to ...
StoneThrow's user avatar
2 votes
0 answers
87 views

Did Henry VIII's conversion from Catholicism set the stage for the readmission of Jews to England? [closed]

I realize that 150 years passed between this conversion and Jews being invited back to England but I wonder if, as in Spain, it would not have happened for many years even after that? I also realize ...
Jeff's user avatar
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35 votes
3 answers
14k views

Did Henry VIII have his bedroom bricked up every night?

I was just watching some TV with my kids, and we were enjoying the (normally reliable) Horrible Histories TV show. It claimed that Henry VIII had a long series of bedtime preparations to ensure his ...
Bob Tway's user avatar
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9 votes
1 answer
720 views

How much knowledge of the past was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries?

Apart from the buildings themselves, what items of particular historical value were lost during Henry VIII's reign? Wikipedia's 'Dissolution of the Monasteries' makes some mention of libraries but ...
Lars Bosteen's user avatar
14 votes
4 answers
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Why was the swordsman of Calais chosen as Anne Boleyn's executioner?

Anne Boleyn was executed on May 19, 1536. Displaying an act of "mercy", King Henry VIII dispatched a skilled executioner to perform the execution by sword rather than by axe or being burned at the ...
steelersquirrel's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
2k views

How many illegitimate children did King Henry VIII have? [closed]

I am aware of Henry FitzRoy, his illegitimate son that he acknowledged whom he had with Bessie Blount. Are there any other confirmed illegitimate children?
Jon's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
5k views

Did Catherine Howard use some form of birth control?

Catherine Howard, Henry VIII's 5th wife was sexually experienced before marrying the king. She was also accused of having an affair with the king's groom while married to the king. She obviously had ...
steelersquirrel's user avatar
13 votes
2 answers
4k views

How was King Henry VIII able to get syphilis?

How did King Henry VIII get this disease when syphilis was a disease originating from the Americas?
Young Guilo's user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
2k views

Was King Henry VIII, mid-late in his reformation campaign, motivated more by theology or absolutist drive?

King Henry VIII expended much of his rule pursuing religious reformation of England. The six articles, proposed by the Duke of Norfolk and signed by the King, essentially (not in totality but more so ...
Seth Rogers's user avatar
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