kahn

How many wives did this man kill just to get a son? He founded his own church just so he could divorce his wives? He legislated the Buggery Act and Witchcraft Act.

Was Henry the VIII psycho? Or was he a genius?

JohnnyH

He was not a pyscho(maybe a feared tyrant in his later, syphilitic years?) and definately not a genius. He was a deeply repellent, odious character.

Only Anne Boleyn was executed in his quest for a male heir. Catherine of Aragon died, as did Jane Seymour soon after childbirth, Anne of Cleves he divorced and Catherine Howard was only executed due to her adultery(not inability to sire an heir). Katherine Parr outlived him.

In my view, he was a selfish, boorish, spoiled and fearsome bully(Richard Burton gives the best screen portrayal of him in "Anne of the 1000 days", IMHO) who was bequeathed a very wealthy kingdom, only to almost bankrupt the nation, killing his friends and rivals(real or imagined) along the way.

He also betrayed those involved in the Pilgrimage of Grace, 1536, below;-

http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Documen...ageofGrace.htm

Professor Phantom

He might have been both genius and psycho in his life. The Catholic church didn't permit divorce, so he finds a loophole. Found another church! What he might have disguised as a feudal fight for a male heir, he might have actually been plotting to rid of the Roman Catholic Church.

Tancred

IMO, the greatest thing Henry ever did was produce Elizabeth.

Hello, Housecarl

I couldn't resist.

"Tancred" makes sense, doesn't it :-)

Tancred

JohnnyH

Elizabeth the black-toothed, red-wigged, pock-marked, rarely-bathed and ultra-white-made-up-faced(lead poisoned) Virgin Queen!

Tancred, you have me at a disadvantage, sir, for I know not thy alternative name! Art thou Tarry? 8)

Tancred

Exactly.

Tancred

tedkaw

don't hold anything back on us

Ritocal

Kings of England have but one job they must fulfill before they die.... Create an Heir. Everything else is secondary.

Henry took his job seriously.

PADDYBOY

You smooth talking devil CHIVALRY LIVES

Tudor chick

This is really a bit harsh!
Many of the things you mentioned were the fashion of the time.
Red wigs being one of them.
Wigs and hair pieces are still in fashion today, as is red hair dye!
The ultra white make up was also the fashion of the time. Tanned skin was considered common. It was not known until much later that this caused lead poison.
Today the fashion is tanned skin in western countries, and even though sun exposure causes skin cancer people still sun bake.
Elizabeth was known to bath more than was generally thought that was required. The clothing at the time was not able to be washed, therefore the clothing would have been smelly, not the people. Although Elizabeth would have had many dresses.
What else - hmmm, black teeth? It is reported in her later years she did have some blackened teeth. This may have been resulted from the lead or not a good diet. But I am afraid to say there appears to be a lot of people in England and else where with bad teeth today - why would this be?
This could almost be a sensible question - Was Elizabeth the Virgin Queen?
It is debatable if she was or not. But as records were kept every time she moved, it is doubted that she did have the affairs that were rumored about her. So maybe she was a Virgin Queen. So do you have something against virgins too? This could be a new topic!