Expert: Joseph Logue - 4/17/2008

Question
why were each of henrys 6 wives so important

Answer
Hello Maisie,

I'll start off by disagreeing with you -- not all his wives were "important."  By that I mean politically, socially, or historically.  The first three were certainly women of great historical interest:  Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour.  All three were mothers of sovereigns (respectively, Mary I, Elizabeth I, and Edward VI), and their entrance into the king's life reflected a historic moment.  Catherine had been married to Henry's elder brother Arthur, Prince of Wales.  He died before becoming king and so his widow married his younger brother.  Henry's divorce of Catherine, of course, preceded and caused England's break with Rome.  Anne Boleyn, the cause of the divorce, was unable to give Henry a son.  Her treasonous behavior (taking lovers) was key to Henry's solidifying power in England.  Jane, chiefly because she gave Henry his longed-for son.  The latter three wives were less important to history, but play an interesting role in it:  Anne of Cleves (an unattractive woman who, though Henry was repelled by her looks, rather liked her and took lavish care of after divorcing her); Catherine Howard, a duke's daughter who was too young and callow to become queen, subsequently taking lovers and earning the king's dread announcement of death; and Kathryn Parr, who was Henry's widow and later married Jane Seymour's brother Thomas.

Collectively, they were important because no other English king had or has ever found the need to marry so frequently.  Henry did for various reasons, each successive time a little less importantly.  

Sincerely,

Joseph Logue