The Young Henry VIII • Son of Henry VII and

Elizabeth of York • Born – 28th June 1491 • Became King in 1509 after

his dad died of tuberculosis and his older brother of the plague.

Have a look at these sources what can you learn about the

young Henry VIII?

Source - Portrait of Henry VIII 1509 - this is the earliest portrait of Henry VIII as King of England.

Source - The Field of the Cloth of Gold was one of the most spectacular

events of Henry VIII’s reign. When he was at the height of his power in

1520, he visited France to make peace with King Frances. Known as the Field

of the Cloth of Gold due to the golden embroidered tents provided by Henry,

no expense spared on two weeks of feasts, parties and entertainment.

Source : This Tonlet armour was put

together in a very short space of time

by the armourers at Greenwich for the

King to wear at the Field of Cloth of

Gold in 1520. Etched decoration

include figures of St George and Tudor

Roses. The armour reflected Henry’s

fashion sense.

Source: A part of the painting

called The Field of the Cloth of

Gold. It shows Henry riding

out to meet the King of France,

wearing a very impressive gold

robe.

Source - Written in the 16th Century by a close friend of Henry VIII

“He is very talented, a good musician, composes

well...speaks good French, Latin and Spanish, is

very religious, hears three masses daily when he

hunts sometimes five on other days...He is very

fond of hunting and never takes his sport without

tiring eight or ten horses.”

Source - Sebastian Giustinian, Venetian Ambassador, 1519

“He is the best-dressed sovereign in the

world: his robes are the richest and most

superb that can be imagined.”

Source - Dr Maria Hayward, an expert in Tudors from Southampton University.

She discovered that Henry VIII owned a pair of football boots. Henry’s

boots, costing four shillings (nearly £100 in today’s money), were made by his

personal shoemaker, Cornelius Johnson, in 1525. This information was found

in an inventory (a list) of the King’s clothes made when he died in 1547.

Henry’s VIII boots needed to be strong because football during the 16th

century, when he was king was a very tough game.

Football in Tudor times was a very vicious game, with no teams and no rules, so

it was not a game for gentleman.

Tudor football was a game of beastly fury and extreme violence.

Catherine of Aragon

• Henry’s first wife.

• She was originally married to his brother to build

relationships between England and Spain.

• Catherine was the favourite daughter of Queen

Isabelle who ruled over Castile the largest

country of all the countries that made up Spain.

• At this time most girls were taught to recite

poetry, sing, play musical instruments and dance.

• However Catherine’s mother would tell her stories

of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round

table!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zp8w2hv Watch this short clip (part 1) to explore her life with Henry -

Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s Children

Henry and Catherine had 6 children in total but sadly only 1 survived.

This was a girl called Mary (born 1516) she later became Queen Mary I of

England.

Henry desperately wanted a son to become King after him.

Reflection Time on the Young King Henry

What do you think about Young King Henry VIII?

What did he look like?

How did he act?

SMSC Task

Step into the shoes of the Young Henry VIII.

You have just become King or Queen of England.

This is a time when the King or Queen is in charge of the country and makes all decisions.

Draw and annotate your kingdom

Questions to consider and answer -

Who would help you to rule your kingdom?

Would you have any laws/rules? List.

How would you protect your kingdom from invasions?

Would you have a hierarchy? (e.g. peasants, land owner, noble people)

Would you be a fair ruler? How would you treat your people?

• A coat of arms is a unique design painted onto a shield. These designs may be inherited, meaning they pass through families.

• Each symbol on a coat of arms will represent something important that has an meaning to that family or country.

• Coats of Arms can vary and change depending on relationships with countries and rulers.

Coat of Arms

What can you see on this coat of arms?

Who might it belong to?

• This royal coat of arms belonged to Henry VIII.

• The red dragon, a symbol of the Tudor dynasty.

• The Lions symbolise England.

• The shield represents battle.

• The crown linked to the royal family.

What can you see on this coat of arms?

Who might it belong to?

Design your own coat of arms • Think about your family and things objects/

animals that mean something to you.

• Label your coat of arm. Explain why you choose it.