Henry Tudor was born in 1491, the second son to survive of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. At this time he was unlikely to become king and was raised closer to his mother, since his brother Arthur was the heir to the throne. Arthur’s early death in 1502 changed everything for Henry - suddenly he was the heir. He would become King Henry VIII in 1509. Not long after ascending to the throne he would marry his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon. This marriage would eventually end and change the face of England forever.

His entire reign is generally remembered for the 6 wives he would wed and the large number of people that he would have beheaded, many of them former friends and two of his wives. However, this is not the entire story of who Henry was or what he did while he was king. Early in his reign he was a young, handsome, rich, and athletic king. In fact, much of this would put him in competition with the other young rulers of Europe, King Francis I of France and the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, who were also young, handsome, athletic, and rich. To showcase his riches he wore luxurious clothing and put on costly tournaments. His fashions showcased how attractive he was and even specifically showcased his shapely calves. To show off his athletic prowess, he jousted in tournaments, played tennis, and other manly sports. There is even a story that he wrestled Francis I at the famous summit at the Field of the Cloth of Gold to know for sure who was the strongest.

Henry continually sought to increase his power at home and on the continent. He established the English Royal Navy with the establishment of new dockyards and building innovative new warships, the most famous being the Mary Rose.

He also established himself as the leader of the church in England and proclaimed that he ruled only with divine right of God. This ushered in a time of great religious change in England that is still felt today. This upheaval was due to his wish to divorce his first wife, Catherine, which the Vatican would not grant. Catherine was past her child bearing years and he wished to wed Anne Boleyn, who had promised to give him the male heir he so desperately needed. These changes, and many others, would change England forever.

Henry’s legacy is interesting in that the Tudor Dynasty is remembered in a way that he probably never considered. His three children would all rule after his death in 1547. His successor was his long sought after son, Edward VI, but his reign was short and not particularly noteworthy since he died so young. His daughter with Catherine of Aragon, Mary I, would strive to undo the new religion of her father and to return the country to Catholicism. Her reign was also not particularly long, but forever remembered and gave her the unpleasant moniker of “Bloody” Mary. His daughter with Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, would rule for forty-four years and bring a golden age of stability for England. Henry VIII and Elizabeth I are easily the two best-known rulers of the Tudor Dynasty.