Henry VIII: King and Court
Alison Weir
Weir's panoramic study of Henry's court, politics, religion, and spectacle at full scale.
The World During Their Reign
The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.
Suleiman the Magnificent
Ottoman Empire
1520–1547
Francis I of France
France
1515–1547
Humayun
Mughal Empire
1531–1540
Selim I
Ottoman Empire
1512–1520
Charles V
Spain
1516–1547
Babur
Mughal Empire
1526–1531
James V of Scotland
Scotland
1513–1542
Charles V
Holy Roman Empire
1519–1547
Jiajing Emperor of Ming
China
1521–1547
Bayezid II
Ottoman Empire
1509–1512
John III of Portugal
Portugal
1521–1547
Ashikaga Yoshiharu
Japan (Shogunate)
1522–1547
Emperor Go-Nara
Japan
1526–1547
Gustav I of Sweden
Sweden
1523–1547
Emperor Go-Kashiwabara
Japan
1509–1526
Zhengde Emperor
China
1509–1521
Ashikaga Yoshitane
Japan (Shogunate)
1509–1522
Pope Paul III
Papacy
1534–1547
Manuel I of Portugal
Portugal
1509–1521
Maximilian I
Holy Roman Empire
1509–1519
Louis XII of France
France
1509–1515
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Spain
1509–1516
Pope Clement VII
Papacy
1523–1534
Pope Leo X
Papacy
1513–1521
James IV of Scotland
Scotland
1509–1513
Mary, Queen of Scots
Scotland
1542–1547
Pope Julius II
Papacy
1509–1513
Meanwhile in history
One “meanwhile in history” story each week: who ruled where, and what was happening on thrones across the world.
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Further Reading
Well-regarded biographies and histories to go deeper on Henry VIII of England's life and times.
The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Alison Weir
The classic collective biography, indispensable for understanding Henry's reign through his marriages.
Thomas Cromwell: A Life
Diarmaid MacCulloch
The definitive life of the minister who made Henry's break with Rome possible.
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