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Henry VIII is second only to his daughter, Elizabeth I, as the best known monarch in English history. Henry has been featured in some 18 films since the 1920s, and currently the subject of a Showtime dramatic series, The Tudors. The details of his life, both private and public, are VERY well documented and known.

Henry was certainly a tyrant. He was without a doubt a devoted student of Machiavelli. Well before the doctrine of "The Divine Right of Kings" had become an accepted political reality, Henry made himself an absolute king; ruling with little regard for advice from his courtiers or Parliament Any who stood in his way suffered greatly; often with their lives.

Henry was a strong-willed and single-minded king. He spent his life and long reign as king in the pursuit of female companionship; and in securing a male heir to continue the Tudor dynasty. Secondary to these dual obsessions was his desire for wealth and temporal glory; and the establishment and maintenance of his absolute power.

Anyone or any institution that stood in the way of these goals; or any other whim of Henry's was ground beneath his iron will.

To secure a male heir and marry the woman he desired, he tore England away from allegiance from the Catholic faith; though the vast majority of his subjects were loyal to that faith. In so doing, he condemned England to nearly a century of religious upheavals; both within and without his court and dynasty.

To his credit, Henry can be considered the father of the British navy; starting the shipbuilding program that would continue under Elizabeth I, and during her reign save England from Spanish invasion and almost certain conquest.

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15y ago

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