Profile of the Day: Henry VIII of England
How are you related to the Tudors? On this day in 1491, Henry VIII of England was born at Greenwich Palace in London, England.
Image: Henry VIII / Wikimedia Commons
He was the third child and second son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. Of his six siblings, only three would survive infancy. His older brother, Arthur, was expected to inherit the throne. However, just 20 weeks after his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Arthur died at just 15 years old. To secure an alliance between England and Spain, Henry VII offered his second son in marriage to Arthur’s widow.
After the death of his father in 1509, Henry ascended to the throne. His reign brought significant changes to the country, including the establishment of the Church of England after breaking from the Roman Catholic Church. Today, he is also remembered for his six marriages, two of which ended in the beheading of his wife.
Explore Henry VIII’s family tree on Geni and share your connection to the Tudor monarch.