Henry VIII's. private life - History of sex, erotica, and pornography XV.

Henry VIII. (1491 - 1547) is famous for many things, such as scandals, wives doomed to death, militant thinking, and campaigns. And of course the most important thing: founding the Anglican Church! Henry foamed life, food, and women. He was a real renaissance man!

Henry VIII. of England

wikimedia.org

However, it is a massive misconception about Henry that he would have been such great sexual desires. He allegedly often could not satisfy the ladies! Nor is there any evidence that he was syphilis. Yet this would not have been surprising given the Middle Ages.

Let's take a look at the King's ladies.

Catherine of Aragon

His first wife was Catherine of Aragon, and this marriage began with love. And for 15 years, he seemed happy. But unfortunately, their children were all stillborn. There was one exception, Mary. However, no heir to the throne was born. And then Henry looked for a fertile lover.

Boleyn Anna

First, Mary Boleyn was the King's lover. We saw this in the film; 'The Other Boleyn Girl.' Mary Boleyn also gave birth to a child for the ruler. However, Henry soon got bored with the gentle Mary. And Anna Boleyn knew full well what she could do to seduce the King. She went to the very end. With the practices what she learned in the French court, Anna mesmerized the King. However, she did not allow sex. She told Henry that he had to marry her. The King then went crazy to take Anna to bed, and the result of this affair, that Henry VIII founded the Anglican Church. Finally, He married Anna Boleyn.

When Anna was crowned Queen in 1533, she was already six months pregnant and gave birth to the later Queen Elizabeth I. After her first successful pregnancy, Anna, unfortunately, had several miscarriages. Henry VIII. ended up the marriage because Anna was accused of incest and treason. However, many said it was just a conceptual lawsuit against her.

Jane Seymour

While 3 years of marriage with Anna three marriage, the King began courting Jane Seymour. Jane behaved virginally and quietly. Henry VIII. was married to her immediately after Anna was beheaded. The fragile new Queen soon gave birth to the expected boy, but shortly she died of cervical fever. The King was very worn out because, according to historical sources, he really loved this woman.

Anna of Cleves

Anna Cleves was the new wife. She lived with the King for only six months. She was an ugly woman, and the King did not want sex with her. But Anna is disgusted Henry VIII. too. The King called his wife as the "Flemish mare." Nevertheless, he sent him in peace and remained friends. The King even donated estates to her!

Catherine Howard

At the age of 16, he became the wife of the 49-year-old King. Henry VIII was so a fat, fussy, and short-tampered man. Catherine surrounded herself with many young men and made her lover a private secretary. This situation is perhaps more understandable if we know that from the age of 11 Catherine was regularly harassed by older men who walked into her room.

Catherine was the wife of the sick Henry VIII less a year. Because she was completely inexperienced and influential in life and politics, she quickly got into a man's net. Therefore, she was also convicted of adultery, so she became the second beheaded wife.

Catherine Parr

Catherine became the wife and faithful friend of an aging and increasingly ill King. She took care of Henry's wounds, but there was no sexual relationship between them. In her, the King found his soul mate. Catherine could even reunite the family. Henry VIII. readmitted his previously denied daughters to the throne. Besides her, the King was finally able to end his life in peace. After the death of Henry VIII, the Queen was able to retain her wealth, rank, and many estates. She organized Henry's funeral, and at the end of Henry VIII's power, she played a significant role in helping young Elizabeth to save adulthood.

Recent research suggests that Henry VIII had several ulcers from injuries. And they caused him terrible and constant pain. Probably that is why he became grumpy, suddenly angry, and cruel in his old age.

Read more about sex in the Tudor Age!

(All pictures are from wikipedia.org and gettyimages!)

History of Sex, Erotica, and Pornography XIV. Sex in the Tudor Age

After France, let's take a look at England now. The best known and greatest king of the Middle Ages was Henrik VIII. in England. Before we get into privacy, let's look at the rules of Tudor sex!

1. Sex is often forbidden

The church has set strict rules for when, where, and how people can have sex with each other. Thus, it was forbidden to have sex on Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays, during Lent, Advent, Pentecost, before the major holidays when the woman was menstruating, in the last months before giving birth, for a month after giving birth, and while the mother was breastfeeding. Sex was forbidden for three days before sacrifice, during the day, naked, and in any way outside the missionary pose.

All sexual activity that was not for reproductive purposes was sodomy.

Jonathan Rhys-Meyers as Henry VIII. of England

in the "The Tudors"

wikimedia

2. Married only

The only sexual activity allowed by the contemporary church was the fulfillment of "marital duty." This approach means that sex's goals within marriage for childbearing.

3. It is mandatory to make a child (especially if you are king!)

For kings and queens, childbearing was a moral obligation. It also served the interests of the dynasty. The marriage was valid only if it was passed away. After the royal couple was married, there were, therefore, witnesses in the bedroom. They waited behind the curtain for the sounds of orgasm because that was the evidence.

wikipedia.org

4. Enjoy life ...!

Doctors were also involved in the issue of sexuality. It was believed that too little sex was not good for a person's health. Also, it can even endanger it. Doctors said that women and men produce a "seed" with which they can create new life. The balance of these is vital in the body. This theory meant that in order to have children, both parties had to breake out their seed, so they had to reach orgasm.

5. ... but don't overdo it!

The church forbade sex so much, among other things, because it feared it could entice people to sin. Many believed that sex made them angry with themselves. And an English bishop claimed that "the filthy desires of the flesh" were harmful to men.

6. Forget contraception!

The church condemned contraception. An exception was if the woman was expected to die in childbirth. The methods of contraception advocated by doctors were sometimes very bizarre. It's hard to imagine anyone taking them seriously. One of the contraceptive ointments, for example, consisted of the following ingredients: poppy, egg white, goose fat, honey, and "female milk."

A popular medical book claimed that an excellent method of contraception is to carry a weasel with severed testicles around her neck.

7. Break the rules!

In XVI. century people lived active sex lives. Adultery was forbidden, but it was widespread. The reason for this was that forced marriages occurred many times among the nobility and the royal family. For example, during Henrik VIII's wife lay pregnant with her first child, and the king courted the married Lady Anne Hastings. And the Spanish ambassador, who reported on the king's departure, blamed Catherine, not the ruler, for making the affair a word!

8. Enjoyment is an expectation

In the Tudor era, women were also expected to enjoy sex. There was also advice on this. It was thought that anyone who felt uncomfortable or unhappy during sex was not fertile. Mutual enjoyment was necessary to get pregnant. Women always had to be ready if their husbands wanted sex. However, it was also crucial for men for their partners to enjoy sex. This made a central question! You can only have a child if the woman also had an orgasm.

wikipedia

"The Tudors"

In summary, whatever the people did, they could only come out of it badly. Notwithstanding, the majority of medieval English thought that sex was worth the risk!