Henry VIII and His Wives

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to Henry VIII and his marriages.

Tudor King of England

Henry VIII was a prominent monarch of the Tudor dynasty.

Annulment

A legal procedure that cancels a marriage, declaring it null and void.

Act of Supremacy

Legislation passed by Henry VIII that established the monarch as the head of the Church of England.

Anne Boleyn

The second wife of Henry VIII and mother of Queen Elizabeth I.

Protestantism

A branch of Christianity that originated in the Reformation, which Henry VIII adopted.

Catherine Howard

The fifth wife of Henry VIII, known for her youthful beauty and subsequent affair.

Edward VI

Son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, who became king at age 9.

Mary I

Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, known for her attempts to restore Catholicism.

Elizabeth I

Daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, who ruled for 44 years and established the Anglican Church.

Marriage to Jane Seymour

Henry VIII's third marriage, which finally produced a male heir.

Political marriage

A marriage arranged primarily for political alliance rather than for love.

Divorce

The legal dissolution of a marriage.

Spanish Alliance

Henry VIII sought a marriage with Catherine of Aragon to strengthen ties with Spain.

Affair

A romantic relationship, especially one that is secretive or illicit.

Legacy of Henry VIII

The impact Henry VIII had on England's monarchy, religion, and succession.

Catherine of Aragon

First wife of Henry VIII, originally married to his brother Arthur.

Disputed succession

The debate over which of Henry VIII's heirs would succeed to the throne.

Royal court

The household and entourage of a king or queen.

Succession line

The order in which members of a royal family can inherit the throne.

Governor of the Church

Title given to the reigning monarch by the Act of Supremacy.

Dissolution of the Monasteries

A series of administrative and legal processes that disbanded monastic communities in England.

Courtier

A person who attends the court of a king or queen.

Henry's legacy

The cultural and historical impact left by Henry VIII after his reign.

Protestant Reformation

The movement that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and reform of Catholic practices.

The Pope

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, resisted by Henry VIII.

Mary's reign

Period when Mary I restored Catholicism for a short time in England.

Historical significance

The importance of an event or individual in history; Henry VIII's decisions affected religious and political landscapes.

Crisis of succession

Henry's concern over producing a male heir to continue his dynasty.

Fall from favor

When a person loses the support or approval of someone powerful.

Caught in political maneuvering

Engaged in complex political strategies that often affected marriages and alliances.

Influence on Anglicanism

Henry VIII's actions led to the establishment of the Church of England, breaking from the Catholic Church.

Reign of Elizabeth I

The period during which Elizabeth I ruled, marked by the flourishing of English culture.

Consequences of divorce

The social and political implications resulting from Henry VIII's divorce decisions.