Henry VIII was King of England from 1509 to 1547. He also used the title of King of Ireland from 1541 to his death. He was a son of Henry VII of England and Elizabeth of York. He is best remembered for separating the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church and overseeing a legal union between England and Wales.

He was married six times, more than any other English monarch. His wives were Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr. Three of his children rose to the throne as Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. While a rather athletic man when rising to the throne, Henry suffered a jousting accident in 1536 which left him with a permanent leg wound. Unable to exercise, Henry was growing increasingly obese for the rest of his life.