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10:37 am
October 31, 2010
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I caught a brief documentary on PBS recently on Henry VIII and AB, narrated by David Starkey. Thus, I can only assume that Starkey had some in-put into exactly what was said. He made the point that, except for his six marriages and break with Rome, Henry VIII actually accomplished very little during his reign, and, had the Great Matter never occurred, he probably would have gone down in royal obscurity.
Which was a point I had never thought about before. I have since racked my brain and cannot think of anything else he managed to accomplish that was not directly connected to his divorce from Katherine of Aragon. Anyone got anything?
"We mustn't let our passions destroy our dreams…"
10:29 pm
January 9, 2010
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Nope…. and he wasn't even in the country for his best military success at the battle of Flodden either.
Loser!
2:15 am
April 9, 2011
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He had a male heir! Isn't that his lasting legacy? 
3:03 am
April 11, 2011
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It's an interesting question, but perhaps a little unfair, most historical figures are remembered for something specific, take that away and you probably have to search to find other issues of consequence. Henry 5th without Agincourt, Churchill minus WW2, Henry 7th sans Bosworth, William 1st and Hastings etc (yes, I know, without Bosworth and Hastings they wouldn't have become Henry 7th and William 1st respectively, but you get my drift). Most are remembered for one event above all others, is it fair therefore to take that definitive moment away and ask, what else did they do? (The “what did the Romans ever do for us” speech from Monty Python keeps coming into my brain, I must start getting some more sleep!). Yes, Henry will be remembered for the great matter (choose if that's fame or infamy!), but why take that away? It's his definitive moment in history, that and what followed is his legacy and if that prompts us to discover what else occurred in his life and reign all for the better surely.
7:59 am
November 18, 2010
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Watching the pride of his navy sink on her maiden voyage.
It's always bunnies.
8:06 am
February 24, 2010
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He built great ships. He killed approximately 72,000 people. Brought art and culture to the Court. I'm done. That's all I have.
8:24 pm
April 9, 2011
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He got fat, which meant he had to spend more on fabrics for his outfits which meant the clothesmakers became rich. Allowing the fashion industry to develop
9:14 pm
November 18, 2010
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provided employment for brewers, vintners, cooks and provision merchants….
It's always bunnies.
10:54 pm
October 31, 2010
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@ Sharon, Bill, and Anyanka: You guys crack me up!!
"We mustn't let our passions destroy our dreams…"
1:48 am
August 12, 2009
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This is tongue in cheek, but…
He spent money like Elvis. Hee. He also threw a lot of business to the perfume industry to cover up the smell of his legs. He provided employment for the people who had to carry him everywhere. He invented shoulder pads to make himself not look as huge as he was. He made his glazier well off by constantly putting up, and then tearing down the emblems, badges, and initials of his wives in his palaces.
And he was the father of Queen Elizabeth I.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
7:02 am
October 31, 2010
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He totally lucked out with the Elizabeth thing…
"We mustn't let our passions destroy our dreams…"
8:01 am
January 17, 2011
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He fathered Elizabeth 
One of England's greatest monarchs!
4:20 pm
August 12, 2009
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MegC said:
He totally lucked out with the Elizabeth thing…
We need a “like” button like with Facebook!
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
6:13 pm
October 31, 2010
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I guess what's kind of sad is that the potential for him to have accomplished greater and better things was there, but he got sidetracked with the Great Matter and never really recovered or got himself together after that.
Thank goodness his daughter was able to do the things he couldn't.
"We mustn't let our passions destroy our dreams…"
1:15 pm
December 5, 2010
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Impish_Impulse said:
MegC said:
He totally lucked out with the Elizabeth thing…
We need a “like” button like with Facebook!
We really do!
You guys make me laugh so much
I wish to confess to you and tell you my secret, which is that I am no angel. -Queen Elizabeth I
1:51 pm
December 5, 2009
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The Royal Navy was not started by Henry but he did extend it, mainly because his marital problems meant England was at risk from Spain. I suppose you could say the expansion of the Navy was a feather in Henry's cap, but the rational was suspect.
7:55 am
April 18, 2011
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I watched a programme which I also think was narrated by David Starkey, and he said that the lasting legacies of Henry were the great houses he had built.
But his greatest has to be Elizabeth.
1:11 am
May 19, 2011
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I would have loved to have seen his face as the Mary Rose sank beneath the waves. The break with Rome. I would rather call that Anne's victory than Henry's. So I think it was the women of his reign who achieved the most- behind every fat old man there's 6 strong women…?
"A fresh young damsel, who could trip and go"
11:37 am
January 9, 2010
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E said:
So I think it was the women of his reign who achieved the most- behind every fat old man there's 6 strong women…?
____________________________________________________________________________________
That is so true! LOL!
