Masterpiece Theatre The Six Wives of Henry VIII is a six-part presentation that traces the monarch's lives and loves from age 18 to his dotage. Henry's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was the daughter of famed Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabel... (more)la. Catherine was originally betrothed to Henry's older brother, Arthur, but when he passed away unexpectedly, Henry married her instead. Originally the couple had a happy marriage but Catherine was unable to conceive a male heir with which to continue the Tudor line of succession to the throne. This led to Henry seeking a divorce from Catherine and England splitting away from the Roman Catholic church.