Jane Seymour: marriage, heir and death

• 1.The day after Anne’s death, Henry asked Jane Seymour to marry him. Jane was gentle and kind.
• 2. The wedding was on 30 May 1536 and was small and private.
• 3. Henry urgently needed a son: with both his previous marriages declared illegitimate, so too were Elizabeth and Mary, and Henry had no legitimate heir.
• 4. Therefore, Henry really needed Jane to provide him with a son – and she duly gave birth to the future Edward VI on 12 October 1537.
• 5. There was considerable rejoicing, although this was cut short when Henry died less than two weeks later from complications of childbirth.
• 6. Henry was deeply saddened and wore black for three months.