Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 3

Less than a month after the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII of England married her former lady- in- waiting: Jane Seymour. Historians believe that Jane was the notorious king's favourite wife because she gave him a son, unfortunately she died twelve days after his birth.

Jane Seymour caught the eye of the womanising king when the was the maid of honour to her predecessor as Henry's wife. Apparently she was noticed whilst the royal party were staying at her place of birth- Wulfhall in the summer of 1535. Around that time, Henry began to privately court the woman. When Anne found out, she was outraged as she was jealous of her servant, who was receiving attention, letters and gifts from her rightful husband. Jane did receive gifts but she reportedly sent the majority of them back. Once the French ambassador noticed the romantic couple, the courting became public and Jane's siblings were moved up in court. I imagine that this did not go down too well with Anne Boleyn.

However, on the 19th May 1536, Henry VIII had his wife Anne beheaded on the charges of adultery and treason. A day later, the king had himself betrothed (engaged) to Jane and then eleven days later, on 30th May 1536, he married her. Henry was 45 years old but Jane was about 28 years old! They were married by Bishop Gardiner in the queen's closet in the Palace of Whitechapel.  

Jane was considered an English rose because she was fair skinned (although some say too pale with the views of her face visible), had blonde or strawberry blonde hair. As well as that, she was meek and obedient but did also like to have her own say. Some say that she manipulated her husband to become queen, comment down below what you believe. Henry may have chosen to marry Jane because she might have reminded him of his own mother. On the other hand, as queen, Jane was said to have been strict and formal.

In January of 1537, Jane fell pregnant. Henry was overjoyed, it was a chance to have the long waited son! During her pregnancy, Jane had a craving for quail's eggs which her husband ensured many were provided for. Lady Lisle had them sent from Calais as gifts for the queen; with the hope that her daughters would be taken into court as a reward. Scholars and soothsayers began to predict that when the baby was born, it would be a boy! For once, they were right.

Jane Seymour and Henry VIII's grave

Prince Edward was born after a long labor at two o'clock in the morning of 12th October 1537. His father was besotted with his healthy baby son! Sadly, Jane can down with a dangerous infection (childbed fever) during labor and died just twelve days after Prince Edward's birth. This left her husband distraught. 

She was buried in Windsor Castle and Henry vowed to be buried next to her after his own death. Out of all of Henry's six wives, she was the only one to receive a royal funeral! The chief mourner was her step- daughter: Mary, to whom she had become close to, and Mary was followed by twenty- nine girls in white to represent that jane had died from childbirth but also to represent the dead queen's twenty- nine years!

1. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 1
2. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 2
3. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 3
4. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 4
5. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 5
6. Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 6