9. Henry VIII (England)
King Henry VIII of England (1509-1547) is renowned for his lavish court and extravagant spending, which significantly drained the nation’s resources. His six marriages, including the annulment of his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon and the execution of his second wife, Anne Boleyn, were costly affairs. Henry’s profligate lifestyle and the financial strain of his building projects and wars set the stage for religious and political upheaval, including the English Reformation.
