He had the fourth wife because of diplomatic reasons. He had the fifth wife because he fell in love again. He had the sixth wife because he was old and sick and needed a companion and nurse who wouldn't give him too much trouble. read more
Divorced, beheaded, died. Divorced, beheaded, survived. This mnemonic has been the way that schoolchildren for 400 years have used to remember the fate of the Six Wives of Henry VIII. The overwhelming reason for so many was Henry’s driving need for a male heir. read more
However, in common parlance, the so-called wives of Henry VIII were the six queens consort wedded to Henry between 1509 and his death in 1547. read more