King Henry VIII

"This is a question i was asked by my history teacher. I just wondered what you all think? Does henry change history or is he a product of history?? "

This is always a useful question to ask regarding any great personality in history, I remember when I was an undergraduate studying history my biographical studies would often times conclude the individuals I studied were either products of history or a combination of the individual impact on history and his / her historical time shaping who they became. I think ultimately, it is very hard to deny that history's role in shaping who we are: our spirituality, our ideology, our culture and values, certainly Henry understood historical precidence.
But I think Henry is one of the few people who actively worked to make an impact on history, so much of what he did during the Reformation was so unprecidented. Henry is a fascinating individual to study, because although he severed England's ties to Rome forever, he worshiped as a Catholic his whole life, very interesting dicotomy.

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"It was in "Anee of the 100 Days" where Henry (wonderfully played by the late Richard Burton) is accused of sleeping with both Anne's mother and sister and he replys "Never with the mother!" I couldn't find this in any of my historical books (although I could have missed it) but if Henry did sleep with Elizabeth Howard as well as both her daughters, he was indeed a very naughty man. "

I know Henry really did say "never with the mother". I would have to search my more academic books to find that statement, but I definitely remember reading it in one of them. I'm reading a book on Henry VIII and his wives and a book specifically about Anne Boleyn (both non-fiction). I'll let you know if I come across that statement.

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