The ‘secret sons’ of Henry VIII, born before Edward VI | History | News

It’s hard enough keeping track of Henry VIII’s wives (all six of them, to be precise) and mistresses, including one of the sisters, but for children it’s an even more difficult task.

The infamous king, who also divided the Church, had several children from different women. Only three, who survived childhood, were legitimate (born in marriage).

It is believed that many more resulted from his affairs, and only one of them was recognized by him as his son.

That was Henry Fitzroy, born in 1519 as his illegitimate son by Elizabeth Blount, a lady-in-waiting to his first wife Catherine of Aragon, whom he married in 1509 before it was annulled in 1533.

This was six years after he fell in love with his second wife Anne Boleyn. Interestingly, from about 1520, King Henry had an affair with Mary Boleyn, Anne’s older sister.

At the time, she was married to William Carey, a courtier and favorite of King Henry, who served as the king’s Gentleman of the Privy Chamber and Esquire of the Body.

Henry Fitzroy was officially recognized by the king after the early deaths of the queen’s three sons.

After his divorce from Catherine of Aragon and subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn in 1533, Henry VIII’s attachment to Henry Fitzroy grew stronger, especially as his second wife also failed to produce a male heir.

Henry was created Knight of the Garter in 1525 and Duke of Richmond and Somerset in the same year, suggesting that he would have become heir to the throne, but all hope of this was lost by his early death from tuberculosis at just 17 years old age in 1536. , the same year Anne Boleyn was executed for treason.

Edward VI, born on October 12, 1537, was the first surviving legitimate son of Henry VIII to become heir to the throne.

His mother and Henry VIII’s third wife, Jane Seymore, died of postnatal complications shortly after his birth.

At just nine years old, he was crowned king on February 20, 1547, after his father died on January 28 at the age of 55.

But he also succumbed to suspected tuberculosis and ruled for only six years until his death in July 1553.

He has two legitimate daughters. Mary Tudor was born on February 18, 1516 and was favored by Henry VIII until her mother Catherine of Aragon was unable to produce a male heir.

Elizabeth I was born on September 7, 1533, the son of Anne Boleyn. She became queen on November 17, 1558, aged 25.

However, it is suspected that he had many more illegitimate children, although none were accepted or confirmed by him as his children and as a result never had any claim to the throne.

Thomas Stukley

Thomas Stukeley was a soldier, pirate and adventurer, who would be born sometime in 1525 to Sir Hugh Stukeley, a knight of Henry VIII’s body, and Jane Pollard in Affeton, North Devon.

It has long been rumored that Henry VIII was actually his natural father and his mother Mary Berkeley, but no documentation has been found to prove the claim that she was a lady-in-waiting.

Thomas Stukeley died in 1578.

Richard Edwardes

During his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VII is said to have had an affair with Agnes Blewett and fathered a son with her on March 25, 1525, but then married her off to a close friend William Edwardes.

The boy was named Richard Edwardes and lived with his ‘parents’ next to the King’s Hunting Lodge in Somerset, England, until the king gave them land and a castle which they called Edwards Hall.

The king never recognized him, but Richard was given many opportunities by the king, including a post at Christ Church College, Oxford.

Sir John Perrot

He was born in November 1528, the son of Mary Berkeley and Sir Thomas Perrott.

This was Mary’s second son, said to have been fathered by King Henry VIII. He was said to have the same temper as the king, but modern historians have ruled him out as the father.

He became a member of the Welsh nobility, serving as Lord Deputy of Ireland under Queen Elizabeth I of England during the Tudor conquest of Ireland. He died as a prisoner in the Tower of London in 1592.

Catherine Carey and Henry Carey

They were children of Mary Boleyn and William Carey.

The affair with Maria is said to have begun in 1520, but it is unknown when it ended.

Catherine Carey was born in 1524, so possibly after the affair, but some historians believe she was an illegitimate child of Henry VIII. Henry Carey was born on March 4, 1526 and according to more contemporary rumors, Henry was an illegitimate child of Henry VIII.

Etheldreda Malte, known as Audrey

Information about her is vague: her date of birth is estimated at 1527 and her death around 1559.

She was an English courtier of the Tudor period and most recently known as an illegitimate daughter of King Henry VIII.

Little is known about her mother Joan Dingley or Dobson. One theory is that Joan was a laundress.

Henry VIII never acknowledged the child, but gave his tailor, John Malte, lands and property, including St Catherine’s Court, when he recognized her as his illegitimate daughter.