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King Henry VIII’s transformation from a charismatic and athletic monarch into a feared tyrant has often been attributed to his infamous jousting accidents. A pivotal moment occurred on January 24, 1536, when Henry was reportedly knocked unconscious for two hours during a joust at Greenwich, an incident that coincided with his wife Anne Boleyn’s miscarriage. Some historians have speculated that this accident might have led to traumatic brain injuries, contributing to the king’s later violent and paranoid behavior.
However, this theory is contested. Henry had already demonstrated tyrannical tendencies before the 1536 accident. His ruthless treatment of figures like Thomas More and his harsh actions against his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, suggest that his descent into tyranny was not solely a result of a head injury. Furthermore, the severity of the jousting accident remains unclear, with some sources disputing whether Henry was even unconscious.
While it is possible that chronic pain and the physical decline following his various injuries exacerbated Henry’s already volatile temperament, it is equally likely that his transformation was a product of many factors, including the pressures of kingship, his advancing age, and his own personal choices. Ultimately, Henry’s own decisions and temperament played a significant role in shaping his tyrannical legacy.
Top image: Detail showing Henry VIII jousting in front of Katherine of Aragon, College of Arms (Westminster Tournament Roll), by Thomas Wriothesley, 1511. Source: Public Domain