HenryVIIIHenryTudor,namedafterhisfather,HenryVII,wasbornbyElizabethofYorkJune28,1491inGreenwichPalace.Sincehewasthesecondson,andnotexpectedtobecomeking,weknowlittleofhischildhooduntilthedeathofhisolderbrotherArthur,PrinceofWales.WeknowthatHenryattendedtheweddingcelebrationsofArthurandhisbride,CatherineofAragon,inNovember1501whenhewas10yearsold.Shortlyafterthewedding,ArthurandCatherinewenttoliveinWales,aswastraditionfortheheirtothethrone.But,fourmonthsafterthemarriagebegan,itended,withArthur'sdeath.AtreatywassignedthatwouldallowCatherinetomarrythenextheirtothethrone--PrinceHenry.Untilthen,Catherine'sparents,FerdinandandIsabellaofSpainwouldsendover100,000crownsworthofplateandgoldasaweddinggiftandHenrywouldpaytheagreedupondowry.ItwasdeemednecessaryforapapaldispensationtobeissuedallowingHenrytomarryCatherine,asshewashisdeadbrother'swife,andthismarriagewasprohibitedinLeviticus.Atthetime,andthroughoutherlife,CatherinedeniedthathermarriagetoArthurhadevenbeenconsummated(andgiventheboy'shealth,thatismostlikelythecase)sonodispensationwasneeded.However,boththepartiesinSpainandEnglandwantedtobesureofthelegitimacyofthemarriage,sopermissionfromthepopewassoughtandreceived.ThisissuewouldbeveryimportantduringtheDivorceandtheBreakwithRome.用心爱心专心Themarriagestilldidnottakeplacehowever.HenryVIIhadbeenslowtopayhispartofthearrangementandherparentswererefusingtosendthemarriageportionofplateandgold.ThestalematecontinueduntilHenryVIIdiedonApril22,1509andhissonbecameHenryVIII.Henrywasjustshyof18yearsoldwhenhebecameking,andhadbeenpreparingforitfromthetimeofhisolderbrotherArthur'sdeath.Atthisage,hewasnottheimagethatweusuallycalltomindwhenwehearthenameHenryVIII.Hewasnottheoverweightandillmanofhislateryears.Inhisyouth,hewashandsomeandathletic.Hewastallandhadabrightred-goldcapofhairandbeard,afarcryfromthefat,baldingandunhealthymanthatisoftenrememberedHenry'smaritalcareerisprobablythethingthatheismostknownfor.ThestoryofHenry'swivesistoldontheirownpages.TheYoungKingShortlyafterbecomingking,HenryVIIItookCatherineofAragonashisbrideon11June1509.Heinherited£1.5millionpoundsfromhisfatherandsucceededinthefirstpeacefultransitionofpoweraftertheWarsoftheRoses.HenrybroughtayouthandvigortotheCourtthathadlongbeenlackingandHenrydreamedofglorybeyondthehuntandjoust.CatherineofAragongavebirthtotheirfirstchild,asonnamedHenryafterhisfather,用心爱心专心inJanuary1511.Thechilddiedtwomonthslater,andwasdestinedtobethefirstofmanyunhappybirthsthecouplewouldsuffer.HenryconsoledhimselfbygoingtowaragainstFrance,hopingtoemulatehisancestorsEdwardIIIandHenryV.HenrymetwithsomesuccessinFrance,butwhilehewasdistractedontheContinent,hisScottishbrother-in-lawJamesIVusedtheopportunitytoattack.ThomasHoward,EarlofSurreyledtheEnglishforcesagainstJamesanddefeatedtheScotsarmyattheBattleofFloddenField.Jameswaskilled,leavinghisinfantsonasthenewkingJamesVandHenryVIII'ssisterMargaretawidow.By1514,ThomasWolseyhadrisentopowerinHenry'scourtandwastoeventuallyrivalHenryhimselfinwealthandopulance.HebuiltHamptonCourtPalace,whichheeventually"gave"toHenryasagiftashebegantofallfrompowerinthe1520s.用心爱心专心
