(1491-1547) Henry VIII was king of England from 1509 to 1547. One of England's most powerful rulers, he oversaw the change from a feudal system to centralized government and created the formidable English navy. When the Catholic Church denied his request for a divorce from his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, he installed himself as head of the Church of England. Henry's marriage to Catherine was then expeditiously pronounced invalid. (Catherine's daughter became the future queen Mary I.) Henry proceeded to marry another five women in turn: Anne Boleyn, who was charged with adultery and beheaded (her daughter became the future queen Elizabeth I); Jane Seymour (who died giving birth to Edward VI, Henry's successor); Anne of Cleves (whom Henry divorced); Catherine Howard (who was beheaded); and Catherine Parr, who survived him.
