Henry VIII in a portrait by Hans Holbein.
Henry VIII Tudor (1491-1547) - Tudor king of England and Ireland, son of Henry VII. He ascended the throne in 1509.
He was a comprehensively educated ruler, knew several languages, and was keenly interested in theology. In 1534, he led the English Parliament to pass the Act of Supremacy that gave rise to the Church of England, with Henry VIII as its superior.
He went down in history also due to the brutal treatment of subsequent wives - accused of infidelity and the beheaded Anna Boleyn and the equally expelled Katarzyna Howard. He gained a reputation as a ruthless, brutal and even sadistic man.