Henry VIII of

England
(1491 1547)
A Psychological Analysis

PC Magnaye
Ed 282
September 15, 2014

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 Wales
Margaret Tudor
Mary 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 Arthurs death
Was offered to marry his brothers widow,
Catherine of Aragon, to keep alliance with
Spain
Crowned as King of England on June 24,
1509
Executed two of his fathers 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 VIIIs
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
Boleyns 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 VIIIs
spirits (as his leg was
badly ulcerated at
this point)

Wife #5: Catherine Howard (m.

1540 1542)

Was called Henry

VIIIs 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 VIIIs
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/Concerns

Q: What happened in his childhood

that molded him into becoming selfcentered 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 offspring
o Rooted in his sudden succession of the throne
RECALL: He was yanked into the spotlight after his
brothers death

o Pressured to continue the lineage

On his stubbornness and narcissism

o Grew up with the spotlight on him
o Everyone followed his wishes at whim
o Seemed 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

Eriksons 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

References
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/henry_viii
http://
www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandque
ensofengland/thetudors/henryviii.aspx
http://tudorhistory.org/henry8/
http://tudorhistory.org/wives/
http://
www.biography.com/people/henry-viii-9335322