4. Henry VIII (1509-1547)
Henry VIII stands as one of Britain’s most notorious monarchs, infamous for his six marriages and dramatic break from the Catholic Church. Obsessed with securing a male heir, Henry’s reign was marked by ruthless ambition, leading to the execution of two wives and many political opponents. His sweeping dissolution of the monasteries forever altered the religious and social fabric of England. To explore Henry’s transformative—and tyrannical—legacy, see the British Library.
