The Influenced and Influential King Henry Viii Essay Example
The Influenced and Influential King Henry VIII
Kristen Griego
Red Rocks Community College
The Influenced and Influential King Henry VIII King Henry VIII was a very complicated man. He led a life of greatness in many different aspects. He loved to live an elaborate life, sometimes to the extent that he couldn’t afford. Starting from a young boy he excelled in athletics and thoroughly enjoyed them; horseback riding, archery, and jousting. Henry or, as he was sometimes called, Harry also had many influential people in his life throughout his rule in England. Some of the key players were Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. Both of these people used manipulation of Henry to further their own agendas. King Henry VIII was married at a young age to Catherine of Aragon. She was formerly his brother’s wife. Catherine was from Spain and was a devout Catholic, as was King Henry. She was a good woman and Henry was in love with her. Catherine was older than Henry, and while married produced one daughter for him. They named her Mary. After Mary was born Catherine was unable to produce more children for Henry, due to menopause. Once Henry heard of this he was very upset. Henry longed for a son as heir to his kingdom. This is where Anne Boleyn enters the scene. Although it is debatable as to if these descriptions are credible, Anne Boleyn was said to have had “seductive eyes which she knew well how to exploit, sometimes holding them in reserve, sometimes sending them on message, carrying the secret witness of the heart” (Anne Boleyn, pg. 19). Another description of Anne is “Madam Anne is not one of the handsomest women in the world; she is of middling stature, swarthy complexion, long neck, wide mouth, bosom not much raised…..her eyes were black and beautiful” (Boleyn, pg. 19). She was also described as more eloquent and graceful than King Henry’s first mistress, Elizabeth Blount. Some other descriptions of Anne were not as kind as these. Above all, King
Kristen Griego
Red Rocks Community College
The Influenced and Influential King Henry VIII King Henry VIII was a very complicated man. He led a life of greatness in many different aspects. He loved to live an elaborate life, sometimes to the extent that he couldn’t afford. Starting from a young boy he excelled in athletics and thoroughly enjoyed them; horseback riding, archery, and jousting. Henry or, as he was sometimes called, Harry also had many influential people in his life throughout his rule in England. Some of the key players were Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell. Both of these people used manipulation of Henry to further their own agendas. King Henry VIII was married at a young age to Catherine of Aragon. She was formerly his brother’s wife. Catherine was from Spain and was a devout Catholic, as was King Henry. She was a good woman and Henry was in love with her. Catherine was older than Henry, and while married produced one daughter for him. They named her Mary. After Mary was born Catherine was unable to produce more children for Henry, due to menopause. Once Henry heard of this he was very upset. Henry longed for a son as heir to his kingdom. This is where Anne Boleyn enters the scene. Although it is debatable as to if these descriptions are credible, Anne Boleyn was said to have had “seductive eyes which she knew well how to exploit, sometimes holding them in reserve, sometimes sending them on message, carrying the secret witness of the heart” (Anne Boleyn, pg. 19). Another description of Anne is “Madam Anne is not one of the handsomest women in the world; she is of middling stature, swarthy complexion, long neck, wide mouth, bosom not much raised…..her eyes were black and beautiful” (Boleyn, pg. 19). She was also described as more eloquent and graceful than King Henry’s first mistress, Elizabeth Blount. Some other descriptions of Anne were not as kind as these. Above all, King