Monarchs with the Most Monogamous Marriages

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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

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A History of...    • A History of Childbirth: Conception  
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