Changes

By 1527 Henry had fallen for [[Anne Boleyn]] (1507–1536), whom he married in 1533 after the divorce. Anne failed to produce a son, but did have a daughter in 1533 (the future Queen [[Elizabeth I]]). In terms of  shaping policy, Anne, who was strongly committed to Protestantism, was the most influential wife. Historians have vigorously debated explanations for the trial and execution of Anne in 1536. One school emphasizes contentious court factions in which Queen Anne was an innocent pawn. G. W. Bernard (1991) argues that she and the five men executed with her were probably guilty of incest and adultery as charged. Both points of view were also expressed by contemporary diplomats reporting from London, who may have been misled by rumors and deliberate government misinformation. Use of traditions of courtly love to explain Anne's relationship with the other accused (opening herself to slander) is speculative. Direct evidence for actual guilt is not convincing. Warnicke (1993) offers a controversial explanation: Anne gave birth to a deformed fetus in January, 1536, provoking in Henry, who learned of the miscarriage and its circumstances after some delay, both rage and fear, as well as a certainty of his consort's adultery and witchcraft, an explanation necessary not only to his psyche but to the preservation of the reputation of his kingdom and the schismatic church that he headed.<ref> G. W. Bernard, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn." ''English Historical Review'' 1991 106(420): 584-610. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/573258  in Jstor]; Retha M. Warnicke, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn Revisited." ''English Historical Review'' 1993 108(428): 653-665. Issn: 0013-8266 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/574751 in Jstor]</ref>

By 1527 Henry had fallen for [[Anne Boleyn]] (1507–1536), whom he married in 1533 after the divorce. Anne failed to produce a son, but did have a daughter in 1533 (the future Queen [[Elizabeth I]]). In terms of  shaping policy, Anne, who was strongly committed to Protestantism, was the most influential wife. Historians have vigorously debated explanations for the trial and execution of Anne in 1536. One school emphasizes contentious court factions in which Queen Anne was an innocent pawn. G. W. Bernard (1991) argues that she and the five men executed with her were probably guilty of incest and adultery as charged. Both points of view were also expressed by contemporary diplomats reporting from London, who may have been misled by rumors and deliberate government misinformation. Use of traditions of courtly love to explain Anne's relationship with the other accused (opening herself to slander) is speculative. Direct evidence for actual guilt is not convincing. Warnicke (1993) offers a controversial explanation: Anne gave birth to a deformed fetus in January, 1536, provoking in Henry, who learned of the miscarriage and its circumstances after some delay, both rage and fear, as well as a certainty of his consort's adultery and witchcraft, an explanation necessary not only to his psyche but to the preservation of the reputation of his kingdom and the schismatic church that he headed.<ref> G. W. Bernard, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn." ''English Historical Review'' 1991 106(420): 584-610. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/573258  in Jstor]; Retha M. Warnicke, "The Fall of Anne Boleyn Revisited." ''English Historical Review'' 1993 108(428): 653-665. Issn: 0013-8266 [http://www.jstor.org/pss/574751 in Jstor]</ref>

===Later marriages===

===Later marriages===

In 1836 the death of Katherine of Aragon freed Henry for an unquestionably lawful marriage. In 1536 he chose Jane Seymour (1509-1537), who died the next year of natural causes after providing a son, the future King Edward VI. In 1540, Cromwell's Protestant policy involved marriage to Anne of Cleves (1515–57), whom Henry disliked from the first and soon divorced. In August 1540 Henry made a love match with Catherine Howard (1521–1542); she was beheaded for adultery. Finally in 1543, he settled for a more placid consort in Catherine Parr (1512–48).

In 1536 the death of Katherine of Aragon freed Henry for an unquestionably lawful marriage. In 1536 he chose [[Jane Seymour]] (1509-1537), who died the next year of natural causes after providing a son, the future King [[Edward VI]]. In 1540, Cromwell's Protestant policy involved marriage to [[Anne of Cleves]] (1515–57), whom Henry disliked from the first and soon divorced. In August 1540 Henry made a love match with [[Catherine Howard]] (1521–1542), but being far younger than him, she did not share a mutual attraction; she was beheaded for adultery. Finally in 1543, he settled for a more placid consort in [[Catherine Parr]] (1512–48).

By 1540 the vigor had gone out of the reign and out of Henry. The debacle of the Cleves marriage cost Cromwell his head and Henry his leading minister. Overconfidence drew the king once more into a continental and Scottish war (1542-1546), a war that gained no glory but whose expense ruined the English economy. In 1541 Henry became king of Ireland (previously he was "Ruler of Ireland.")

By 1540 the vigor had gone out of the reign and out of Henry. The debacle of the Cleves marriage cost Cromwell his head and Henry his leading minister. Overconfidence drew the king once more into a continental and Scottish war (1542-1546), a war that gained no glory but whose expense ruined the English economy. In 1541 Henry became king of Ireland (previously he was "Ruler of Ireland.")