Category: United Kingdom

Mary, Queen of Scots was put to death by beheading in 1587, at Fotheringhay Castle in England, after 19 years of imprisonment, for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I. In 1542, while just six days old, Mary ascended to the Scottish throne upon the death of her father, King James V.…

James VI and I reigned as King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 until he died in 1625 and as King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603. James was the son of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a…

It is well known that Henry VIII was ruthless, arrogant, and at times downright rude. Despite this, it’s difficult to argue that King Henry VIII was a competent ruler. During his reign as King of England from 1509 to 1547, he accomplished a great deal. Henry VIII is one of the most well-known monarchs in…

Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage annulled. Henry’s contemporaries considered him to be an attractive, educated and accomplished king. He was a powerful man and charismatic figure; perhaps best…

Henry VIII had several children, but three of them were his legitimate children. These three were Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I, who all survived past infancy. All three of Henry VIII’s legitimate children – Mary, Elizabeth and Edward – became queens or kings of England. They played an important role in both British…

Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage annulled. He was a powerful man and charismatic figure; perhaps best known for his tumultuous love life and the establishment of the Church…

Divorced, Beheaded, Died: Divorced, Beheaded, Survived.” The rhyme reveals the fate of each of his spouses. O Death Rock Me Asleep” is a Tudor-era poem, traditionally attributed to Anne Boleyn. It was written shortly before her execution in 1536 and after Queen Elizabeth I was born. The poem is generally attributed to Anne Boleyn, and…

Henry VIII was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage annulled. He was a powerful man and charismatic figure; perhaps best known for his tumultuous love life and the establishment of the Church…

When Henry VIII died in 1547, his body was kept in Whitehall for a few days before being moved to Windsor. The funeral cortege stayed overnight at Syon House on its way to Windsor. There are two theories about what happened to the royal corpse overnight. One is that his casket was opened and the…