What you ought to Realize about the genuine Queens of this Six Musical

Divorced. Beheaded. Died. Divorced. Beheaded. Survived.

Yes, in the 1st six terms of Olivier Award–nominated musical Six, the fate is learned by us of each and every of Henry VIII’s spouses. But exactly how much do you realize about their everyday lives?

Writers Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss dug to the reputation for Tudor England together with court that is royal the words with their pop opera, and greater historic knowledge means greater admiration of this nuances in Marlow and Moss’ writing. Listed below are the CliffsNotes to assist you navigate this chapter in Uk history.

Catherine of Aragon Queen from 1509–1533The “paragon of royalty” ended up being the wife that is first of VIII. A spanish princess, she had been the child of Isabelle and Ferdinand, thus the Latin beats and Spanish trumpets in her own Six solo “No Way.” Catherine first married Arthur (Henry’s older sibling and heir obvious to your English throne) in 1501 when she ended up being 15. But five months after their wedding, Arthur passed away. Arthur’s dad almost needed to get back her dowry, however a King could not spend money—or alliances that are european. He married her down to their more youthful son, Henry VIII, in 1509, though Henry had been 5 years her junior. She faithfully served England, ruling as regent in 1513 whenever Henry had been away in France. Nevertheless when she did not make a male heir, things got complicated. Along with her pregnancy that is fifth offered delivery to Mary (the long term Mary we of England), but Henry became preoccupied with siring a kid. He became believing that their wedding to their brother’s widow ended up being cursed by Jesus, or, as Catherine sings, “You state it is a shame ‘cause quoting Leviticus ‘I’ll find yourself kidiless all my entire life.’”

It’s commonly thought he utilized the Bible as a reason to divorce the princess that is spanish a plan to marry her woman in waiting, Anne Boleyn. Catherine ended up being furious he cast her apart; she had tolerated their affairs (“I’ve never destroyed control regardless of how several times we knew you lied”) as any Queen had been anticipated. More over, Catherine maintained that she had never consummated her wedding to Arthur—so that is the wedding that has been null. Complicated, we realize. Because the track indicates, Catherine declined an annulment, claiming until her death that she had been the rightful Queen. Catherine had been provided for a” that is“nun-ry ultimately relocated to The greater amount of Castle. She passed away in 1536 during the chronilogical age of 50, nevertheless keeping she had been the only real wife that is legitimate of VIII.

Anne Boleyn Queen from 1533–1536Though affairs involving the King along with his Queen’s women in waiting were common and anticipated, no body expected him to go out of Catherine to wed Anne—the sister of their previous mistress, at that. Anne was raised during the court associated with Queen of France before going back house to England to become listed on the royal court.

Anne Boleyn is actually depicted while the devious spouse, presumably plotting to dethrone Catherine—unsatisfied to be merely a mistress, “some woman in a threesome.” Henry and Anne married in key January 25, 1533; asian brides they got the Archbishop to declare Henry’s wedding to Catherine null along with his brand new wedding to Anne valid—thus breaking through the Catholic Church and starting the Church of England. Anne ended up being crowned queen 1, 1533; she soon gave birth to a girl, the future Elizabeth I june. But after three miscarriages, Henry took a mistress that is new Jane Seymour. Needing option to rid himself of Anne, Henry stated that Anne had bewitched him as he had been hitched to Catherine. Anne possibly flirted with a few men “just in order to make him jel,” but that merely resulted in accusations of adultery and incest. She had been beheaded in the Tower of London may 15, 1536, at age 35.

Fun reality: Historians believe Henry VIII published “Greensleeves” for Anne Boleyn, whom he had been wanting to woo. Hence, the techno remix of “Greensleeves” in “Ex-Wives.”

Jane Seymour Queen from 1536–1537Just as Anne Boleyn overtook the girl she served, Jane Seymour had been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne, after serving Queen Catherine. Henry VIII became betrothed to Jane one time after Anne’s execution. Jane provided delivery up to a son, Edward, in 1537 and died two weeks later of postnatal complications october. Jane is normally looked at as the favourite, if it she sings that “without my son your love could fade away. as this woman is the actual only real spouse Henry freely mourned therefore the just one to get a queen’s funeral, and that’s why her song in Six is one of like an electrical ballad—even” Henry VIII had been sooner or later hidden beside her at Windsor Castle.

Anne of Cleves Queen from January 1540–July 1540Anne of Cleves lasted just sixth months as Queen, but she kept her mind. Musician Hans Holbein younger went to Germany to paint Anne and her sibling, as Henry VIII considered which will be their 4th spouse. (We read about these travels in “Haus of Holbein.”)

But once Anne arrived after her portrait, Henry felt she “didn’t didn’t appearance like her profile image.” She revealed a lack that is general of, “sippin’ on mead and I also spill it to my dress,” which additionally displeased the royal. Fundamentally, the master made excuses for their displeasure her, saying there was no way she was a virgin when they wed with her and found another excuse to be rid of. Issued an annulment, Anne stayed in benefit aided by the King and frequently visited court throughout the reigns for the last two queens. She passed away in 1557.

Catherine Howard Queen from 1540–1541Catherine, better referred to as Kitty, had been very very long the item of intimate attention as recommended in “All You Wanna Do.” She ended up being molested by her music instructor, Henry Mannox, as he ended up being 36 ( maybe perhaps not 23 as Six states) and she 13. At 15, she relocated along with her grandmother, “the dowager Duchess,” and became fans with “sexy secretary” Francis Dereham—an event that could started to haunt her later on. Her grandmother discovered the affair and delivered her towards the Tudor court.

Like her relative, Anne Boleyn, she served as a lady-in-waiting however in the court of Anne of Cleves. The master had been 49 yrs old as he married the 16-year-old. Nevertheless the gossips at court—some of who had witnessed Dereham—quickly spread word to her behavior that Catherine ended up being committing adultery behind Henry’s straight straight straight back with Henry’s courtier Thomas Culpeper. Culpepper, Dereham, and Catherine had been all performed (Dereham ended up being drawn and quartered). Catherine, beheaded February 13, 1542, had been hidden in a unmarked grave.

Catherine Parr Queen from 1543-1547The last spouse of Henry VIII lived in constant concern with her very own execution. Ahead of her wedding to King Henry VIII, she had two past husbands and had been widowed both in situations. She had dropped deeply in love with Thomas Seymour (Jane’s cousin) before she caught the attention for the King. As well as in “I Don’t Need Your Love,” she pleads with Thomas to leave her alone to save lots of them both through the King’s wrath and specific death.

Because of the right time she wed Henry, he had been 52 plus in sick wellness.

Catherine ingratiated herself into the master by becoming a mom to their three kids: Catherine of Aragon’s Mary, Anne Boleyn’s Elizabeth, and Jane Seymour’s Edward. She’s the one who restored Mary and Elizabeth’s royal standing therefore that they might come in the type of succession.

During her reign, Catherine ended up being the very first queen of England and Ireland; she was additionally the queen most abundant in influence that is diplomatic Catherine of Aragon, as she served as regent when Henry traveled to France once again. Catherine ended up being an advocate of reformation within the Church, Protestantism. In reality, she published publications on prayer in her very own own name—and had been the very very very first Queen of England to take action. That she“fought for feminine education. so that it’s real” Before Henry VIII died 28, 1547, he instructed that she be respected as the Queen of England even after his death—which is what happened january. She stepped down through the throne whenever Prince Edward, Jane Seymour’s son, had been willing to ascend in 1547. This time around, she had been usually the one to re-marry, to gentleman of this court Thomas Seymour. She passed away September 5, 1548.

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