Who were Henry VIII’s six wives in order? Wolf Hall explained

Wolf Hall gives viewers a glimpse into the life of one of England's most notorious monarchs, Henry VIII, from Thomas Cromwell's point of view and includes five of his marriages.

The Tudor ruler was famously married six times before his death in 1547, with school children taught the cheerful rhyme "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived" to remember their fates in order. Though others learning of the royal's scandalous love life may even do so through the musical Six, which centres on Henry VIII's wives rather than the monarch himself.

But which wife came first and how long were they married to the monarch? Here is everything that you need to know about each.

Henry VIII's wives in order

Catherine of Aragon

Henry VIII's first wife was Catherine of Aragon. The Spanish princess was originally wed to his brother Arthur, but upon his death was betrothed to Henry, and she married the English monarch in 1509 six weeks after he was crowned. Even at the age of 17, Henry VIII was keen to protect the Tudor line of succession by having a son.

During the course of their marriage, Catherine had multiple miscarriages and still births, and the only child of theirs to survive to adulthood was their daughter Mary. The pair were married for 23 years before the monarch began to become impatient to have a son, with historian Tracy Borman saying of Catherine: "Henry viewed her as a model wife in every respect bar one… her failure to give him a son."

As a result, Henry sought to annul his marriage to Catherine by claiming to the Pope that their marriage was invalid because she had consummated her first marriage to his brother, which she always staunchly denied. The monarch went on to break with the Holy Roman Empire and establish himself as the head of the Church of England so that he could annul his marriage and wed someone else, Cromwell was the man to help him make this come about, and secured him his second marriage.

Anne Boleyn

The monarch's second marriage was to Anne Boleyn, who Henry VIII grew fond of while she was a lady-in-waiting to Catherine and whose sister was once his mistress. Anne refused the king's advances before they were married, and so Henry VIII broke with Rome to make it possible to marry her.

Read more:

As Wolf Hall reaches its endgame, how did Thomas Cromwell die?

The best Tudor movies and TV shows to watch if you like Wolf Hall

As Wolf Hall explores Henry VIII's quest for an heir, how many children did he have?

Anne and Henry VIII were married in 1533, and that same year the queen gave birth to their first child Elizabeth. The monarch remained hopeful that Anne would bear him a son, but she went on to have miscarriages and stillborn births like Catherine and Henry soon lost interest in their marriage.

In the end, Henry VIII accused Anne of adultery and treason so that their marriage could be annulled, and he had her beheaded in 1536.

Jane Seymour

Henry VIII began to take an interest in Jane Seymour during his marriage to Anne Boleyn, she was a lady in waiting to both Anne and Catherine. After Anne's death in 1536 Henry VIII quickly wed Jane, and in October 1537 she gave birth to the monarch's long-awaited son Edward.

While the king was no doubt delighted to finally have secured his heir, his wife Jane died from complications with the birth several weeks later.

Anne of Cleves

The monarch was convinced to marry again, and this time Cromwell helped to secure the monarch's marriage to German princess Anne of Cleves, whose family could help support the king from his enemies in France and Rome. The monarch agreed to the match after commissioning a painting of her and liking how she looked in it, but when they met he found that he did not life her.

Henry VIII tried to avoid the marriage but was unable to call it off without repercussions, so it went ahead in January 1540. However just six months later the monarch had the marriage annulled on the basis that it was unconsummated. Anne continued to have a good relationship with Henry VIII and became know as the "King's sister".

Catherine Howard

Henry VIII once more sought the company of one of his wive's ladies-in-waiting with Catherine Howard, who had previously served Anne of Cleves. They married in 1540 and for a time the monarch showered his wife with lavish gifts, but then rumours began to circulate that she was being unfaithful to him.

By 1542 the king had enough evidence that his queen was committing adultery and he had her arrested on this charge, and for treason, and she was beheaded in February 1542.

Catherine Parr

Henry VIII's final wife was Catherine Parr, who married the monarch in July 1543. The queen was seen as a peacemaker of sorts, and while she was once arrested by her husband she was able to avoid the same fate as some of her predecessors. Catherine was an able stepmother to Mary, Elizabeth and Edward, and even helped to persuade her husband to restore his daughters in his line of succession.

When Henry VIII went on a military campaign in France in 1544 his wife acted as regent, and Catherine is also known as the first woman to have a book published under her own name in England. After Henry VIII's death in 1547 she continued to help raise his children until her death a year later.

Wolf Hall ends on Sunday, 15 December at 9pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.