Henry was a large, well-built athlete, over 6 feet [1.8m] tall, strong, and broad in proportion. His athletic activities were more than pastimes; they were political devices that served multiple goals, enhancing his image, impressing foreign emissaries and rulers, and conveying his ability to suppress any rebellion. He arranged a jousting tournament at Greenwich in 1517 where he wore gilded armour and gilded horse trappings, and outfits of velvet, satin, and cloth of gold with pearls and jewels. It suitably impressed foreign ambassadors, one of whom wrote home that "the wealth and civilisation of the world are here, and those who call the English barbarians appear to me to render themselves such". [168] Henry finally retired from jousting in 1536 after a heavy fall from his horse left him unconscious for two hours, but he continued to sponsor two lavish tournaments a year. He then started gaining weight and lost the trim, athletic figure that had made him so handsome, and his courtiers began dressing in heavily padded clothes to emulate and flatter him. His health rapidly declined near the end of his reign. [169] [170] [171] Government

Responding to Henry’s assumption of power over his own 'Church of England', the Pope excommunicated the King in 1533.

Marriage to Anne of Cleves

To some, Henry VIII was a strong and ruthless ruler, forcing through changes to the Church-State relationship which excluded the papacy and brought the clergy under control, thus strengthening the Crown's position and acquiring the monasteries' wealth. Henry stored much of the vast fortune in the royal treasury, or gifted it to his new ministers, ensuring their loyalty.

All the remaining copies of the painting are today attributed to other artists, though in most cases the name of the copyist is unknown. They vary dramatically in their quality and faithfulness to the original source. Most of the reproductions only copy the image of Henry, though a copy by Remigius van Leemput of the entire mural is in the Royal Collection, usually on display at Hampton Court Palace. This was made in 1667 for Charles II. [6] The highest quality, and best known, copy is that currently in the collection of the Walker Art Gallery ( illustration), which may have been commissioned by Edward Seymour, Jane's brother. [7] Location Henry was born in Greenwich, England, on June 28, 1491, the second son of Henry VII, the first English ruler from the House of Tudor. While his older brother Arthur was being prepared for the throne, Henry was steered toward a church career, with a broad education in theology, music, languages, poetry and sports.

'The best-dressed sovereign'

Painted for Sir Henry Lee, and at Ditchley Park until sold in the estate sale of his descendant Harold Arthur Lee-Dillon, 17th Viscount Dillon (1844–1932), 24 May 1933. With the Weiss Gallery as of 2012. [10] At the time, most people in England belonged to the Catholic Church run by the Pope who lived in Rome. Upon Henry's death, he was succeeded by his only surviving son, Edward VI. Since Edward was then only nine years old, he could not rule directly. Instead, Henry's will designated 16 executors to serve on a regency council until Edward reached 18. The executors chose Edward Seymour, 1st Earl of Hertford, elder brother to Jane Seymour (Edward's mother), to be Lord Protector of the Realm. Under provisions of the will, was Edward to die childless, the throne was to pass to Mary, Henry VIII's daughter by Catherine of Aragon, and her heirs.