Henry VIII
Excommunicated by the Catholic Church, British monarch Henry VIII , the founder of the Anglican Church and the British monarchy that was still to become the largest empire in history, he is considered to be the prototype of the famous Charles Perrot’s hero, the Duke Bluebeard.
This legendary ruler had six wives, two of whom he beheaded. A tale says that it was the Pope’s prohibiting him another desired divorce that made him simply forbid the practice of the Catholic Religion and, confiscate all the property of abbeys and monasteries.
A keen ball-dancer and ardent participant of masquerades and tournaments, he was broad-minded and rather educated for his time. Fluently speaking Latin, French, Spanish and Italian and beautifully playing the lute, he was rightly proud of his gifts and talents.