Why did Henry VIII marry so differently from other European monarchs?

Most Renaissance kings married for diplomacy, alliances and dynastic advantage. Personal attraction might have mattered, but politics usually came first.

Henry VIII repeatedly did the opposite.

Instead of choosing the most politically advantageous bride, he often pursued the woman he personally wanted to marry, even when it transformed the course of English history.

In this video, I explore why Henry approached marriage so differently from rulers such as Ferdinand of Aragon, Francis I and Charles V. Was he shaped by his childhood? Did the example of Elizabeth of York influence his idea of the perfect queen? Did the ideals of chivalry and courtly romance leave him expecting too much from marriage?

Join me as we exa ...