• Jane Seymour often overlooked – Henry called her his true love
• Taught Henry the importance of family, battled to reunite him with his daughter and gave him a son and heir
• Cruel twist of fate – Jane was snatched from him
• Death and betrayal turned Henry into a bitter and cruel man
• Made his most disastrous marriage to Anne of Cleves
• 1536 Henry VIII was aged 44, divorced one wife and other in the Tower awaiting execution for adultery and incest
• Anne’s infidelity humiliated Henry and cast doubt over his sexual prowess
• While Anne was in the Tower Henry tried to find her replacement
• Jane Seymour caught the king’s eye, age 24 and had served both Katherine of Aragon anf Anne Boleyn
• Virtuous, unassuming and honest
• Henry sent Jane a letter but she sent it back unopened – wanted to make an honourable marriage
• Henry’s chivalrous side and aroused his desire
• Once Henry set his mind on having something he would do anything to get it
• Henry courted Jane in earnest – before Anne Boleyn was executed Jane was in sight as wife number 3
• 19 May 1536 Anne Boleyn beheaded on Tower Green
• Anne still hoped for a last minute reprieve and mercy from Henry who had loved her but Henry had already switched his affections to Jane
• Henry and Jane were planning their future together
• Less than 24 hours after Anne’s death Henry and Jane were engaged
• No record of how Jane reacted to Anne’s beheading but didn’t hesitate to step over Anne to the throne
• Far steelier than anyone realised
• 11 days after Anne’s beheading Henry and Jane married, Henry in love
• Not everyone shared Henry’s affection for Jane
• Chapuys reported that Jane was of middling stature and no great beauty, proud and haughty, of no great wit
• Why did Henry marry Jane? Had previously been married to 2 attractive and intelligent women
• Henry liked Jane because she was so different – compassionate, loyal and do what he told her without question

Continue reading “Documentary Notes – ‘Henry VIII and his Six Wives’ with Suzannah Lipscomb & Dan Jones – Episode 3, Jane Seymour and Anne of Cleves” →