Henry VIII's Family and Early History
War of the Roses, Arthur, and the World Henry Enters
Nov 18, 2008
The Tudors, a Showtime mini-series starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, is only the latest television adaptation of the family life of England's King Henry VIII. Generations of British school children grew up reciting the fate of King Henry's six wives, "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, and survived."
The website of an English junior school, the Woodlands, in Tonbridge, Kent describes Henry as "a very selfish person and by the end of his life everyone was afraid of him, mainly because of his ruthless behaviour toward anyone who didn't agree with him." Indeed, who would not be terrified of a man who killed his own wives? Yet the historical Henry VIII proves a complicated and controversial figure, worthy of multiple movies, books, and legends to say the least! What about his early history made him become the man he did?
England Before Henry's Birth
Henry's family became connected with the crown during a dangerous time in English history. England had suffered from a civil war between two noble families, known as the House of Lancaster and the House of York. For thirty years, Lancaster and York, allied with other noble families, had squabbled and killed each other over who held the crown.
History deems this power struggle the Wars of the Roses, as both families had a rose as their symbol (red for the House of Lancaster, and white for the house of York). The Wars of the Roses caused instability not only for the monarchy, but also for the rest of the country. Today, it's impossible to flourish economically when the government is unstable. In late 15th century England, the same applied.
Henry's Parents and a Marriage to Bring Peace
Henry's parents represented both of these warring houses. Henry's dad, Henry VII, known as Henry Tudor before becoming king, was a member of the House of Lancaster. Elizabeth of York was a member of the York family. Henry VII won a strategic battle, the Battle of Bosworth Field, against the York King Richard III in 1485 and married the dead king's niece, Elizabeth.
When Henry VIII's parents married in 1486, it unified the two feuding families and ended the Wars of the Roses, history says. In reality, Henry's father had no guarantee he could keep England unified, let alone the crown on his head. A minor nobleman from Wales, Henry VII had a weak claim to the throne through his mother's side.
Henry VII's Struggle for Power
Henry VII"s crown came with much responsibility. He had to control the nobility, used to controlling the king, and keep power himself. He had to refill the royal coffers empty from war. Most importantly, Henry had to bear a son to ensure stability in the kingdom after his death.
In an England hurting from war and hopeful for unity, Henry's parents bore a son- no, not Henry, the future Henry VIII. Henry VII and Elizabeth of York bore Arthur, their first son, in 1486.
When Elizabeth bore Henry five years later in 1491, he appeared in the shadow of his brother, Arthur. The Tudors named their first son after the legendary King Arthur of the Round Table. Henry VII created a new title for Arthur, deeming him the very first Prince of Wales on his third birthday.
Arthur's, England's New Hope?
Henry VII hoped that calling his son "Prince of Wales" would connect the Tudors to the ancient kings of Briton based in Wales, a propoganda move to strengthen his family's tie to the throne. Not only was Arthur older and Prince of Wales, but he, not baby Henry, was heir to the throne. Thus, the future Henry VIII of England began life in the shadow of war and an elder brother.
"Arthur, Prince of Wales"
Barrow, Mandy. Homework Help Resource Guide. Woodlands Junior School, Hunt Road, Tonbridge, Kent, England. 2008.
Fry, Plantagenet Somerset. Kings and Queens of England and Scotland. Grove Weidenfeld: New York, 1990.
