As a monarch, Henry VIII's life is one that many do not attempt to describe due to the rich amount of history that accompanies it. No king has left such a profound impact on his country's past history, nor has he been at the center of controversial topics that have made a lasting contribution to his country. His means were immoral, but because of the greatness he achieved, we look beyond his imperfection. On June 28, 1491, at Greenwich Palace, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York had their second child named Henry VIII. It was important for a king to have as many heirs as possible due to the mortality rate during this time in England. Henry became heir to the throne after the death of his older brother, Arthur in 1502. Seven years later he ascended the throne of England. He was known for his personality; his intelligence, curiosity and his ability to learn. In his adolescence he liked music and entertainment. Not to mention the numerous events that included tournaments and banquets. In his teenage years he was athletic and enjoyed activities such as jousting, hunting, tennis and archery. Furthermore, he played many instruments and also wrote books and music. However, as he aged, he became fat and his interest in having a child became stronger (The Tudors: Henry VIII). piece of cap or basin to which the beard is hinged for strength and safety, to which no gunsmith pays attention, because it is always covered by the visor, the beard and the frill, and so that piece is so protected that no weight is needed” ( Cavendish). Henry enjoyed the sport of jousting. Needles......middle of paper......etroit: Gale Research, 1993. 172-186. Complete literary biography dictionary online. Storm. North Carolina Libraries for VirtualEducation (NCLIVE). November 23, 2013 http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/DLBC_Online/nclivecu/BK1498985023 Jokinen, Anniina. "Portraits of King Henry VIII: Hans Holbein and his legacy". Portraits of King Henry VIII: Hans Holbein and his legacy. Np, May 23, 2009. Web. November 23, 2013. "King Henry VIII: Biography, Portraits, Primary Sources." King Henry VIII: biography, portraits, primary sources. Np, nd Web. 21 November 2013. Pollard, A. F. Henry VIII. London: Longmans, Green, 1951. Print. “Primary Sources: King Henry VIII has a jousting accident, 1524.” Primary Sources: King Henry VIII has a jousting accident, 1524. Np, nd Web. 23 November 2013. "Primary Sources - Letter from Catharine Parr to her husband, King Henry VIII, July 1544."