There were eight English kings whose name was ''Henry''.

Question

There were eight English kings whose name was Henry. Were there no other names that they all had to use the same name?! There are many other examples of this practice. What is the reason for such a practice, does it signify a way to honor a predecessor?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

There were eight English kings whose name was Henry. Were there no other names that they all had to use the same name?! There are many other examples of this practice.

What is the reason for such a practice, does it signify a way to honor a predecessor?

Generally speaking, yes.

The naming convention for Popes is similar.

You might also like to consider the fact that Kings, and other high nobility, do not have a last name in the same way that we lesser people do.

Finally, here are some lyrics from a song by the pop group, Herman's Hermits.

I'm Henry the eighth I am
Henry the eighth I am, I am
I got married to the widow next door
She's been married seven times before
And every one was an Henry (Henry)
She wouldn't have a ***** or a Sam (no Sam)
I'm her eighth old man, I'm Henry
Henry the eighth I am

Bet wishes, Clive

Jackson6612 · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you very much for the help.

CliveYou might also like to consider the fact that Kings, and other high nobility, do not have a last name in the same way that we lesser people do.

Some example, please. Don't they have usual last names as we all do?

CliveFinally, here are some lyrics from a song by the pop group, Herman's Hermits.

Are they making fun of Henry the eighth because Henry is well known to have many wives? He also ordered the beheading of two of them, I remember.

Jackson6612 · Answer

CliveShe wouldn't have a ***** or a Sam (no Sam)

Does the above line have some purposeful meaning or is it just a random line? And why did you enclose no Sam in parenthesis - were you suggesting that an article should be used?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Some example, please. Don't they have usual last names as we all do?
There was a time, long ago, when no-one had a last name. Since this lead to confusion, the use of last names developed. However, high nobility kept the custom of referring to themselves simply by the place that they ruled, eg Henry of England.
If I ruled Toronto as a nobleman, I might call myself 'Clive of Toronto'.

Clive

Finally, here are some lyrics from a song by the pop group, Herman's Hermits.

Are they making fun of Henry the eighth because Henry is well known to have many wives? He also ordered the beheading of two of them, I remember.

It's just a comic song. The man's name is Henry. He marries a woman whose last 7 husbands weree all called Henry. So, he makes a little joke and says 'I'm Henry the eighth'.

She wouldn't have a ***** or a Sam (no Sam)
Does the above line have some purposeful meaning or is it just a random line? It means she didn't want to marry anyone called '*****' or 'Sam'. She just wanted to marry men called 'Henry'

And why did you enclose no Sam in parenthesis - were you suggesting that an article should be used? They are not my parentheses. That's how the words of the song are written. The phrase 'no Sam' is for emphasis, but mainly just to make the line have the right rhythm.

Best wishes, Clive

There were eight English kings whose name was ''Henry''.

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