Henry VIII of England

Henry VIII Groat, minted in Dublin.

Detail of matchlock breech-loading gun, owned by Henry VIII, dated 1537, XII.1. Royal Armouries, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" rel="noreferrer nofollow">CC BY 4.0</a> This gun may well have been the first of its kind to have been made in England. Although it was made in 1537, its breech-loading mechanism (which allows rapid reloading while lying down or firing from a bench) is years ahead of its time. It was commissioned for none other than Henry VIII. The gun is capable of accurate shooting to 100 metres and Henry would likely have used it for target practice. Although he had a personal interest in modernising the English military, it would still be another 300 years until soldiers would have had access to guns like this one too. It was handmade by William Hunt, a gunmaker who became Henry's first 'Keeper of the King's Handguns and Demihawks’. It would have taken hundreds of hours to complete, using many skilled techniques like forging, grinding, filing, reaming, chiselling, gilding, and cutting, carving and polishing wood. This image is part of our <a href="https://royalarmouries.org/objects-and-stories/up-close-online-exhibition" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Up Close</a> online exhibition, which was made possible with funding from The <a href="https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">National Lottery Heritage Fund</a>. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to use digital to enable our audiences to explore our collection in new and exciting ways.

Detail of armet, the horned helmet, 1512-1514, IV.22. Royal Armouries, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/?ref=chooser-v1" rel="noreferrer nofollow">CC BY 4.0</a> Made by one of the 16th's century's leading armourers, Konrad Seusenhofer, the horned helmet is one of the Royal Armouries' most iconic pieces. It was a diplomatic gift given to Henry VIII in 1541 by Maximilian I, who was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. The horns don't appear to have been part of the original helmet. We don't really know when or why they were added, or who made them. This image is part of our <a href="https://royalarmouries.org/objects-and-stories/up-close-online-exhibition" rel="noreferrer nofollow">Up Close</a> online exhibition, which was made possible with funding from The <a href="https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/" rel="noreferrer nofollow">National Lottery Heritage Fund</a>. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to use digital to enable our audiences to explore our collection in new and exciting ways.

Bedroom of Henry VIII - Hever Castle

Exhibit in the British Library, London, England.

Habit of King Henry VIII in 1520. Le Roi Henry VII.

Identificatie Titel(s): Portret van koning Hendrik VIII van Engeland en Ierland. Henricus dei gra rex anglie (titel op object) Objecttype: prent Objectnummer: RP-P-1892-A-17327 Catalogusreferentie: Van der Stock 33-2(2). Hollstein Dutch 170-2(2) Opschriften / Merken: verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228 Omschrijving: Portret van Hendrik VIII, koning van Engeland en ierland, met een paar handschoenen in zijn handen. Linksboven zijn wapenschild. Vervaardiging Vervaardiger: prentmaker: Cornelis Massijs (vermeld op object) Plaats vervaardiging: Antwerpen Datering: 1548 Fysieke kenmerken: gravure Materiaal: papier Techniek: graveren (drukprocedé) Afmetingen: plaatrand: h 179 mm × b 134 mm Onderwerp Wie: Hendrik VIII (koning van Engeland en Ierland) Verwerving en rechten Verwerving: aankoop aug-1892 Copyright: Publiek domein

Original 1512 charter, granted to Dame Agnes Mellers and Sir Thomas Lovell by Henry VIII, approving the foundation of a free grammar school in Nottingham (later Nottingham High School).

Henry VIII