Monarchs with the Most Monogamous Marriages

In many countries where polygamy is practiced, Kings and emperors have had harems of hundred or even thousands of wives and concubines. It’s good to be the King. But in Europe, Christianity has reigned for a millennia and the church is pretty sticked on their one woman at a time policy. But that didn’t stop a handful of monarchs from taking multiple trips down the aisle. Royal brides were under a lot of pressure to produce as many heirs as possible, and they died often in childbirth or because their bodies were warn out from constant pregnancy. If a monarch wasn’t getting the heirs he wanted from his wife, or if he had grown tired of her and she hadn’t done him the courtesy of dying, there was always divorce or even murder to clear the throne for another consort to take her place. Many rulers managed to marry 3 times, but today we’ll be counting down 6 serial monogamist monarchs who had 4 or marriages. Philip II, King of Spain, 1527 – 1598, 4 wives William the Silent, Prince of Orange & Ruler of The Netherlands, 1533 – 1584, 4 wives Ferdinand VII, King of Spain, 1784 – 1833, 4 wives Władysław II Jagiełło, King of Poland & Grand Duke of Lithuania 4 wives Henry VIII, King of England, 1491 – 1547, 6 wives Ivan the Terrible, Tsar of Russia, 1530 – 1584, 6-8 wives Honorable Mentions: Charlemagne, Holy Roman Emperor, 4 wives, 5 Concubines Casimir III the Great, King of Poland, 4 wives Catherine Parr, Queen of England, 4 Husbands Join me every Tuesday when I'm Spilling the Tea on History! Check out my Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/lindsayholiday Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091781568503 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/historyteatimelindsayholiday/ Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@historyteatime Please consider supporting me at https://www.patreon.com/LindsayHoliday and help me make more fascinating episodes! Intro Music: Baroque Coffee House by Doug Maxwell Music: Butterflies in Love by Sir Cubworth #HistoryTeaTime #LindsayHoliday Please contact [email protected] if you would like to advertise on this podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices