Known for his six wives and for his tumultuous relationship with the Catholic Church, Henry VIII was born in Greenwich in 1491. He is also known for establishing the Royal Navy.

 

Royal portraits in Royal Museums Greenwich’s collection
Come face to face with Kings and Queens, and discover 500 years of royal portraits at the Queen's House in Greenwich
Why did Henry VIII break with Rome?
Find out about King Henry VIII’s break with the Catholic Church
Greenwich Palace and the Tudors
Situated beside the River Thames, Greenwich had been a popular royal residence for centuries
How many children did Henry VIII have?
Henry VIII is possibly the most famous King of England, known both for his six wives and for the splitting of the Church. He had several children from different women, but only three were legitimate and survived past infancy
Who were Henry VIII's wives?
Henry VIII is one of history's most famous monarchs and best known for his six marriages
Where did King Henry VIII live and die?
Discover how a jousting accident at Greenwich precipitated King Henry VIII's later obesity and death.
Royal Naval Dockyards
In the 17th and 18th centuries there were six Royal Navy Dockyards in England, at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Portsmouth and Plymouth
The Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I
The Tudor dynasty was founded in 1485 by Elizabeth's grandfather, Henry VII, when he emerged victorious after the dynastic Wars of the Roses
Mary Rose
The Mary Rose was a warship built in Portsmouth for King Henry VIII. It sank in 1545 and was recovered in 1981, with many artefacts still on board.
Henry VIII and his navy
An important part of Henry VIII's legacy was his establishment of the Royal Navy, encouraging shipbuilding and creating dockyards