My name is Henry, actually, it's King Henry the 8th (VIII). I had an older brother (Albert) who should have been the next king. However, Albert died when he was 16, and I became King of England when our father (King Henry VII) died.

I was a very active king, I loved to hunt, play music, and write poetry. I was also a very strong and spoiled king. With my power, I always found a way to get what I wanted. What I wanted most was to have a son. I wanted a strong boy who could be a powerful king when I died.

As it turned out, having a healthy son was something that all of my power could not control. First, I married a Spanish Princess (Katherine of Aragon). We were married many years, but she only had one child, and it was a girl (Princess Mary). When she became too old to have more children, I divorced her.

Then, I married a young woman named Anne Boleyn. She got pregnant right away, but the baby was another girl (Princess Elizabeth). After three years, I got tired of waiting for a son. Also, I heard she had other boyfriends. So, I gave the order to kill her, and the guards chopped her head off. I felt no regrets because I really wanted to have a baby boy.

I then met Jane Seymour and married her. Miraculously, she had a baby boy, and we named him Prince Edward. I was so happy! However, Edward was not a strong boy, and I was afraid he would not be a strong king. In addition, Jane died, so I looked around for another wife.

Next, I married Anne of Cleves from Germany for political reasons. However, I soon realized I made a terrible mistake because I didn't speak German and I really didn't like her. I quickly divorced her.

My next wife (number five) was very young. Her name was Katherine Howard. What a beautiful, young Queen she was! By this time, though, I was very old and fat. Soon she was flirting with all the handsome young men at the royal court. I was furious and had her head chopped off.

By now, my health was so bad that I could barely move. I was married one last time to Catherine Paar. We never had children, but she took care of me. Four years later, I died and my young son, Edward, became King of England. He only lived a few years, then Princess Mary ruled for a short time, followed by Princess Elizabeth. Although I tried so hard to have a son, it turned out that my daughter, Queen Elizabeth, was one of the best rulers that England ever had!

Map of United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland).