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The six wives of Henry VIII

Study note

Henry VIII is famous for having married six times. In their correct order, his wives were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. Learning the order is the first step to answering questions about them.

Three of the wives are linked to royal children. Catherine of Aragon, his first wife, was the mother of the future Mary I. Anne Boleyn, his second wife, was the mother of the future Elizabeth I. Jane Seymour, his third wife, gave Henry the son he longed for, the future Edward VI, but she died soon after the birth.

The fates of the wives are often tested. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were both executed, with Anne Boleyn put to death at the Tower of London after being accused of taking lovers. Catherine Parr, the sixth and last wife, outlived Henry and survived him. So the chain of fates runs divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

Memory tip: Order: Aragon, Boleyn, Seymour, Cleves, Howard, Parr. Fates: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

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Question 1 of 6

Who was the first wife of Henry VIII?

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Show all questions and answers for The six wives of Henry VIII(6 questions with explanations)

The six wives of Henry VIII: questions, answers and explanations

  1. 1. Who was the first wife of Henry VIII?

    • Catherine Parr
    • Catherine of Aragon
    • Jane Seymour
    • Anne Boleyn

    Correct answer: Catherine of Aragon

    Catherine of Aragon was Henry VIII's first wife and mother of Mary.

  2. 2. Which wife of Henry VIII was the mother of the future Elizabeth I?

    • Catherine of Aragon
    • Anne Boleyn
    • Jane Seymour
    • Anne of Cleves

    Correct answer: Anne Boleyn

    Anne Boleyn was the mother of Elizabeth I.

  3. 3. Which wife gave Henry VIII his son Edward but died shortly after the birth?

    • Catherine Parr
    • Anne of Cleves
    • Catherine Howard
    • Jane Seymour

    Correct answer: Jane Seymour

    Jane Seymour gave Henry his son Edward but died soon after.

  4. 4. Which of Henry VIII's wives outlived him?

    • Catherine Parr
    • Jane Seymour
    • Anne Boleyn
    • Catherine Howard

    Correct answer: Catherine Parr

    Catherine Parr, his sixth wife, survived Henry VIII.

  5. 5. Anne Boleyn was executed at the Tower of London.

    • True
    • False

    Correct answer: True

    True. Anne Boleyn was accused of taking lovers and executed at the Tower of London.

  6. 6. Which statement about the wives of Henry VIII is NOT true?

    • Anne Boleyn was the mother of Edward VI
    • Catherine Parr survived him
    • Catherine of Aragon was his first wife

    Correct answer: Anne Boleyn was the mother of Edward VI

    Jane Seymour was the mother of Edward VI; Anne Boleyn was the mother of Elizabeth I.

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