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King Henry VIII’s Wives: A Tudor Cartoon History

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King Henry VIII! He's famous for ruling England, but maybe even more famous for what happened with his wives. Ever heard the rhyme "Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived"? Yep, that's about his love life! 🤯

Let's dive into this dramatic (and sometimes funny!) cartoon history of King Henry VIII and his six wives:

1. Catherine of Aragon: The Royal Breakup 💔

Imagine being queen, then your husband decides he wants a new wife! Catherine of Aragon knew that feeling. Henry was desperate for a son to be king after him, and when Catherine only had a daughter (the future Queen Mary I), Henry wasn't happy. He blamed Catherine, even though it wasn't really her fault!

Plus, a certain Anne Boleyn caught Henry's eye... 👀

"He wanted to make it known that he was a strong leader and the epitome of virility." - The Infographics Show

2. Anne Boleyn: From Queen to... Executed?! 😱

Anne played it cool at first, refusing to be just Henry's girlfriend. She wanted to be QUEEN! Henry was smitten. He even broke England away from the Catholic Church just to divorce Catherine and marry Anne! Talk about a grand gesture (or a power move? 🤔).

But then, Anne also only had a daughter – the future Queen Elizabeth I. Henry was furious! Anne was accused of some pretty shady stuff (probably made up!), thrown in the Tower of London, and... well, you know the rhyme.

3. Jane Seymour: The One Who Gave Him a Son... But... 😔

Finally, Henry got his wish! Jane Seymour gave birth to a son, the future King Edward VI. Henry was over the moon! But sadly, Jane died soon after from complications. She's considered his favorite wife, maybe because she gave him an heir, or maybe because he didn't have time to get tired of her!

4. Anne of Cleves: The 'Horse' Who Got Away 🐎

This one's almost comical. Henry had only seen a portrait of Anne of Cleves before agreeing to marry her. When they met in person, he thought she was way less attractive than her painting. He even supposedly said she looked like a horse! Ouch! The marriage was quickly annulled (basically canceled) and Anne got to keep her head and live a pretty sweet life. Smart move, Anne!

5. Catherine Howard: Young Love, Tragic End 😭

Catherine Howard was super young when she married the much-older Henry. He called her his "Rose Without a Thorn," but this rose had thorns hidden beneath the surface. Catherine had secret affairs, which was a big no-no back then. She was caught, imprisoned, and met the same fate as Anne Boleyn.

6. Catherine Parr: She Survived! 🎉

Finally, a wife who outlived Henry! Catherine Parr was actually his sixth wife, and she was smart. She knew how to handle Henry, even when he was grumpy and sick. She even managed to reunite him with his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. Now that's a queen!

Why So Many Wives?

Henry's desire for a son, his huge ego, and maybe even a head injury from jousting all played a part in his treatment of his wives. It's a wild story that shows how power, love, and a bit of bad luck can create a dramatic (and sometimes darkly funny) chapter in history!

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