Henry VIII was one of the most brutal and ruthless kings to reign over England and his post mortem reveals his condition in his final hours.
The former King of England sentenced many people to death, including two of his wives – during his four decades on the throne he sentenced nearly 70,000 people to death.
But despite the chaos he caused throughout his life, he died somewhat peacefully himself.
In his final days he was a shell of the former man he once was, putting on an enormous amount of weight and becoming increasingly immobile. His disturbing post mortem has revealed the gruesome truth behind the King’s death.
As he grew older and larger, he was often pushed around his palace in a wheelchair and hoisted in and out of bed using a pulley system.
He sustained many injuries throughout his life, with a severe injury following a joust believed to have knocked him out for hours, affecting his mobility. The king became so tyrannical after this too that many historians believe he suffered a brain injury which could have led to his death.
Another fatal factor contributing to his decline was the King’s waist size. Growing to staggering 54 inches, he was covered in pus filled boils coupled with a severe bout of gout. The wounds on his legs festered further, developing painful ulcers.
He eventually was confined to the four walls of his bedroom, being frequently attended to by his servants and friends.
During his final weeks, no one dared tell the King he was dying as people around him were too scared he would sentence them to death for it.
Henry VIII died on January 28, 1547 when he was 55 years old in Whitehall Palace, London. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer is said to have been by the King’s side.
Cranmer performed his final duties for him when he gave a reformed statement of faith while gripping Henry’s hand instead of giving him his last rites.
The former King died at 2am with his son, Edward VI, being crowned at just nine years old. However, the young King’s reign only lasted for six years following his death caused by tuberculosis.