Henry VIII, the second Tudor monarch, reigned from 1509 to 1547. He is remembered as one of England's most tyrannical rulers, responsible for the deaths of thousands of his subjects. Henry's reign was marked by religious upheaval, as he broke away from the Catholic Church and established the Church of England. He also dissolved the monasteries and seized their wealth. Henry's six marriages, which resulted in only one male heir, were a source of great turmoil. He had two of his wives executed for treason, and divorced two others. Henry's ruthless tactics and disregard for human life earned him the title "Tyrant of the Tudors."
