The Marriages of Henry VIII
The marriages of Henry VIII after Catherine of Aragon: the fall of Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour and the birth of the heir Edward, and the alliance marriage to Anne of Cleves.
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The marriages of Henry VIII 💍
After the annulment from Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII married three more times in these years. Anne Boleyn was executed, Jane Seymour gave him a son and died, and Anne of Cleves was married for an alliance and quickly set aside.
Words for the marriages 🔑
Learn these four terms before you judge the marriages.
Two very different marriages 🆚
Two of the marriages ended in very different ways.
Grade 9 thinking 💡
To reach the top grades, weigh the reasons behind each marriage against its outcome, and link the choices to the need of Henry for a male heir.
Match the person to what happened 🔗
- Anne Boleyn
- Jane Seymour
- Anne of Cleves
- Cromwell
- was executed in 1536
- gave Henry the heir Edward
- the marriage was quickly annulled
- arranged the alliance marriage
Match the term to its meaning 🧩
- male heir
- annulment
- alliance
- succession
- a son to inherit the crown
- a ruling that a marriage was never valid
- a friendly agreement between countries
- who will inherit the throne
Why did Anne Boleyn fall? ❓
What best explains the fall of Anne Boleyn?
- She failed to give Henry a surviving male heir, and Cromwell helped bring charges against her.
- She was sent abroad to seal an alliance.
- She died of old age.
True of Jane Seymour ✅
Select the TWO statements that are true of Jane Seymour.
- She gave birth to the heir Edward.
- She died soon after the birth.
- She was executed for treason.
- Her marriage was annulled.
Order the marriages 🪜
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Summarise the marriages 📝
Anne _____ was executed in 1536. Henry then married Jane _____, who gave him the heir _____. Later he married Anne of _____ for an _____, but that marriage was soon annulled.
Count the years 🔢
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Spot the two marriages that ended badly 🖍️
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Which wife of Henry? 🧭
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Assess the marriages ✍️
An interactive activity.