Christopher Johnson
English IV
March 17, 2015
A Queen/Kings Purpose
While reading plays and articles from the renaissance, the roles and purposes of kings and queens varied from place to place. The real question is what is the real purpose of kings and queens? After reading Macbeth, articles on Henry VII, and Queen Elizabeth, the rolls and lifestyles where totally different as of how they ran things as well as how they used their power.
Henry VII was born July 28, 1491 at the royal residence, Greenwich Palace. After the death of his brother he then became the King of England. He was highly educated and loved music and even wrote some as well. He was the type of king that wanted everything to be run by him. Nothing under the sun in England went unnoticed or unseen by the king. “Henry was good- natured”, but soon became abusive as to how he used his power. He was frustrated as to not having a son to take his place as king that he had two mistresses. After being married, and having countless affairs he still didn’t not have a son in which he like to have. Instead after secretly getting married, Anne Boleyn gave birth to a baby girl named Elizabeth.Yet after giving him a child which was not a male and having two miscarriages, Anne was beheaded and was charged with adultery for this matter. Within 24 hours he married Jane Seymour, one of Anne close friends. Wouldn’t you say that would be unfit to rule? Henry took control in every possible aspect, even “declaring himself supreme head of the Church of England” after cutting off all ties with the Pope in which was in charge at first. Making it well known that England was not under the Roman church anymore and that “the only supreme head in Earth of The of England” was only the King. In October 1537, Jane Seymour 5th wife gave him what he wanted the most, a son. After 5 marriages Henry was finally satisfied clamming Jane to be his only true wife. Nine days after giving birth to their son Edward, Jane died to a pregnancy-related infection. The courts mourned over her but three years later old and senile, Henry was ready to marry again.