Henry VIII Twine

<h3><strong><em>Henry VIII<em></strong></h3> AN [[Start->START]] [[Bibliography->BIBLIOGRAPHY]]

The year is 1509. Henry VII, your father and King of England, has died of tuberculosis and left the kingdom in your hands. On the warm summer's day of June 24, you are coronated in the ornate hall of the Westminister Abbey surrounded by your family, and esteemed dukes and earls. You are Henry VIII, a 17 year old royal of the Tudor family, and the newest King of England. Faced with many royal responsibilities as the new King, you are intimidated. Although the task of ruling your new kingdom is daunting to say the least, the task of finding your heir might be harder than you anticipate at this time. <em>The Kingdom of England is in your hands, King Henry.<em> [[Rule the kingdom->RULE KINGDOM]]

<h2><strong><em>Bibliography<em></strong></h2> Elton, Geoffery R. "Henry VIII King of England." Encyclopaedia Britannica. Last modified February 4, 2015. Accessed January 19, 2017. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-VIII-king-of-England. Hanson, Marilee. "King Henry VIII - Facts, Information, Biography & Portraits." English History. Last modified January 31, 2015. Accessed January 23, 2017. https://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/henry-the-8th/. ———. "The Six Wives of Henry VIII - Facts & Biographies." English History. Last modified January 31, 2015. https://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/henry-viii-wives/. Larson, Rebecca. "Illegitimate Children of Henry VIII." Tudors Dynasty. Last modified November 14, 2015. Accessed January 23, 2017. http://www.tudorsdynasty.com/illegitimate-children-of-henry-viii/.

You move to the lavish halls of Hampton Court and recommence your glamourous life as a royal. After being betrothed for years by your father, you are required to marry Catherine of Aragon, the youngest child of the last Catholic King of Spain. Do this, and you will forge a long awaited alliance between England and Spain. It is your responsibility to follow through with this marriage as you are now the King of England, and you must have a Queen. [[Marry her. You need a wife to give you a son.->MARRY CATHERINE OF ARAGON]] [[Marriage is not urgent to you. Put your father's wishes aside, and stay unmarried for a little while longer.->NO MARRY CATHERINE OF ARAGON]]

At the age of 17, you marry Catherine. Forging an alliance between the Kingdom of England and Spain, you take Catherine of Aragon's hand in marriage. You are reminded by your royal advisors that it is time to start trying for a suitable heir with your new wife. [[Try for children with Catherine.->KIDS WITH CATHERINE]] (set: $marryCatherine to true)

After many tries, and six miscarriages, Catherine of Aragon gives birth to a baby girl - Mary, a new Princess of England. You and your wife are delighted that you finally have a healthy child, but it is not a boy. [[You keep the child, thrilled that you have an heir.->PRINCESS MARY]] [[You keep the child, but aren't happy that it wasn't a boy like you had hoped. You are not sure if you would like this marriage with Catherine would last.->AFFAIR WITH BESSIE]]

The potential for an alliance with Spain has been lost with your wishes to stay unmarried. Both kingdoms remain on friendly terms, but the strength of the relationship is not as strong as it could have been. Ten years have passed, and you are reminded of the necessity of an heir. However, while Catherine was in your court, you did have a child with her - a girl named Mary who would be your heir. Years pass in the Hampton Court, and a certain lady-in-waiting sparks an interest within you. Her name is Bessie Blount. [[Have an affair with her - it's much easier than a marriage.->AFFAIR WITH BESSIE]] [[Leave it alone, she is just another lady in your court. Focus on the kingdom for now.->ANNE BOLEYN]]

After Catherine, you decide to pursue a relationship with Bessie Blount, the lady-in-waiting whom you secretly loved, have been having a private relationship with each other. It turns out that Bessie is pregnant now with your illegitimate child. [[Continue->HENRY FITZROY]]

(if: $marryCatherine is true)[The Pope, the Catholic church, and Spain excommunicate you because of your failure to have a successful marriage with Catherine of Aragon.] While in your court, Catherine's lady-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn, interested you, and you began to have a relationship with her. You feel now that she could be the one to give you a male heir. [[Marry Anne Boleyn->PRINCESS ELIZABETH]]

At the age of 40, Catherine of Aragon can no longer provide you with any more children to be legitimate heirs of your throne, let alone a son. One of Catherine's ladys-in-waiting, Anne Boleyn sparks an interest in you. You want to divorce your Queen, but the Pope and the rest of the Catholic church object to this decision as it goes against the Bible. If you go through with this decision, the Catholic church will excommunicate you, and your Kingdom, and you will lose your ties to the Pope and the Catholic church. [[Divorce Catherine, and start a relationship with Anne Boleyn->ANNE BOLEYN]] [[Don't risk another failed marriage - England's relationship with the Pope is already bad enough. Ignore Anne Boleyn, and focus on your kingdom->QUEEN MARY I ALONE]]

Princess Mary is a gift to all in the Kingdom of England. Though she is not the male child you desired, she is still a legitimate heir to your throne. You still have an unfulfilled desire for a baby boy, though. [[You can't keep waiting for a baby boy that won't come. Divorce Catherine of Aragon.->DIVORCE CATHERINE]] [[You stay married to Catherine. You can just keep trying for that boy.->QUEEN MARY I ALONE]]

You stay married to Catherine of Aragon for the rest of your long life. No other children could be given to you, so Princess Mary was your sole heir to the throne. January 28 1547 was the day of your death, and the day that your daughter would ascend the throne after you. A Catholic Queen, Mary was known as "Bloody Mary" because of her brutal burnings of Protestants in her kingdom, and continued her rule of the Kingdom of England until she died without an heir at the age of 42.

Months later in 1519, your child with Bessie Blount is born. You have been blessed with a son (if: $marryCatherine is true)[that Catherine could never give you. Your daughter, Mary, is still dear to you, but you are now aware that you are able to have a son, but that Catherine just cannot give you one.] You name your son Henry Fitzroy, meaning "Henry, son of the King", and you wish he could be your heir to the throne. There are rules, though, that say that no illegitimate children can ascend the throne. [[Henry Fitzroy will never be King. Move on to someone you can marry and have a legitimate male child with.->ANNE BOLEYN]] [[Henry Fitzroy could be King, but only if you can really bend the rules. Try to make an exception for him.->QUEEN MARY I NO ILLEGITIMATE]]

(if: $marryCatherine is true)[You stay married to Catherine of Aragon for the rest of your long life. No other children could be given to you by your wife, so Princess Mary was your sole heir to the throne.] Your illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy was never permitted to be your heir, but you gave him the titles of "Earl of Nottingham and Duke of Richmond". January 28 1547 was the day of your death, and the day that your daughter would ascend the throne after you. (if: $marryCatherine is true)[A Catholic Queen, Mary was known as "Bloody Mary" because of her brutal burnings of Protestants in her kingdom, and continued her rule of the Kingdom of England until she died without an heir at the age of 42.]

You and Anne are married in 1533, and she gives you a child - another girl. You name your daughter Elizabeth, a Princess to succeed the throne after your death. Three years into your marriage, you hear rumours that Anne has committed adultery, and incest. Some even say that she is a witch. You don't know if the rumours are true, but everyone at court has heard of them. [[If what people say is true, then Anne's behaviour is unacceptable. You can't risk another divorce, though. Kill Anne Boleyn.->JANE SEYMOUR]] [[Although terrible, you can pardon Anne's behaviour because you love her. Continue on with your marriage to her.->MARY ELIZABETH]]

You could not ignore the charges that faced Anne Boleyn, so in 1536, you sent her to the Tower of London to have a public beheading. Yet another lady-in-waiting has sparked your interest - Jane Seymour, a girl of ancient, respectable lineage. Smitten, you marry her, and months later she gives you what you wanted most in the world - a son named Edward. Sadly, Jane dies during childbirth, and you are once again, left without a wife. [[Never marry again. You have your son, you don't need another wife that you won't love as much as you loved Jane.->MARY ELIZABETH EDWARD]] [[Marry again. A King must have a Queen in this kingdom.->ANNE OF CLEVES]]

You stay married to Anne Boleyn for the rest of your long life. No other children could be given to you by your wife, so you only had Princesses Mary and Elizabeth to be your heirs. January 28 1547 was the day of your death, and the day that your daughter, Mary, would ascend the throne after you. A Catholic Queen, Mary was known as "Bloody Mary" because of her brutal burnings of Protestants in her kingdom, and continued her rule of the Kingdom of England until she died without an heir at the age of 42, leaving the Kingdom to Elizabeth. Deemed "The Greatest Queen of England", Elizabeth was a powerful Protestant ruler that never married. She ruled for many years until she died without an heir at the age of 69.

You never marry again, but were left with three legitimate heirs to your throne: Prince Edward, and Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. January 28 1547 was the day of your death, and the day that your son, Edward, would ascend the throne after you. At the age of 9, your son becomes King. His rule is brief, as he dies of a terrible illness at the age of 15. He was the first ruler of England to be raised as a Protestant. A Catholic Queen, Mary was known as "Bloody Mary" because of her brutal burnings of Protestants in her kingdom, and continued her rule of the Kingdom of England until she died without an heir at the age of 42, leaving the Kingdom to Elizabeth. Deemed "The Greatest Queen of England", Elizabeth was a powerful Protestant ruler that never married. She ruled for many years until she died without an heir at the age of 69.

Though devastated at Jane Seymour's death, you fulfill your responsibility to seek out another wife. Your advisors recommend you take the hand of Anne of Cleves - a German heiress - to forge an alliance with Germany. The marriage is arranged in 1540. You meet Anne of Cleves, and are shocked. You were given portraits of her, but she looks nothing like them. You can compare Anne to nothing, but a horse. To you, she is just ugly. So ugly that you can't bear to keep this marriage with Anne of Cleves, though you may have to. [[Divorce her. Though it's hard to justify, and you will lose the alliance with Germany, she is so ugly that it is hard to look at her. She does not look like she did in the portraits you were given!->DIVORCE ANNE OF CLEVES]] [[The alliance with Germany is far too important to overlook. Continue with you marriage, though Anne's appearance may bother you.->MARY ELIZABETH EDWARD]]

You could not bear to keep Anne of Cleves' hand in marriage, so you divorced her within a few months, losing alliances with Germany. At the age of 49, you notice another possible wife. Anne of Cleves' lady-in-waiting sparks your interest. A young girl of 19, Katherine Howard is smitten with you, as you are with her. [[Take Katherine Howard's hand in marriage->KATHERINE HOWARD]]

Taking Katherine's hand in marriage was risky, a 19 year old girl might not have been ready for the throne. Katherine's girlish behaviour takes over her duties as Queen, and she is caught with several men having affairs. [[Having affairs with other men is absolutely unnacceptable behaviour for a Queen. Kill Katherine Howard for her despicable behaviour.->KATHERINE BEHEADED]] [[Excuse her behaviour.->MARY ELIZABETH EDWARD]]

You send Katherine Howard to the same fate that met with Anne Boleyn. In 1542, she is given a public beheading at the Tower of London. You are getting older now, and are beginning to develop illnesses with your age, but one last lady interests you - Katherine Parr - a lady at court who cared for and taught your children, and cared for you too. [[Take your Katherine as your wife. Then, you and your children can always be cared for->MARRY KATHARINE PARR]] [[Don't marry her. Too many of your marriages have failed, and you can't risk another. Katherine can still care for you, and your children even if you aren't her husband.->MARY ELIZABETH EDWARD]]

You marry Katherine Parr in your old age, and she cares for you until your death. January 28 1547 was the day of your death, and the day that your son, Edward, would ascend the throne after you. At the age of 9, your son becomes King. His rule is brief, as he dies of a terrible illness at the age of 15, leaving the Kingdom to Mary. He was the first ruler of England to be raised as a Protestant. A Catholic Queen, Mary was known as "Bloody Mary" because of her brutal burnings of Protestants in her kingdom, and continued her rule of the Kingdom of England until she died without an heir at the age of 42, leaving the Kingdom to Elizabeth. Deemed "The Greatest Queen of England", Elizabeth was a powerful Protestant ruler that never married. She ruled for many years until she died without an heir at the age of 69.