WHAT'S WRONG WITH HENRY VIII? There is an enduring obsession with understanding the body and mind of Henry VIII, but how sound are diagnoses past and present - and do we need them?

The article examines the historical and modern attempts to diagnose the physical and mental health of Henry VIII, highlighting the challenges and limitations of such retrospective assessments. It reviews various theories, including syphilis, scurvy, and psychopathy, noting that many diagnoses reflect the societal fears and medical knowledge of the periods in which they were proposed rather than definitive evidence about Henry himself. Contemporary accounts emphasize Henry’s severe leg ulcers, obesity, and temperamental behavior, which likely stemmed from age, chronic illness, and the stresses of prolonged absolute power rather than a single pathological condition. Ultimately, the article suggests that while Henry VIII’s health and personality changes remain subjects of fascination, definitive medical or psychological diagnoses are neither possible nor necessarily useful for understanding his historical role.