King Henry VIII's transformation from a charismatic and athletic monarch into a feared tyrant has often been attributed to his infamous jousting accidents. A pivotal moment occurred on January 24, 1536, when Henry was reportedly knocked unconscious for two hours during a joust at Greenwich, an incident that coincided with his wife Anne Boleyn's miscarriage. Some historians have speculated that this accident might have led to traumatic brain injuries, contributing to the king's later violent and paranoid behavior. The Complicated and Disturbing Life of King Henry VIII From Jousting to Football: The Ideal Man Hasn’t Changed Much Since Medieval Times However, this theory is contested. Henry had already demonstrated tyrannical tendencies before the 1536 accident. His ruthless treatment of figures like Thomas More and his harsh actions against his first wife, Katherine of Aragon, suggest that his descent into tyranny was not solely a result of a head injury. Furthermore, the severity of the jousting accident remains unclear, with some sources disputing whether Henry was even unconscious. Read moreSection: NewsVideosHistoryFamous PeopleRead Later