When King Henry VIII took the crown in 1509 at the age of 17, members of his court noted he was a scholar and an athlete. He was thoughtful, wise and considerate. But when he died in 1547, many feared him as a petty tyrant who hysterically executed his enemies, including two of his six wives.
His change in personality has long left scholars wondering — what was that guy’s deal?
Medical historians have considered whether the king had diabetes, hypothyroidism or McLeod syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that can affect the brain. In 2016, a team of neurologists revisited a theory that King Henry VIII’s behavior was the result of multiple head injuries. It’s an idea that more scientists and historians support.
