King Henry VIII

Henry Tudor never expects to be king. His older brother, Arthur, is crown prince.

When Arthur is nine, his parents decide he will marry Catherine, the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. They are the king and queen who paid for Christopher Columbus to sail west. He came upon America. 

Arthur and Catherine marry when he is 15. A few months later, both become ill with fever. Catherine lives. Arthur does not.

Ten-year-old Henry realizes he will become king.

Five years later, Henry’s father dies. When Henry turns 18, he takes office. But what should he do about Queen Catherine, his death brother’s wife?

He does not love her, but the Spanish could get angry if he sends her back to Spain, and Spain is the most powerful country in the world. England must not anger the Spanish king and queen.

Ten days later, Henry marries her.

The couple seems happy. But when their first child, a girl, dies at birth, Henry and Catherine are very sad.

A year later, Catherine gives birth to a boy. Henry is thrilled! He stages a huge banquet.

Seven weeks later, the boy dies. More sadness seizes Henry and Catherine. 

A third child is born.  The couple name her Mary. Again they are happy.

But the next three children, all boys, die at birth.  

Henry becomes afraid. England had fought the War of the Roses when a king died without a male child to take over as king.

Henry begins to wish he was not king. He was not supposed to be! His brother was.  Henry likes to play tennis and joust.

Henry decides God is angry for his marrying Catherine. He locks her in prison. 

Meanwhile, he has fallen in love with Anne Boleyn. She is beautiful and highly educated. He wants her to be his mistress. She says no. If he wants to be with her, then he must marry her.