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imyourmausoleum 's review for:
The Children of Henry VIII
by Alison Weir
informative
medium-paced
This book covers the lives and reigns of the heirs of King Henry VIII of England. This was a fairly short book, and I read it quickly. I did learn a decent amount about Jane Grey, which I found very valuable. I did not know very much about her, other than the fact that she reigned for just over a week. I think Alison Weir did a decent job on her research, and the book was not boring to read. Below is a brief synopsis of each heir to the throne.
Mary I: Her mother was Catherine of Aragon. She was born in England in 1516. She took the throne after her brother Edward died, and implemented a reign of terror. A lot of people were killed due to religious persecution and uproar during her reign. She was considered to be a ruthless ruler. She had several issues, which some think may have been some type of uterine or cervical cancer. She had problems conceiving and having periods. She also was weak, nauseous, and complained of stomach pains. She died in 1558 at age 42. Her reign lasted five years.
Henry FitzRoy: His mother was Elizabeth Blount, mistress of Henry VIII. She was a maid to Catherine of Aragon, which is seemingly how Henry liked to find his next female companion. He was born in 1519. This was the only child not born to one of his wives that he ever acknowledged, though there could have been more. FitzRoy was given his surname, which means son of the king, so that everyone would understand that he belonged to Henry VIII and he accepted him. He was given the title Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Lord High Admiral of England, Lord President of the Council of the North, Governor of Carlisle, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He died in 1536, possibly from tuberculosis, at age 17. He never achieved the throne.
Elizabeth I: She was born in 1533 to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her mother was executed when she was a toddler. She never married and had no children. She took over from Mary I, reigning for 45 years. She died in 1603 at age 69.
Edward VI: Edward was born in 1537. This was the only surviving son Henry VIII ever had. He was younger than both of his sisters, but he was elevated to the throne first, thanks to the fact that he was a male. His mother was Jane Seymour, who died not long after giving birth. He was elevated to King when he was ten years old. He was on the throne for five years. He died at age 15 in 1553, after some type of lung illness.
Lady Jane Grey: Jane was the great granddaughter of Henry VII, and as such she had a legitimate but distant claim to the throne. Edward VI nominated her as his successor because she was a Protestant. His sister Mary I was a Catholic, which he did not appreciate. Jane reigned for nine days, before Mary I took the throne. She was charged with high treason and executed at age 16.
Mary I: Her mother was Catherine of Aragon. She was born in England in 1516. She took the throne after her brother Edward died, and implemented a reign of terror. A lot of people were killed due to religious persecution and uproar during her reign. She was considered to be a ruthless ruler. She had several issues, which some think may have been some type of uterine or cervical cancer. She had problems conceiving and having periods. She also was weak, nauseous, and complained of stomach pains. She died in 1558 at age 42. Her reign lasted five years.
Henry FitzRoy: His mother was Elizabeth Blount, mistress of Henry VIII. She was a maid to Catherine of Aragon, which is seemingly how Henry liked to find his next female companion. He was born in 1519. This was the only child not born to one of his wives that he ever acknowledged, though there could have been more. FitzRoy was given his surname, which means son of the king, so that everyone would understand that he belonged to Henry VIII and he accepted him. He was given the title Duke of Richmond and Somerset, Lord High Admiral of England, Lord President of the Council of the North, Governor of Carlisle, and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He died in 1536, possibly from tuberculosis, at age 17. He never achieved the throne.
Elizabeth I: She was born in 1533 to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. Her mother was executed when she was a toddler. She never married and had no children. She took over from Mary I, reigning for 45 years. She died in 1603 at age 69.
Edward VI: Edward was born in 1537. This was the only surviving son Henry VIII ever had. He was younger than both of his sisters, but he was elevated to the throne first, thanks to the fact that he was a male. His mother was Jane Seymour, who died not long after giving birth. He was elevated to King when he was ten years old. He was on the throne for five years. He died at age 15 in 1553, after some type of lung illness.
Lady Jane Grey: Jane was the great granddaughter of Henry VII, and as such she had a legitimate but distant claim to the throne. Edward VI nominated her as his successor because she was a Protestant. His sister Mary I was a Catholic, which he did not appreciate. Jane reigned for nine days, before Mary I took the throne. She was charged with high treason and executed at age 16.