Henry: Mind of a Tyrant

Henry VIII's accession to the throne in 1509 was greeted with wild rejoicing. Tall, athletic and handsome; following the reign of his father (who was found to be a dour, gloomy individual reputed for meanness), he filled the nation with hope. However, by his death 38 years later, he had earned the reputation of a tyrannical and ruthless monarch. How did the one turn into the other? Acclaimed historian Dr David Starkey, one of the world's leading authorities on the Tudors, presents the most detailed analysis to date of the life of this infamous British monarch. Part 1 of 4.