Just how round was Henry VIII?

When you ask most people what comes to them when you mention Henry VIII, two tidbits come to their minds:

1. That whole saga with 8 wives
2. He was a rather, um, portly man.

2009 marks the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s ascension to the throne. Throughout the year, I am sure that we’ll be seeing many documentaries, articles, etc on this charismatic and notorious monarch.

The Tower of London will be celebrating this anniversary with a new exhibit, Henry VIII: Dressed to Kill. Starting in April, the exhibit features Henry’s armor that he used throughout his life. This exhibit also coinsides with the Royal Armouries in Leeds study of this armor and the realization of just how large Henry was by the middle of his life.

Early in life, Henry was Jonathan Rhys Meyers – dashing and athletic. By the end of his life, this 6 ft 1in handsome king had developed a 52 inch waste – making him hardly taller than he was wide!

It is believed that his weight was a reflection of his mental state at the time. The last 15 years of his life saw Henry increasingly ill and showing signs of madness. Sparing you the gory details, he had a condition causing ulcers and possibly had brain damage due to falling off his horse a number of times. Historians theorize that these health issues greatly influenced many of his most dramatic decisions and actions – from the beheading of Thomas Cromwell to his treatment of his various wives.

While we may never know what really caused Henry’s girth or his motives behind some of history’s greatest stories, it is fascinating to see what pieces of metal and medical history can tell us about a human being. It does give one pause to think how history would’ve turned out if he was a sane man who didn’t over indulge and stayed on his horse more often.

Author Info - When not dreaming of future trips to England, MK is usually found listening to The Beatles, reading Sherlock Holmes or watching Stephen Fry on the telly. Read more from this author