Six Women History Will Never Forget 

 

It seems I can’t turn around these days without seeing ads for the Broadway musical, “Six.” Written about the wives of Britain’s King Henry 8^th, I must confess, I haven’t seen the show. But I’ve always been intrigued by these amazing, often tragic, women. Feel like taking a quick trip through 16^th century England? Here are the wives…

Catherine of Aragon – Catherine was originally married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur. When Arthur died, she was betrothed to young King Henry. Although pious and good, poor Catherine never produced the male heir Henry desired. Her real problems began when she became older and could no longer bear children.

Henry wanted Catherine to divorce him so he could marry Anne Boleyn, a woman of the court. But Catherine refused. No problem. Henry started his own church that would let him do as he wanted. Catherine fought him with her only weapon: her popularity. Ultimately, Henry got his way, but Catherine always kept the people’s love, unlike her successor. Catherine died of cancer at age fifty after being banished from court.

Anne Boleyn – Born into a powerful British family, Anne became a favorite of the King as a Maid-of-Honour to Queen Catherine. Seeing that Henry was attracted to her, she played him like a fiddle, even refusing his lavish jewelry and gifts. She didn’t want to become his mistress like her sister Mary, who was pregnant with Henry’s child. Mary gave birth to a girl and after that, Henry ignored her, which probably ultimately saved her.

After Henry’s marriage to Anne, he appointed her Queen. Several years later, she had only produced a daughter and he grew resentful. Wanting to move on to the next wife, he falsely accused Anne of adultery, and then decreed that she be executed for this “crime.” While locked up in the Tower of London, Anne begged not to be burned at the stake. Henry agreed to have her beheaded instead. What a guy.

Jane Seymour – A demure woman from another powerful British clan, Jane caught Henry’s eye as (yet another) Maid-of-Honour for Queen Catherine. They married and Jane gave Henry that longed-for son, a cause for great joy. Sadly, Jane died two weeks later of complications from childbirth. Some say she was the only woman Henry ever truly loved. But given his fickle nature and wandering eye, some think their marriage might not have endured.

After Henry’s death, their son Edward VI was made King, but he died of mysterious causes at the age of fifteen. Some suspect poisoning. His mother Jane was the only Queen who received full royal pomp for her funeral and is buried beside Henry in St. George’s chapel, Windsor Castle. She was only twenty-eight.

Anne of Cleves– The fourth wife to Henry, this pairing was a result of political maneuvering between the crown and Anne’s brother William, a religious leader in Germany. Henry had never actually seen Anne in person before they married; he’d only seen a painting. When they finally came face to face, Henry was disappointed. Although a nice woman, Anne was plain looking, and not the temptress he’d hoped for. Despite having no sexual attraction to her, Henry still found he enjoyed Anne’s company.

Six months later, their marriage was annulled. Henry claimed it was never consummated. In an uncharacteristic act of generosity, Henry gave Anne a castle and she lived in comfort for the rest of her life, even being called “The King’s beloved sister.’ She died at the age of forty-two and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Catherine Howard – Coming from yet another powerful household, the men of her family pushed this adolescent girl in front of the king. Pretty and coquettish, Henry agreed to marry her. Catherine was young and let’s face it, not sexually attracted to, by-now, a fat fifty-year-old with gout. Her youthful, naive spirit didn’t understand the dangers of the court and how the walls had eyes and ears.

Some of the male palace courtiers started looking good to Catherine. When her adultery was discovered, she was sentenced to the chopping block. Legend says you can still hear her screams in the palace late at night, reflecting her terrified state as the guards came to take her away.

Catherine Parr – By now, Henry was ready for a mature woman who wouldn’t go lusting after the palace yeomen. Called the “most married” of Henry’s wives, Catherine had been widowed twice before wedding the king. She was a modern lady for her day, as the first female in England to publish her own book, under her own name. She was also influential in restoring the line of succession to include Henry’s daughters, Mary and Elizabeth.

Unfortunately, Catherine had Protestant leanings, which garnered enemies, who claimed it was treasonous. At one point, an arrest warrant was drawn up, but appealing to the king, she survived. Six months after Henry passed away, Catherine married Baron Thomas Seymour, but died shortly after in childbirth at the age of thirty-six.

It seems ironic. For all Henry’s longing for a male heir, his daughter by Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, became one of the most beloved, long-reigning monarchs in British history.

I’d love to visit Hampton Court someday, the main palace where Henry lived. In the meantime, maybe I’ll see “Six” on Broadway. If nothing more, to pay homage to these amazing women, who all did their best to survive, under perilous circumstances.

 

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