King Henry the Sixth Wanted to Be Spanked

The first and only child in history who approved of his own spanking and who chose his own nurse for that purpose was King Henry VI of England. He became king on September 1, 1422, when he was only nine months old, after the death of his father, King Henry V. At that time, Henry VI was too young to rule, so regents and advisors made decisions on his behalf.

The baby king's first decree, certified with his thumbprint, appointed Alice Butler as his nurse and gave her permission “to spank us reasonably from time to time.” This unusual decree shows that even as an infant, Henry had a remarkable level of attention from the royal court and that traditions regarding child-rearing in royal families were quite strict and unusual by today's standards.

Henry VI’s reign was difficult. He became king of England as a baby, and later, he also became king of France in 1431 due to the ongoing conflicts of the Hundred Years’ War. His long reign saw many political struggles, including the Wars of the Roses, a civil war between two branches of the royal family. Henry was known to be gentle and pious, but his inability to assert strong control over his kingdom eventually led to his temporary imprisonment and tragic death in 1471.

Even though the story about his own spanking seems humorous today, it reminds us of how differently children, even future kings, were treated in the past. It also gives a glimpse into the unusual customs and strict discipline in royal households of medieval Europe.