Henry VIII and His Six Wives

Henry VIII (reigned 1509–1547) is one of England's best-known monarchs. His desire for a male heir led him to seek annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon; when the Pope refused, Henry broke with Rome and made himself Supreme Head of a new Church of England. He had six wives in all, summarised by the rhyme "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived".

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They were, in order: Catherine of Aragon (divorced), Anne Boleyn (beheaded), Jane Seymour (died in childbirth), Anne of Cleves (divorced), Catherine Howard (beheaded) and Catherine Parr (survived him). Three children — Mary, Elizabeth and Edward — would each in turn rule England.

You may be asked the rhyme for the six wives, who succeeded Henry VIII (his son Edward VI), or which Catherine was his first wife (Catherine of Aragon).

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These questions from the official-format question bank cover the same material. Tap any question to see the correct answer and a short explanation.

1. Who was Catherine of Aragon (the first of Henry VIII's six wives)?
2. Which of Henry VIII's wives were executed?
3. Why did Henry VIII establish the church of England?
4. Where was Anne Boleyn, the wife of Henry VIII, executed?
5. Where was Anne Boleyn, the wife of Henry VIII who was accused of taking lovers, executed?
6. Anne Boleyn the wife of Henry VIII was a ______ princess, she and Henry had one daughter, Elizabeth

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