Hampton Court

While working at Wisley, I was lucky enough to visit the historic Hampton Court Palace in Richmond. Hampton Court was originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, Archbishop of York and favorite of Henry VIII, around 1529. Just a few years after, the King along with enemies of Wolsey began to orchestrate his downfall, and in response, Wolsey gifted Hampton Court to the King. This began the legendary Tudor Period at Hampton Court.

While walking the halls of Hampton Court, it was staggering to think of all the historic events that happened during Henry VIII’s time. What struck me most was learning of the often tragic history of Henry VIII’s wives.

The first tragedy to befall the women of Hampton Court was the inability of Lady Catherine (Henry VIII’s first wife) to give him an heir, having all her children (except for Mary) die at infancy. After becoming infatuated with Anne Boleyn, the King along with Anne (a figure in the Reformation movement) worked to defy Papal authority and have the King’s first marriage annulled. With her own keen intelligence, political acumen, occasional brashness of manner, Anne was blamed by the public for much of the tyranny of Henry VIII’s reign including the execution of Sir Thomas Moore and Bishop John Fisher. With the negative public image, a second miscarriage of a potential heir, and enemies of Anne looming in the religious and political upheaval of the time, the King along with Thomas Cromwell orchestrated a travesty of justice that resulted in her arrest, charges of infidelity, and execution at the Tower of London in 1536.

After tiring of his second wife, Anne Boleyn, the King moved his mistress Jane Seymour into Hampton Court prior to Anne’s beheading. Just ten days after Anne’s execution, the King took Jane as his third wife. In 1537, the King finally received his heir, Edward VI, by his beloved Jane Seymour, but the difficult birth unfortunately resulted in her death a few days later.

The King was only married to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleaves, for 6 months before having the marriage annulled calling her “the King’s beloved sister.” The marriage was apparently never consummated. Just four years after Edward’s birth, the King was informed of his fifth wife’s infidelity while attending Mass in the chapel at Hampton court. Catherine Howard was reportedly dragged away kicking and screaming from the gallery leading into the chapel, and was beheaded on the grounds of treason.

Henry VIII’s final marriage to his 6^th wife Catherine Parr would remain until his death in 1547. During her marriage, Catherine Parr was able to reconcile the King with his daughters from previous marriages, who would go on to be Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. She was also reported to have a good relationship with the heir to the throne, King Edward VI.

I would like to say a special thanks to Judy Moss for taking me to Hampton Court; it was so exciting to visit such a lavish and historic place. It was a trip I won’t soon forget.