Want to hear more about the crazy Henry VIII and his six wives? Here's a little way to remember their fate: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. Both Catherine of Aragon (wife #1) and Anne of Cleves (wife #4) weren't really divorced, the marriages were annulled. Also, ironically, the marriages to Ann Boleyn (wife #2) and Catherine Howard (wife #5) were also annulled before their beheadings, which is kinda crazy because if they weren't really married to Henry the VIII, then they couldn't have committed the crime of adultery which is what they were put to death for. So why should we care? Well, besides the fact it is an interesting soap opera, due to the divorce or should I say annulment to Catherine of Aragon, King Henry the VIII broke with the Catholic Church.This was a BIG DEAL for the entire country. There were some serious culture wars going on here. He told the Pope back in Rome to get lost and Henry VIII formed his own church-the Anglican Church. This caused a lot of anger and dissent among his loyal and not so loyal subjects. It partly prompted many to either work to reform the church such as the Puritans, or break with it entirely like the Pilgrims, aka, Separatists or Saints. A lot of crazy stuff happens when you make a decision that big. So how did James inherit the throne? You know, King James I, the guy who the Pilgrims and Puritans couldn't stand? The guy who kinda sorta redid the Bible, well-the long story short... Edward VI inherited the throne after Henry VIII died. He was the son of Henry VIII's most beloved wife, Jane Seymour, who died after giving birth to Edward. Mary I, daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon (daughter of Isabella as in Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain), inherited the throne after her half brother died (sadly he was just 15). Now granted there was a little turmoil in between his death and her ascension, but basically Mary I was pretty stoked because this meant she could reinstate the Catholic Church as the main church of England. After all her now dead half-brother was the first monarch to be raised as a Protestant, and Mary wasn't too keen on that situation. Mary I was a devout Catholic and once she was in power, she put to death a bunch of 'non-believers', i.e. non-Catholics, earning her title, 'Bloody Mary.' She ruled for about 5 years, had no babies, and thus left the throne empty upon her death. When she died her half sister, Elizabeth (daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn) came to the throne. Mary I was most likely was rolling over in her grave, bummed that she didn't have Elizabeth executed, although she considered it, because Elizabeth was a Protestant. Remember Mary I was a very, very religious Catholic. Turns out, Elizabeth also didn't have any little ones, which means no heir, so after some dispute and some crazy, crazy political wrangling that is just too complicated to explain in a paragraph, James I came to the throne. His ascension ended the Tudor line and starting a new line called the Stuarts from the Scottish part of the island. He was the son of Mary Queen of Scots, who also tried to have Elizabeth assassinated roughly three times (Elizabeth in turn had her executed). Whew, that Elizabeth sure escaped death a lot! Let's just say, it was good to NOT be the queen during 16th and 17th century England. Following an interesting and insightful conversation about art (and the defacing of it), here is some information about the elusive UK street artist's work. Please be warned that some of the material demands that you use a mature eye and perspective. This section is reserved for links connecting you to historical information. There is everything from presidential election links to"'This Day in History" facts. You will also find a National Geographic photograph of the day. |