Items related to Henry: Model of a Tyrant
How and why did Henry VIII turn from a glamorous Renaissance prince into this country's greatest tyrant? David Starkey's magesterial concluding biography, published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Henry's accession to the throne, tells this remarkable, bloodthirsty story. When Henry VIII came to throne in 1509, he had already distinguished himself as a scholar, musician and athlete. So how did this glamorous young Renaissance prince become this country's greatest tyrant? Desperate to cement his claim to the throne, Henry quickly became frustrated by the lack of a male heir from his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. His impatience increased after he became infatuated with the beautiful Anne Boleyn. When Anne refused to become his mistress, a desperate Henry was forced to take action that would set the course of British history for the next 500 years. In a move that would have fateful consequences for all involved, Henry ordered his lifelong friend Thomas More to implement religious changes that would allow him to remarry. The resulting establishment of the Church of England catapulted Henry to the height of his personal power and led to More's death. Catherine was dismissed, Anne was ushered in, and so began the bloody cycle of marriage, divorce and execution Henry is still remembered for today. And yet behind this brutal history was a man traumatised by bitter divorce. David Starkey's magisterial concluding biography of this most complex of British kings, published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Henry's accession to the throne, tells the bloodstained story of his remarkable shift from humanist prince to all-powerful despot during one of the most vivid and significant periods of British history.
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Synopsis:
How and why did Henry VIII turn from a glamorous Renaissance prince into this country's greatest tyrant? David Starkey's magesterial concluding biography, published to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Henry's accession to the throne, tells this remarkable, bloodthirsty story. As a young prince, Henry distinguished himself as an accomplished author, poet and musician. A true man of the Renaissance, his shift in character to an all-powerful tyrant is one of the most vivid and significant aspects of British history. Frustrated by the lack of a male heir, King Henry's impatience with his wife, Catherine of Aragon, only increased after he became infatuated with the beautiful Anne Boleyn. Anne's refusal to become his mistress led to a divorce that set the course of British history for the next 500 years, and catapulted the King to the height of his personal power. Forbidden by the Church to have his marriage annulled, Henry ordered his lifelong friend, Thomas More, to implement his wishes on divorce and religion. More could not accept his old friend's denial of the Pope's authority, and was eventually allowed to resign. In 1535, Henry had him executed for high treason.The most powerful monarch to have ever ruled Britain, Henry VIII soon established the Church of England giving himself complete control over Church and State. Yet behind this image was a man deeply traumatised by a bitter divorce. With so many of those closest to him siding with Catherine, his personal life had begun to spiral out of control.
About the Author:
David Starkey is Honorary Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, and the author of many books including ‘Elizabeth’; ‘Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII’ and ‘Monarchy: England and Her Rulers from the Tudors to the Windsors’. He is a winner of the WH Smith Prize and the Norton Medlicott Medal for Services to History presented by Britain’s Historical Association. He is a well-known TV and radio personality. He was made a CBE in 2007. He lives in London.
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- PublisherWilliam Collins
- Publication date2022
- ISBN 10 0007292643
- ISBN 13 9780007292646
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages400
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