Jane Seymour, c. 1508/1509 -1537
When Henry VIII married Jane Seymour, he found a wife that understood her role and played it well. Jane was thoroughly English, not born into foreign royalty like Katherine or serving foreign courts like Anne. Jane, with the support of her super-ambitious family, took a page out of Anne Boleyn’s playbook, refusing his advances and returning his gifts. It worked. She married King Henry VIII in 1536, 11 days after Anne Boleyn’s execution.
In 1537, she and Henry had the son they wanted so badly. Unfortunately, the happiness was short lived; within two weeks she was dead. She never even had a coronation. Henry VIII was devastated. He made it clear for the rest of his life that Jane was his best-loved and first “true” wife. He chose to be buried with Jane when he died in 1547.
