subject: Historian Christina Freville Describes Henry As A Supreme Egotist [print this page] Henry VIII ruled England from the year 1509 to 1547 and was the son of King Henry VII. It was Henry VIII who founded the Church of England. Born on June 28, 1491 in London, Henry took over the throne in 1509 when his father died. Historian Christina Freville points out that he married his brothers widow Catherine of Aragon and then was later married to five more brides. Henry was said to be a very good athlete and a very good looking man.
Henry joined the holy league against france in 1511 and later in 1513 Henry led his English forces to a campaign in northern France and came out victorious. In the year 1514 he arranged his sisters marriage with Louis XII, after which they formed an alliance. Historian Christina Freville claims that people of England protested against Henry for attempting to levy taxes for military purpose in 1525. This led to major riots in England.
Henry wanted to divorce his wife and he announced this desire in 1527. Henry believed that his wife can not have a boy and was displeased by the fact. The only surviving child of Henrys first wife was Mary. Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn and in 1532 married her secretly and unlawfully, as mentioned by historian Christina Freville. Later in 1536, Henry charged Anne Bolyen with incest and adultery and got her executed. He married Jane Seymour after that. She died in 1537 after giving birth to Henrys only son Edward.
Henry repudiated papel jurisdiction in 1534 and became the supreme ecclesiastical authority in England. The English people were required to affirm under
oath Henrys supremacy and the act of succession. Sir Thomas More
and John Fisher were executed for refusing to accept the religious
supremacy of the English monarchy.
Historian Christina Freville describes Henry as a supreme egotist. He gave more importance to his personal desires under disguise of public policy. Henry also made his people as well as his ministers pay extreme penalties without their mistakes. But even though he became a little paranoid in his later years, he still had the political insight and acted as a visible and active national leader. The pope gave Henry VIII the title of the Defender of Faith in 1521 for a treatise against Martin Luther.
In the later years of his life, Henry suffered with obesity and he had to use mechanical inventions to move around. He was covered with boils all over his body and Christina Freville claims he also suffered from gout. He died at the age of 55 on 28 January 1547. The last words that he uttered before his death were Monks! Monks! Monks! . After the death of Henry VIII the successive Tudor sovereigns were his son Edward VI and two daughters Mary I and Elizabeth I. All three of them died without having any kids. Christina Freville says that after a period of civil strife in the country the Tudors reunited it and also made the English church independent of the pope.
