How Did Henry Viii Contribute To Medical Reform

Henry VIII is one of the most well known monarchs of all time. He is infamous for his looks, tyrannical behavior, and religious reformation. However, Henry did not just reform the Church, but the entirety of the medical field as well. Medicine directly impacted Henry’s life, and he had a genuine personal interest in it. He was what modern historians would call a “germaphobe” and even came up with his own remedies for his many ailments. However, Henry alone did not change medicine; his medical reform would not have been the same without the direct influence of humanists such as Thomas Linacre, Thomas More, and Erasmus. Henry’s contributions in normalizing the medical field were fueled by a combination of genuine interest and humanism. He was

However, few know his role as a reformer of medicine. He had always had a genuine interest in medicine, even before his health took a turn for the worst. Henry started out his reign healthy, handsome and athletic with the most beautiful calves anyone had laid eyes on, but that is not how his reign ended. By the time he was in his 40s, he suffered from paralyzing leg sores, jousting injuries and various complications from obesity that contributed to his tyrannical behavior, However, amidst his ailments, he was always looking for a better alternative for treatment. He surrounded himself with various doctors and physicians, and even came up with his own medical remedies. His interest in medicine was

Mountjoy played a pivotal role in shaping Henry’s beliefs, and shaping Henry into one of the first humanist kings. Along with Mountjoy, Thomas More and Erasmus combined Christian teachings with humanist beliefs. Some of Erasmus’ humanist influence bled through into medicine. Erasmus acted as one of Henry’s personal physicians, which made him become a trusted source. The King’s medical documents are almost nonexistent, but Erasmus’s records are some of the only ones available. When speaking of healthful virtues and the preservative powers of the gospel, Erasmus helped Henry incorporate those ideals into