Henry VIII

Henry VIII is the second son of Henry VII, King of England of the house of Tudor. Henry VIII, as the second son, was not expected to rule England. However, when Henry's brother, Arthur, died before he could take the crown, his brother Henry was elevated to eldest son and therefore inherited the crown of England upon his father's death.

Henry VIII was an athletic young man who was extremely handsome. At the time Henry took the crown of England, he was the youngest and most handsome monarch alive. Upon his coronation, Henry married Catherine of Aragon, the widow of his elder brother Arthur. Henry was intended to marry Catherine practically from the moment of his brother's death, but Henry's father continuously refused to allow the marriage to take place because of the refusal of Catherine's father, Ferdinand of Aragon, to pay her remaining dowry. In fact...