Henry VIII

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Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Henry VIII of England

Why did Henry VIII form the Church of England?

Armour of Henry VIII on display at the Tower of London.

Henry VIII, detail of a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1538; in the collection of the Duke of Rutland

Hans Holbein the Younger: portrait of Henry VIII

The conflicting legacies of King Henry VIII

Know the purpose for the creation of Irish titles of nobility between 1541, when Henry VIII of England made himself king of Ireland and during the reign of James I

The turbulent love life of Henry VIII

For Students

Hans Holbein the Younger: portrait of Henry VIII

Henry VIII summary

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Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day (June 2, 1953) holding the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in her right hand the Orb in her left, in an embroidered and beaded dress by Norman Hartnell, a crimson velvet mantle edged with ermine fur, with the Coronation ring, the Coronation necklace, and the Imperial State Crown. The backdrop depicts the interior of Westminster Abbey; photograph by Cecil Beaton. (British royals)

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Union Jack flag of Great Britain, united kingdom

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Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell in Wolf Hall a 2015 BBC TV Mini Series. drama, television, England in the 1520s, Henry VIII

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Camilla, Queen Consort) wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles in London, England on May 6, 2023

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Candles Burning On Table In Church

What Is the Most Widely Practiced Religion in the World?

Easter Procession of Maria Santisima del Sacromonte in Granada, Spain. This statue is known as Virgen de los Gitanos or The Virgin of the Gypsies.

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Lusitania sinking, illustration from The War of the Nations (New York), December 31, 1919. World War I, WWI. This image is one of three on the page. (See source file for the other two.)

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Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal. Mughal architecture. Emperor Shah Jahan fifth Mughal Emperor (reigned 1628-1658) India, Himachal Pradesh, Basohli or Jammu and Kashmir, Mankot, circa 1690 Drawings; Opaque watercolor, gold, and ink on paper (see notes)

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King Cobra snake in Malaysia. (reptile)

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Henry VIII: Facts & Related Content

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News •

Young British flock push Catholics to outnumber Anglicans for first time since Henry VIII • Apr. 12, 2025, 3:17 AM ET (Sydney Morning Herald)

BBC Children’s and Education announces TV adaptation of The Lady Grace Mysteries and more new commissions • Mar. 27, 2025, 9:15 AM ET (BBC)

Facts

Born	June 28, 1491 • Greenwich • England
Died	January 28, 1547 (aged 55) • London • England
Title / Office	king (1509-1547), England
House / Dynasty	House of Tudor
Notable Family Members	spouse Catherine Parr • spouse Anne Boleyn • spouse Jane Seymour • spouse Anne of Cleves • spouse Catherine of Aragon • spouse Catherine Howard • father Henry VII • daughter Elizabeth I • daughter Mary I • son Edward VI • sister Margaret Tudor • sister Mary Tudor
Role In	Battle of the Solent • Reformation • Act of Supremacy

Photos and Videos

Hans Holbein the Younger: Portrait of Henry VIII of England

Armour of Henry VIII on display at the Tower of London.

Henry VIII, detail of a painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, c. 1538; in the collection of the Duke of Rutland

Hans Holbein the Younger: portrait of Henry VIII

Why did Henry VIII form the Church of England?

The conflicting legacies of King Henry VIII

Know the purpose for the creation of Irish titles of nobility between 1541, when Henry VIII of England made himself king of Ireland and during the reign of James I

The turbulent love life of Henry VIII

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Napoleon Bonaparte. Napoleon in Coronation Robes or Napoleon I Emperor of France, 1804 by Baron Francois Gerard or Baron Francois-Pascal-Simon Gerard, from the Musee National, Chateau de Versailles.

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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II smiles to the crowd from Buckingham Palace (London, England) balcony at the end of the Platinum Pageant in London on June 5, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. The curtain comes down on four days of momentous nationwide celebrations to honor Queen Elizabeth II's historic Platinum Jubilee with a day-long pageant lauding the 96 year old monarch's record seven decades on the throne. (British royalty)

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Weathered stone sculpture of a king's head on the side of a Church in Somerset, England. English royalty

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King George III, King of England, c1800. Full-length portrait of George III (1738-1820), king from 1760, in military uniform. Portrait inspired by Sir Henry William Beechey's.

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King George V of Britain, c. 1910, shortly after his accession to the throne

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Queen Anne of Cleves (1515-1557), fourth wife of Henry VIII. Portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger, 1539.

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List

Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day (June 2, 1953) holding the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross in her right hand the Orb in her left, in an embroidered and beaded dress by Norman Hartnell, a crimson velvet mantle edged with ermine fur, with the Coronation ring, the Coronation necklace, and the Imperial State Crown. The backdrop depicts the interior of Westminster Abbey; photograph by Cecil Beaton. (British royals)

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