The Wives of Henry VIII and the Parts They Played in History

by Martin Andrew Sharp Hume

Biographies, first published in 1905. The Preface begins: "Either by chance or by the peculiar working of our constitution, the Queen Consorts of England have as a rule been nationally important only in proportion to the influence exerted by the political tendencies which prompted their respective marriages. England has had no Catharine or Marie de Medici, no Elizabeth Farnese, no Catharine of Russia, no Caroline of Naples, no Maria Luisa of Spain, who, either through the minority of their sons or the weakness of their husbands, dominated the countries of their adoption; the Consorts of English Kings having been, in the great majority of cases, simply domestic helpmates of their husbands and children, with comparatively small political power or ambition for themselves. Only those whose elevation responded to tendencies of a nationally enduring character, or who represented temporarily the active forces in a great national struggle, can claim to be powerful political factors in the history of our country. The six Consorts of Henry VIII., whose successive rise and fall synchronised with the beginning and progress of the Reformation in England, are perhaps those whose fleeting prominence was most pregnant of good or evil for the nation and for civilisation at large, because they personified causes infinitely more important than themselves."

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Classics, Historical, Tudor Period, British Literature

ebook

First published January 1, 1905

About the author

Martin Andrew Sharp Hume, (1843 -1910) born Martin Andrew Sharp, was an English historian and longtime resident of Spain.

After some practice in journalism, he meanwhile produced his first book, A Chronicle of King Henry VIII of England (1889), a translation from the Spanish. Though this attracted little attention, Hume persevered, and The Courtships of Queen Elizabeth; a History of the Various Negotiations for her Marriage, and The Year after the Armada, and other Historical Studies, both issued in 1896, were received with a degree of popular favour which led him to adopt authorship as a profession. In 1897, he published Sir Walter Ralegh and Philip II of Spain, the latter monograph showing insight and independence of view.

Next year Hume succeeded Pascual de Gayangos at the Public Record Office as editor of the Spanish State Papers, and did sound work in this capacity. However, his official duties did not absorb all his energies. In 1898, he published The Great Lord Burghley, a readable study, and Spain, its Greatness and Decay, 1479–1789, a useful historical outline, which he completed in the following year by the publication of Modern Spain, 1788-1898 (1899 ; new edit. 1906).

Reviews

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh those days before women's lib. Accordiing to Hume, Henry VIII's were sinned against, but they were also guilty of the following sins: Pride (Anne Boleyn and Katherine of A), Greed (Anne Boleynb), Lust (Howard), Stupidity (Anne of Cleves), and Stubborness (Katherine of A). Jane Seymour is too limp to have any sins, and Catherine Parr was the perfect wife for the jerk. Hume does admit Henry was a jerk, but he seems to blame the wives at the same point he keeps saying he isn't blaming them.

It must have been groundbreaking for its time, but Hume relates too much as fact that isn't fact (Howard's last words) and irgnores other things. He also presumes too much.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book placed the history of Henry VIII’s six wives in the bigger picture of 16th century European politics.

I was also intrigued by the fact that the style of the book made me ponder the question: Is it right for historians to make judgments?

Because wow is this guy a Judgey McJudgerson, very quick to throw around words like “stupid”, “silly” , “lust” , “shrew”, “vain” , “proud” , etc.

Should history be a dry recitation of facts, figures and dates ? Or would that be too dull? Or should we point out the human foibles, hold up the negative and positive under bright lights to try and truly see what happened? Or would that be too prejudicial?

No idea, but interesting approaches to consider.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I watched the mini-series "The Six Wives of Henry VIII" back in 1970, and I remember thinking how soap opera-ish it was. This book not only covers the concupiscence of Henry, but gives the background against which his marriages took place. It is a varied tapestry; in addition to his own people, Henry had to consider the kings of France, Spain, and Scotland; the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor; and the urgings of his own "conscience" (if indeed he had one). Henry is painted as a vain, weak, selfish, overindulged bully, who always had to have his own way and never took the blame for anything he had done.

Personal observation: Anne of Cleves got the best deal. Henry disliked her, so he never consummated the marriage. After six months, the so-called marriage was annulled. Anne was given a generous settlement by the King, and she lived in England for the rest of her life, on good terms with Henry's three children. She outlived Henry by ten years and witnessed the reign of Edward VI and the accession to the Crown of Mary I.

[Janet Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the roles these six wives played in a power struggle between the established Catholic religion and Henry VIII’s newly established Church of England.

Hume bypasses the usual arguments that England’s king was driven entirely by his sexual desire, or by some higher cause to shake off the religious control of Rome. Instead he paints a picture of Henry VIII as proud and arrogant, used to having what he wanted, when he wanted it; and of a mixed bag of astute courtiers who recognize these vanities as weaknesses. They also understood how to manipulate Henry's fragilities by installing a succession of wives, under their own control, capable of influencing the king’s decisions.

It makes for a fascinating read.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather than looking at the personal side of each relationship, this account focuses more on the sociopolitical events of the day, and how Henry vacillated between France and the Empire, Catholicism and Protestantism (or at least, his personal form of Catholicism apart from the Pope) in his choice of wife. It's a good treatment of the historical events of the day.

Nicely read by Warren Kati, although there were some mispronunciations once in a while.

[Donna Pingry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very educational

[Deborah McClain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but not the best

I've always enjoyed history whether it here United States, Europe, or Eng!and. It was well written, intriguing,
but boring. In parts of the book. There was no new information , just repeat of old stories. Where does the wives of Henry influence him politically at all? None. The man did what he want and the women were pawns in political games of their families but of no influence. The parts they played were more of fancy then any thing else. I will admit that because of Anne Boleyn, King Henry union , it gave England one of the Strongest, smartest monorach England ever had. Elizabeth the first

[Emma Dawes · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest I found it a bit on the dry side. I feel very misled by the title as this book was more about Henry, his allies and adversaries than about his wives. This book is very much about politics and their influence over Henry. I was looking forward to reading more about the roles and influences of six of history's great women but sadly I feel it is another example of a book written by a stereotypical male historian- at times placing the women into sexist pigeon holes (and essentially blaming them for their own demise)and at other times ignoring them completely. HIStory and indeed not entirely what it says on the tin.

[Lisa Shields · Rating 3 out of 5]

An exhaustingly detailed narrative of the politics behind the marriages of King Henry VIII. This book delves further into the political machinations of court life than most Tudor biographies, skipping the florid prose and sticking to the facts. Speaking of facts, this book is full of them. Almost tediously so. For those dedicated to understanding Henry's court, it is worth reading. I wouldn't recommend it to the casual student of Tudor court life.

[Michael Benjamin]

I finished it. It is not only well written, it is ultra erudite (I was searching for the dictionary a few times.
The House Of Cards has nothing on Henry; apart from Henry being manipulated and manipulating. What an insight into greed, religion and the religious.
Human nature has not changed, cynicism is eternal and the most reliably consistent of all human traits.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

We are supposedly descended from the OTHER Boleyn girl - that explains some things - but seriously - I think the author has to put his own ideas together in a lot of this book because it was so long ago. I don't know how you do research on history so far gone by.

[Richard Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

If the author is to be believed, the Reformation ocurred only because Henry VIII was a vain, indulgent monarch. the evidence presented in this book lends credence to the claim.

[pat mcclain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things I never now

I love this book. It gives me a insight into how things work in this area. I also think that most people family's wood have been scared when the king started looking at their daughters.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dry but fascinating

Honest and interesting insight; I thoroughly enjoyed the realistic description of Henry VIII as being not only a tyrant, but a weak-minded and easily bullied tyrant!

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dry and dated (obviously).

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this and learned a little bit more of England's wonderful history...

[Therese]

$0.0

[Deborah Zender · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very in-depth historical account, interesting how politics, religion and the personal desires of Henry VIII all intertwined - crazy...

[Becki Basley · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting take on the wives of Henry the 8th but you really have to be into this sort of history to make it through the book.

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed, well written and fascinating book! I loved it! I would definitely recommend this one.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a romantic story but a generous account of the political history of english reformation.