Which king exploded in his coffin?

When Henry VIII died in 1547, his body was kept in Whitehall for a few days before being moved to Windsor. The funeral cortege stayed overnight at Syon House on its way to Windsor.

There are two theories about what happened to the royal corpse overnight. One is that his casket was opened and the body was mauled in part by dogs. Another possibility is that his body exploded owing to gas buildup, as dead bodies do.

The most plausible hypothesis is that the casket began to leak blood and bodily fluids for unknown reasons. Workers who were brought in to reseal the casket before it started its public voyage saw dogs licking up the blood that had dropped onto the coffin.

Henry VIII reigned as King of England from April 22, 1509, until he died in 1547. Henry is primarily known for his six marriages, as well as his efforts to get his first marriage annulled (to Catherine of Aragon).

His quarrel with Pope Clement VII over such an annulment sparked the English Reformation, which separated the Church of England from papal authority. He elevated himself to the position of Supreme Head of the Church of England and liquidated convents and monasteries, for which he was excommunicated.