King Henry VIII and Wives (1491-1547)

[Australian]

Just a random question.......When Anne of Cleves and Henry were divorced, what was Anne's title? I know the King bestowed upon her the title of 'Kings Sister' (i may be mistaken)....but was she given a Duchy or anything?

Or perhaps escaping the chopping block was reward/ compensation enough!!

[Lady Ann]

this is the information supplied by Wiki, I hope it answers your question:
The former queen received a generous settlement, including Richmond Palace, and Hever Castle, home of Henry's former in-laws, the Boleyns. Anne of Cleves House, in Lewes, Sussex, is just one of many properties she owned; she never lived there. Henry and Anne became good friends - she was an honourary member of the King's family[7] and was referred to as "the King's Beloved Sister".

[Menarue]

I think we can all say "Lucky Anne of Cleves" and from what I have read she knew it and was very happy to be his "sister".

[Pier Gerlofs Donia]

Does Henry VIII have living decendants that we know of, as of today? I suppose they would be born to his illegimate offspring then, but I always wondered if there were any nowadays... :)

[Lady Ann]

No he does not, He only had three children that lived to adulthood and they all died without issue.

[Grace Angel]

It's unlikely but possible he has illegitimate descendents alive today. His bastard son Henry Fitzroy died as a teenager leaving no descendents, but it has been speculated that some of Mary Boleyn's kids might have been his- she was his mistress, although she was married. Anyone know of any descendents of her children? Henry had no other rumored illegitimate children, but he did have mistresses. Obviously, he never had another illegitimate son other than Fitzroy, or he would have acknowledged the child, one thinks, unless the paternity was uncertain.

[HM Queen Catherine]

Originally Posted by Grace Angel

It's unlikely but possible he has illegitimate descendents alive today. His bastard son Henry Fitzroy died as a teenager leaving no descendents, but it has been speculated that some of Mary Boleyn's kids might have been his- she was his mistress, although she was married. Anyone know of any descendents of her children? Henry had no other rumored illegitimate children, but he did have mistresses. Obviously, he never had another illegitimate son other than Fitzroy, or he would have acknowledged the child, one thinks, unless the paternity was uncertain.

Mary Boleyn's descendants:

Catherine Carey married Sir Francis Knollys of Rotherfield Greys, son of Sir Robert Knollys of Rotherfield and Lettice Pennystone.

Their children:
Henry Knollys (1541-1583)
Married Margaret Cave and had issue.
Mary Knollys (Oct 1542-?)
Lettice Knollys (Nov 1543-25 Dec 1634)
Married Walter Devereaux, Earl of Essex with issue. They were the parents of the Countess of Devonshire, the Countess of Northumberland and the 2nd Earl of Essex. Grandparents of the 2nd Earl of Warwick, 1st Earl of Holland, 1st Earl of Newport, Countess of Leicester, 10th Earl of Northumberland and Duchess of Somerset.
Married Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester with issue, one son named Robert Dudley, Baron Denbigh, whose legitimacy is questionable.
Married Sir Christopher Blount, no issue.
William Knollys, 1st Earl of Banbury (1545-25 May 1632)
Married Dorothy Braye, no issue.
Married Elizabeth Howard with issue (questionable legitimacy).
Edward Knollys (1546-1580)
Maude Knollys (1548-?)
Elizabeth Knollys (1549-?)
Married Sir Thomas Leighton of Feckenham, with issue.
Robert Knollys (Nov 1550-1625)
Married Joan Heigham, with issue.
Richard Knollys (1552-21 Aug 1596)
Married Catherine Vaughn, with issue.
Sir Francis Knollys II (14 Aug 1553-1643)
Married Lettice Barrett, with issue.
Anne Knollys, Lady de la Warr (19 Jul 1555-Sep/Dec 1608)
Married Thomas West, 2nd Baron de la Warr, with issue (13 children). One of their sons was Commandant of Jamestown (1612-1617), another was Crown Governor of Virginia. Their eldest surviving son became 3rd Baron de la Warr, who was the Governor of the Virginia Company of London. The State of Delaware is named for the 3rd Baron, and he was the ancestor of the Earls de la Warr.
Sir Thomas Knollys (1558-1596)
Married Lady Odelia de Morada, daughter of the Marquess of Bergen, with issue.
Catherine Knollys (21 Oct 1559-20 Dec 1620)
Married Gerald FitzGerald, Baron Offaly, with issue (1 daughter).
Married Sir Philip Butler of Watton Woodhall, issue unknown.
Dudley Warwick Knollys (9 May 1562-1562)

Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon, married Anne Morgan, daughter of Sir Thomas Morgan of Arkston and Anne Elizabeth Whitney.

Their children:
Philadelphia Carey, Lady Scrope of Bolton (d. 3 Feb 1626)
Married Thomas Scrope, 10th Baron Scrope of Bolton, with issue. Their son, Emmanuel Scrope, became the 1st Earl of Sunderland.
Thomas Carey died as infant.
William Carey died as infant.
Thomas Carey died as infant.
George Carey, 2nd Baron Hunsdon (1547-9 Sep 1603)
Married Elizabeth Spencer, daughter of Sir John Spencer of Althorpe and Katherine Kitson, with issue. Elizabeth's sister was Countess of Dorset. Her nephew was the 1st Baron Spencer of Wormleighton, an ancestor of the Earls of Sunderland, the 3rd Duke of Marlborough and Lady Diana Spencer.
Catherine Carey, Countess of Nottingham (1550-25 Feb 1602)
Married Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, with issue. One daughter was Countess of Kildare and another Countess of Carrick. They were also the parents of the 2nd Earl of Nottingham and Baron Howard of Effingham. One of their granddaughters was the Countess of Peterborough, another was Countess of Tyrconnell.
Sir Edmund Carey (1558-1637)
Married Mary Crocker, no issue.
Married Judith Humphrey, with issue.
Married Elizabeth Neville, issue unknown. She was the widow of John Danvers and daughter of the 4th Baron Latimer. Her sisters were Countess of Northumberland and Countess of Exeter.
Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth (1560-21 Apr 1639)
Married Elizabeth Trevannion, with issue. Elizabeth was Robert's 1st cousin, being the daughter of Hugh Trevannion and Sybilla Morgan. Sybilla was Anne Morgan's sister. They were parents to the 2nd Earl of Monmouth and ancestors of the 1st Earl of Monmouth, 2nd Creation (who also became 3rd Earl of Peterborough), the Viscounts Mordaunt of Avalon, and the Duchess of Gordon.
John Carey, 3rd Baron Hunsdon (1563-Apr 1617)
Married Mary Hyde, with issue.
Henry Carey
Mary Margaret Carey
Married Sir Edward Hoby, issue unknown.
****
Valentine Carey (illegitimate son), became Bishop of Exeter in 1621

And these are just the grandchildren! LOL.

[Lady Ann]

It was Mary's son Henry Carey that was rumored to be Henry VIII's son he was said to look alot like the King but the King never claimed him she also had her daughter Cathreine Carey, she only had two other children from her second marriage Anne Stafford and a son Edward he only lived to about the age of 10 years old I believe. I read somewhere there was decendents of Mary boylen. I know she had grandchildren her grandson Lord Hunsdon got or claimed the Boylen family title of (Earl of Ormonde) but that was around 1597 or so i am not sure after that. I will have to look it up.

Wow I just read that Henry Carey and his wife Ann Mogan had 12 children and his sister Catherine had 15 it seems more and more likely that Mary Bolyen would have some decendents...

[HM Queen Catherine]

Originally Posted by Lady Ann

It was Mary's son Henry Carey that was rumored to be Henry VIII's son he was said to look alot like the King but the King never claimed him she also had her daughter Cathreine Carey, she only had two other children from her second marriage Anne Stafford and a son Edward he only lived to about the age of 10 years old I believe. I read somewhere there was decendents of Mary boylen. I know she had grandchildren her grandson Lord Hunsdon got or claimed the Boylen family title of (Earl of Ormonde) but that was around 1597 or so i am not sure after that. I will have to look it up.

Wow I just read that Henry Carey and his wife Ann Mogan had 12 children and his sister Catherine had 15 it seems more and more likely that Mary Bolyen would have some decendents...

As a direct descendant of Mary Boleyn, I can tell you that we definitely exist!

There has been a lot of historical speculation regarding the paternity of Mary's children, Catherine and Henry. While it is true that Henry Carey was rumored to be the son of Henry VIII, and that he bore a striking resemblance to him, the fact that Henry VIII fathered Catherine Carey now seems to be finding its basis in the historical record.

The hand-written record of births recorded in a Latin dictionary owned by Sir Francis Knollys, seems to bear out the fact that Catherine Carey, his wife, was conceived during the time of Mary Boleyn's affair with the King.

It is true, that Henry VIII acknowledged neither of these children, but it must be pointed out that if he had, it would have been a situation that may have undermined his desire to marry Anne.

Besides, he had nothing to gain politically or otherwise by claiming the Carey children.

He did have a motive for advancing Henry FitzRoy, however, which was to put pressure on Catherine of Aragon. There was nothing she held more dear than her daughter, and Henry's elevation of his illegitimate son, would have at least made her believe in the possibility that Mary could be denied her rights to the succession. Unfortunately for Henry, his ploy failed. I doubt he ever seriously considered putting his illegitimate son on the throne, because his own dynasty had suffered under the suspicion of illegitimacy from the beginning.

[Lady Ann]

Wow, I find this so great thank you for all your infromaiton on this topic. I look forward to hearing more.

[susan alicia]

Columbine Hall - History

Columbine Hall where Robert Carey lived, (possible) grandchild of Henry VIII and Mary Boleyn.

I loved it there, the pictures on the website do not do it justice (mine are much better), the garden in the 17th century manner with the moat, the house which has been restored in muted colours (has featured in the magazine World of Interiors).

Robert Carey, 1st Earl of Monmouth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Originally Posted by HM Queen Catherine

As a direct descendant of Mary Boleyn, I can tell you that we definitely exist!

There has been a lot of historical speculation regarding the paternity of Mary's children, Catherine and Henry. While it is true that Henry Carey was rumored to be the son of Henry VIII, and that he bore a striking resemblance to him, the fact that Henry VIII fathered Catherine Carey now seems to be finding its basis in the historical record.

The hand-written record of births recorded in a Latin dictionary owned by Sir Francis Knollys, seems to bear out the fact that Catherine Carey, his wife, was conceived during the time of Mary Boleyn's affair with the King.

It is true, that Henry VIII acknowledged neither of these children, but it must be pointed out that if he had, it would have been a situation that may have undermined his desire to marry Anne.

Besides, he had nothing to gain politically or otherwise by claiming the Carey children.

He did have a motive for advancing Henry FitzRoy, however, which was to put pressure on Catherine of Aragon. There was nothing she held more dear than her daughter, and Henry's elevation of his illegitimate son, would have at least made her believe in the possibility that Mary could be denied her rights to the succession. Unfortunately for Henry, his ploy failed. I doubt he ever seriously considered putting his illegitimate son on the throne, because his own dynasty had suffered under the suspicion of illegitimacy from the beginning.

[Menarue]

I have been looking and I have found quite a few descendants of Mary Boleyn alive today, so there may be descendants of Henry VIII around.

[Royal Fan]

When he was having the Affair with Lady Mary was he Married Divorced ect ect

[iowabelle]

Married to Catherine of Aragon. After all, having a mistress (or multiples) was de rigeur for a king, wasn't it?

[Grace Angel]

I think he had been certain about the paternity of Mary's son he would have said so, but it's still possible he was the father. Lettice Knollys, I believe a descendent of Mary Boleyn was suspiciously a look alike to Elizabeth I. Of course they were cousins through the Mary B and Anne B but still. I'm sure Henry also had mistresses that time didn't record.

[iowabelle]

For those of us who want to know apparently there's a new book coming out called Mistresses of Henry VIII by Kelly Hart. I saw it advertised in Majesty magazine today... according to the ad, there were a dozen ladies.

Among the ones listed: Bessie Blount; Mary Boleyn; Lady Anne Stafford; Jane Popincourt, his sisters’ French tutor; poet Mary Shelton; Elizabeth Amadas, a ‘witch and prophetess’; Elizabeth Brooke; Étienette; Anne Bassett, her stepfather was H8's illegitimate uncle; as well as women he kept in secret houses and the wives of two of his close friends. I had never heard of some of these so I can't vouch for the accuracy of the book -- but it should be interesting.

[Grace Angel]

Thanks for letting us know! Yes, that book does have a timely topic- as I am quite curious on this issue and so are a number of others. I wonder what if the book considers the issue that he might have had illegitimate children other than Henry Fitzroy, his son with Elizabeth Blount, who died in his teens.

[iowabelle]

I don't know... but my guess is, that if Henry had been aware of an illegitimate son, he would have tried some legal maneuvering to get it legitimized. I wasn't aware that he had tried that with Henry Fitzroy, but I guess he did... not that it mattered in the end. (And wouldn't that have messed up the rules governing succession when that came to Charles II and his herds of children??)

[Grace Angel]

I agree if he had other illegitimate children, that is sons, he seems not to have been aware of them. Henry Fitzroy died in his teens but I believe Henry had already married him off and would have used him as regards the sucession if Edward had died before Henry. Henry was a man obsessed with sons, yet both his known sons died young, and it was his daughter that saved England, and ruled a long time. Anyway, I look forward to that book.

[Menarue]

From what I have read about Henry he was willing to shower honours on his illegitimate chidren but would never ever make them Kings of England. What he wanted was a legitimate heir,he believed that only a legitimate heir would be safe and continue the monarchy.