Introduction
The story of Henry the 8th and his six wives is one of the most famous stories in English history. It has been retold countless times in books, films, and TV shows. One of the most popular ways of remembering the names of Henry's wives is through a rhyme that goes something like this:
The Rhyme
The rhyme goes like this:
"Divorced, beheaded, died;
Divorced, beheaded, survived."
This rhyme is a simple way of remembering the fates of each of Henry's wives.
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon was Henry's first wife. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Catherine was married to Henry for almost 24 years, but they were unable to have a son. Henry wanted to divorce Catherine so he could marry Anne Boleyn, but the Pope refused to annul the marriage. Henry went ahead and divorced Catherine anyway, and she was forced to live in exile until her death in 1536.
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn was Henry's second wife. She was a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon before she caught Henry's eye. Anne was married to Henry for only three years before she was accused of adultery and treason. She was beheaded in 1536.
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour was Henry's third wife. She was a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn before she married Henry. Jane gave birth to Henry's only son, Edward VI, but she died shortly after giving birth due to complications. She is the only one of Henry's wives to be buried with him.
Anne of Cleves
Anne of Cleves was Henry's fourth wife. Henry married her because he wanted an alliance with her brother, the Duke of Cleves. However, Henry found Anne unattractive and quickly became disenchanted with her. He annulled the marriage after only six months.
Catherine Howard
Catherine Howard was Henry's fifth wife. She was a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves before she married Henry. Catherine was accused of adultery and treason, and she was beheaded in 1542. She was only 19 years old.
Katherine Parr
Katherine Parr was Henry's sixth and final wife. She was a widow and had already been married twice before she married Henry. Katherine was a devout Protestant and helped to influence Henry's religious views. She outlived Henry and went on to marry again after his death.
Conclusion
The story of Henry the 8th and his six wives is a fascinating one. The rhyme "Divorced, beheaded, died; Divorced, beheaded, survived" is a simple way of remembering the fates of each of Henry's wives. It is a testament to the enduring popularity of this story that it continues to fascinate people to this day.