The Six Wives of Henry VIII (documentary)
| The Six Wives of Henry VIII | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Documentary |
| Written by | David Starkey |
| Directed by | Steven Clarke (1) Mary Cranitch (2) Louise Wardle (3) Nicholas White (4) |
| Presented by | David Starkey |
| Composer(s) | Andy Price |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Steven Clarke (1) Mary Cranitch (2) Louise Wardle (3) Nicholas White (4) |
| Cinematography | Chris Openshaw Jeremy Humphries |
| Running time | 45-50 mins |
| Production company(s) | United Productions Channel 4 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Channel 4 |
| Original release | 10 September – 1 October 2001 |
The Six Wives of Henry VIII is a 2001 documentary miniseries about the wives of King Henry VIII presented by historian David Starkey from historic locations with added re-enactments.
Spanish princess, Catherine of Aragon, marries Arthur, Prince of Wales in 1501. When he dies shortly after their marriage, she is left to fend for herself in the English court. Seven years later, Arthur’s younger brother Henry (who has become king) marries Catherine, Making for Peace with Spain and France. In a war with France, Catherine is a helpful strategist to her husband, the King. But after several years of marriage with only one living daughter, Princess Mary, and no surviving sons, Henry turns his attention to Anne Boleyn, one of Catherine’s ladies-in-waiting. After years of struggling against the Vatican and being denied an annulment, Henry breaks away from the Catholic Church. He creates the Church of England, in which he acts as Supreme Head on Earth, and divorces Catherine in order to marry Anne.
Anne Boleyn
Having spent time in the Netherlands in Archduchess Margaret’s court, Anne Boleyn is knowledgeable of courtly ways. Her flirtatious nature and quick wit attract Henry, who initially seeks to make her his mistress. However, Anne refuses the role after seeing the outcome of what happened to her sister, Mary Boleyn, and makes it clear that she will not sleep with him until they are married and she is queen. During Henry’s struggle with the Vatican to end his marriage to Catherine, the English people come to dislike Anne, as they love Catherine and believe Anne is heretical in her religious beliefs of reform. After Henry starts the Church of England and divorces Catherine, he is free to marry Anne. Shortly after their marriage, a coronation is held for Anne, at which she is made Henry’s queen consort. A few months later, she gives birth to their daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Anne’s fiery temper and her inability to produce a male heir to the throne cause Henry to grow tired of her. In order to pursue a new wife, Henry believes rumors and accusations of Anne’s adultery, incest, and witchcraft. After her trial, she is judged by a jury of her peers, including her uncle Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, and is found guilty. After a few days imprisonment in the Tower of London, she is beheaded.
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