Chilling Facts About Edward VI, The Doomed Son Of Henry VIII

Edward VI Of England Was A Spoiled Brat With A Vicious Temper
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Chilling Facts About Edward VI, The Doomed Son Of Henry VIII
Sep 8
PEOPLE
Christine Tran
History portrays Edward VI as the feeble and ultimately doomed son of Henry VIII , but the truth is so much darker than that. Far from a weakling, even as a boy, Edward proved nearly as twisted as his rotund father—and his gruesome end was likely a blessing for England. Don't believe us? Dive in and find out for yourself.
1. He Was Beautiful
The birth of Edward VI was probably the greatest moment in Henry VIII's life. The rotund king desperately wanted a son, but it took 28 years, two daughters, and three wives to finally make it happen. To say people were excited would be an understatement. One chronicler described the infant Edward as "the most beautiful boy that ever was seen."
However, England couldn't celebrate for long; tragedy soon marred the joyous occasion.
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2. He Never Knew His Mother
Queen Jane Seymour couldn't take part in the celebrations along with everyone else. It soon became clear that the birth had taken a serious toll on her. Within days, she was hanging by a thread. Seymour fought for a little over a week before succumbing to her illness. Edward VI never got to meet his mother—and let's just say, the boy definitely needed all the motherly guidance he could get.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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3. His Father Abandoned Him
Edward VI grew up without a mother, but here's the thing: He basically grew up without a father too. Sure, Henry VIII was over the moon that he finally had a son. That doesn't mean he was actually going to spend any time with the boy, god forbid. Henry sent Edward away pretty much from the moment he was born, and aside from one brief visit when Edward was one, he almost never saw the boy for the first several years of his life.
And that means that Henry wasn't there to support Edward as the boy was fighting for his life.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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4. He Caught A Sudden Fever
Most reports claim that Edward VI was a hale and hearty child, but that could have just been people trying to avoid Henry VIII's wrath for giving him bad news about his boy. Either way, there's one thing we know for sure: When Edward was four, he caught the deadly quartan fever. I'm sure all of England held their breath—who knows how dark Henry VIII would get if the son he'd waited so many years for suddenly passed.
But in the end, Edward recovered—and got to grow up to become one of the biggest spoiled brats the world has ever seen.
Wikimedia Commons
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5. He Was The MOST Spoiled
Sure, Henry didn't actually spend any time around Edward, but he still spoiled the heck out of the kid. He called his son "this whole realm's most precious jewel" and had his attendants treat him accordingly. Edward's apartments had to be kept spotless at all times, they had insane levels of security, and of course, they included all the finest toys and luxuries money could buy. Edward even had his own personal minstrel troupe for crying out loud.
Now I know what you're thinking: Spoiling a kid rotten rarely turns out well. Well, Edward was no different. The boy was quickly growing into a little terror.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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6. His Whole Life Changed Overnight
Edward VI's entire life changed when he turned six. Why? Because, believe it or not, the Tudors believed that a child became an adult at age six. You read that right. That meant that Edward finally got to move in with his axe-happy father—and their relationship quickly took a turn for the weird.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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7. His Dad Was Totally Creepy
Henry VIII ordered some...renovations when his son moved in with him. He had workers completely remodel Edward's rooms so they looked exactly like his. And somehow, that's not even the strangest part. Henry also had Edward's entire wardrobe replaced with smaller versions of his own clothes. I guess Henry hoped that with the same rooms and the same clothes, Edward would turn out like him.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened—Edward ended up just about as messed up as Henry.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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8. He Took Fancy To Another Level
Give the Tudors credit for one thing: They really knew how to spoil a kid. Sure, Henry made Edward study like any other boy, but he made sure his son studied in style . Edward's schoolbooks were completely covered in gold and set with sapphires, rubies, and diamonds. I guess Henry VIII had never heard the phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
And when Edward took lunch breaks? He ate with jewel-encrusted cutlery and napkins threaded with pure gold and silver thread. Yeah, calling Edward "spoiled" doesn't quite cover it—and like a lot of rich kids, Edward got up to some disturbing hobbies.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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9. He Had Sinister Hobby
Edward had plenty to keep him busy, with intensive studies along with the manly fencing and horseback riding that Henry insisted upon. But between all that, Edward still found time to pick up a dark pastime: Sorcery. Among Edward's mountains of toys, he kept a sinister red box filled with "tools of sorcery." He and his older sister Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth I ) both had a strange obsession with magic and astrology, and lord knows what they got up to with those "tools."
But while Edward and Elizabeth liked to cast spells together, that was nothing compared to Edward's relationship with his other sister; the infamous Bloody Mary .
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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10. He Adored His Sister (At First)
Edward absolutely adored his eldest sister Mary, once writing "I love you the most" to her when he was nine years old. It makes sense: Mary was over two decades older, and with no mother and an absent father, she was the closest thing to a parental figure Edward had. But just like his father, Edward's moods could change quickly—and before long, Edward and Bloody Mary would become bitter enemies.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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11. He Softened His Father
Give Edward VI credit for one thing: He was the only person on Earth who seemed capable of making Henry VIII act like a decent human being. Henry had long since disinherited both of his daughters (and divorced/beheaded their moms), but having a son softened him. In 1543, he invited all three of his kids to spend Christmas with him. For most families that seems pretty normal, but for the Tudors, it was completely unheard of.
Life in the Tudor family seemed downright normal  for maybe the first time ever—but of course, it couldn't last long.
The Tudors (2007–2010), Showtime Networks
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12. He Got Engaged At Five Years Old
That pleasant Christmas dinner took place at a high point in Henry VIII's life. Not only was his son everything he'd dreamed of, but Edward had even solved one of Henry's biggest problems: Henry brokered a deal with Scotland for Edward to marry the seven-month-old Mary, Queen of Scots . With that deal, Henry se…

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