henry viii of england
DESCRIPTION
Psychological Analysis on King Henry VIIITRANSCRIPT
Henry VIII is known for…
Having six wives: two of which he had beheaded, another
two whom he divorced
The English Reformation
Being severely obese and overly
harsh and suspicious
Family Background
Parents:Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
Siblings:Arthur, Prince of WalesMargaret TudorMary Tudor, Consort of France
Childhood and Young Adulthood• Born on June 28, 1941• Second son• was envisioned to be a high-ranking
church official• Was taught by private tutors• turned to be very intelligent and witty
• Athletic• loved jousting and hunting
Childhood and Young Adulthood• Assumed to claim the throne after his
older brother Arthur’s death• Was offered to marry his brother’s
widow, Catherine of Aragon, to keep alliance with Spain• Crowned as King of England on June 24,
1509• Executed two of his father’s ministers,
Sir Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley, for high treason *
*this became his default solution to stop anyone who defies him
Wife #1: Catherine of Aragon (m. 1503 – 1533)
• Youngest daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon• Previously married to
Arthur, Prince of Wales• Bore a total of 6 children
to Henry VIII, 3 of which were sons, but only one survived (Mary)• Could not bear Henry
VIII a son
Wife #1: Catherine of Aragon (m. 1503 – 1533)
• Led Henry VIII to have women on the side• Elizabeth Blount and
Mary Boleyn
• Henry petitioned for an annulment, that started the English Reformation
FATE: Divorced
The English Reformation
•Henry VIII declared himself as Supreme Head of the Church of England•He declared that the king was “the only Supreme Head in Earth of the Church of England.”• Led to the separation of Church of England from Rome
Wife #2: Anne Boleyn (m. 1533 – 1536)
“I beseech you now with all my heart definitely to let me know your whole mind as to the love between us; for necessity compels me to plague you for a reply, having been for more than a year now struck by the dart of love, and being uncertain either of failure or of finding a place in your heart and affection."
Wife #2: Anne Boleyn (m. 1533 – 1536)
• Sister of one of Henry VIII’s mistresses• Was speculated to
be already pregnant when Henry VIII married her• Gave birth to a
daughter named Elizabeth
Wife #2: Anne Boleyn (m. 1533 – 1536)
• Miscarried twice• Was accused of
adultery and having relations with three men, and plotting to kill Henry VIII
FATE: Executed
Wife #3: Jane Seymour (m. 1536 – 1537)
• Married to Henry VIII 24 hours after Boleyn’s execution• Bore a son named
Edward• Henry VIII claimed
she is “his one true wife”
FATE: Died
Wife #4: Anne of Cleves (m. Jan – Jul 1540)
• Was sought for for political alliance with Germany• Henry VIII was not
attracted to her as she did not match the painting of her• Was domesticated,
did not grew up with the same upbringing as Henry VIII
Wife #4: Anne of Cleves (m. Jan – Jul 1540)
• She declared that her marriage to Henry VIII has not been consummated• Received a generous
settlement for the annulment
FATE: Divorced
Wife #5: Catherine Howard (m. 1540 – 1542)
• First cousin of Anne Boleyn• Lady in waiting to
Anne of Cleves• Married Henry VIII at
19 years old• Lifted Henry VIII’s
spirits (as his leg was badly ulcerated at this point)
Wife #5: Catherine Howard (m. 1540 – 1542)
• Was called Henry VIII’s rose without a thorn and the very jewel of womanhood• Sentenced to death
because of adultery (relations with men her age)
FATE: Executed
Wife #6: Catherine Parr (m. 1542 – 1547)
• Highly educated• Twice widowed
before marrying Henry VIII• Provided a stable
family life to Henry VIII and his children• Was Henry VIII’s
nurse
FATE: Widowed
Late Adulthood and Death
•His leg was severely ulcerated, from an injury in a jousting tournament•Had a habit of binge eating (probably from stress), was said to have a waistline of 54”•Was thought to have suffered complications of Type II Diabetes•Died on January 28, 1547 at the age of 55
Presenting Problems/ConcernsQ: What happened in his childhood that molded him into becoming self-centered and stubborn?Q: What made Henry VIII so intent to be always in control, that he divorced or beheaded his wives, or executed people who worked for him just to always have his way?Q: In what ways did his declining health affected his overall demeanor?
Underlying Issues
• On his obsessive desire for a male offspringoRooted in his sudden succession of the throne
RECALL: He was yanked into the spotlight after his brother’s death
oPressured to continue the lineage
• On his stubbornness and narcissismoGrew up with the spotlight on himoEveryone followed his wishes at whimoSeemed to be in an eternal state of
adolescence: “Look at me! I am invincible!”-type of thinking
Bottom line: He had a constant need to validate his manliness and how he earned the throne
Counseling Goals•Uncover childhood issues that might have led him to hold on to persistent/lasting notions
•Make him re-evaluate his actions and what he values
• Rationalize events instead of reacting based on intense emotions
Recommended Counseling Techniques• Erikson’s Psychosocial Dynamic Theory• To dig deeper into his childhood and
adolescence and reconcile his unresolved issues in his younger days
• Ellis’ Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy• To lessen intensified emotions and be
able to dissect his immediate reactions to situations
Referenceshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/henry_viiihttp://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensofengland/thetudors/henryviii.aspxhttp://tudorhistory.org/henry8/http://tudorhistory.org/wives/http://www.biography.com/people/henry-viii-9335322