Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.

Yes, in the 1st six terms of Olivier Award–nominated musical Six, we learn the fate of every of Henry VIII’s spouses. But exactly how much are you aware about their life?

Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss dug in to the reputation for Tudor England as well as the court that is royal the lyrics with their pop music opera, and greater historic knowledge means greater appreciation associated with nuances in Marlow and Moss’ writing. Listed below are the CliffsNotes that will help you navigate this chapter in Uk history.

Catherine of Aragon Queen from 1509–1533The “paragon of royalty” ended up being the very first spouse of Henry VIII. A spanish princess, she had been the child of Isabelle and Ferdinand, thus the Latin beats and Spanish trumpets in her own Six solo “No Way.” Catherine first married Arthur (Henry’s older bro and heir obvious to your English throne) in 1501 whenever she ended up being 15. But five months after their wedding, Arthur passed away. Arthur’s daddy almost needed to return her dowry, however a King would not part with money—or European alliances. He married her off to their more youthful son, Henry VIII, in 1509, though Henry had been 5 years her junior. She faithfully served England, ruling as regent in 1513 whenever Henry ended up being away in France. Nevertheless when she didn’t create a male heir, things got complicated. Along with her 5th maternity, Catherine offered delivery to Mary (the long run Mary we of England), but Henry became preoccupied with siring a child. He became believing that his wedding to their brother’s widow had been cursed by Jesus, or, as Catherine sings, “You say it is a shame ‘cause quoting Leviticus ‘I’ll find yourself kidiless all my entire life.’”

It’s commonly thought he utilized the Bible as a justification to divorce the princess that is spanish an intend to marry her woman in waiting, Anne Boleyn. Catherine ended up being furious he cast her apart; she had tolerated their affairs (“I’ve never destroyed control regardless of how times that are many knew you lied”) as any Queen had been anticipated. More over, Catherine maintained that she had never ever consummated her wedding to Arthur—so that’s the marriage that has been null. Complicated, we understand. Because the track indicates, Catherine declined an annulment, claiming until her death that she ended up being the rightful Queen. Catherine had been provided for a “nun-ry” but ultimately relocated to The greater amount of Castle. She passed away in 1536 during the chronilogical age of 50, nevertheless keeping she had been the actual only real wife that is legitimate of VIII.

Anne Boleyn Queen from 1533–1536Though affairs between your King and their Queen’s women in waiting were common and anticipated, no body expected him to go out of Catherine to wed Anne—the sibling of their previous mistress, at that. Anne was raised during the court associated with Queen of France before going back house to England to become listed on the royal court.

Anne Boleyn is usually depicted given that wife that is devious allegedly plotting to dethrone Catherine—unsatisfied to be simply a mistress, “some woman in a threesome.” Henry and Anne married in secret January 25, 1533; they got the Archbishop to declare Henry’s wedding to Catherine null and their marriage that is new to valid—thus breaking through the Catholic Church and starting the Church of England. Anne had been crowned queen June 1, 1533; she quickly provided delivery to a lady, the long run Elizabeth we. But after three miscarriages, Henry took a mistress that is new Jane Seymour. Needing method to rid himself of Anne, Henry stated that Anne had bewitched him as he ended up being married to Catherine. Anne maybe flirted with a few men “just to create him jel,” but that merely resulted in accusations of incest and adultery. She had been beheaded in the Tower of London may 15, 1536, at age 35.

Fun reality: Historians think Henry VIII had written “Greensleeves” for Anne Boleyn, who he had been wanting to woo. Ergo, the techno remix of “Greensleeves” in “Ex-Wives.”

Jane Seymour Queen from 1536–1537Just as Anne Boleyn overtook the girl she served, Jane Seymour had been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, after serving Queen Catherine. Henry VIII became betrothed to Jane one after Anne’s execution day. Jane offered birth up to a son, Edward, in 1537 and died two weeks later of postnatal complications october. Jane is oftentimes regarded as the favourite, if it she sings that “without my son your love could fade away. as she actually is the sole spouse Henry freely mourned therefore the only 1 to receive a queen’s funeral, which is the reason why her song in Six is one of like an electric ballad—even” Henry VIII ended up being ultimately hidden beside her at Windsor Castle.

Anne of Cleves Queen from January 1540–July 1540Anne of Cleves lasted just months that are sixth Queen, but she kept her mind. Musician Hans Holbein younger went along to Germany to paint Anne and her cousin, as Henry VIII considered which will be their fourth spouse. (We understand these travels in “Haus of Holbein.”)

Nevertheless when Anne arrived after her portrait, Henry felt she “didn’t did look that is n’t her profile image.” She revealed a basic not enough elegance, “sippin’ on mead and I also spill it back at my dress,” asian brides in bikini which additionally displeased the royal. Essentially, the master made excuses for their displeasure her, saying there was no way she was a virgin when they wed with her and found another excuse to be rid of. Awarded an annulment, Anne stayed in benefit utilizing the King and sometimes checked out court through the reigns associated with the last two queens. She passed away in 1557.

Catherine Howard Queen from 1540–1541Catherine, better referred to as Kitty, ended up being very long the item of intimate attention as recommended in “All You Wanna Do.” She had been molested by her music instructor, Henry Mannox, as he had been 36 ( not 23 as Six states) and she 13. At 15, she relocated along with her grandmother, “the dowager Duchess,” and became enthusiasts with “sexy secretary” Francis Dereham—an event that will started to haunt her later on. Her grandmother discovered the affair and delivered her to your Tudor court.

Like her relative, Anne Boleyn, she served as being a lady-in-waiting however in the court of Anne of Cleves. The king ended up being 49 yrs . old as he married the 16-year-old. Nevertheless the gossips at court—some of who had witnessed Dereham—quickly spread word to her behavior that Catherine ended up being committing adultery behind Henry’s straight straight back with Henry’s courtier Thomas Culpeper. Culpepper, Dereham, and Catherine had been all performed (Dereham ended up being drawn and quartered). Catherine, beheaded February 13, 1542, had been hidden in a grave that is unmarked.

Catherine Parr Queen from 1543-1547The last spouse of Henry VIII lived in constant concern about her very own execution. Ahead of her marriage to King Henry VIII, she had two past husbands and had been widowed both in situations. She had dropped in deep love with Thomas Seymour (Jane’s bro) before she caught the attention associated with the King. As well as in “I Don’t Need Your Love,her alone to save them both from the King’s wrath and certain death” she pleads with Thomas to leave.

Because of the time she wed Henry, he was 52 plus in ill wellness.

Catherine ingratiated herself to your king by being a mom to their three young ones: Catherine of Aragon’s Mary, Anne Boleyn’s Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour’s Edward. She actually is the one who restored Mary and Elizabeth’s royal standing therefore that they’d come in the line of succession.

During her reign, Catherine had been the initial queen of England and Ireland; she ended up being additionally the queen most abundant in influence that is diplomatic Catherine of Aragon, as she served as regent whenever Henry traveled to France once more. Catherine ended up being an advocate of reformation when you look at the Church, Protestantism. In reality, she published publications on prayer inside her own name—and ended up being the first Queen of England to do this. Therefore it’s correct that she “fought for female education.” Before Henry VIII passed away January 28, 1547, he instructed that she be respected because the Queen of England even with their death—which is what took place. She stepped down through the throne whenever Prince Edward, Jane Seymour’s son, ended up being willing to ascend in 1547. This time around, she ended up being the main one to re-marry, to gentleman for the court Thomas Seymour. She passed away September 5, 1548.