Mary Boleyn

**Mary Boleyn** (1499/1500 - July 19, 1543) was the sister of English Queen Anne Boleyn, and the sister-in-law to Henry VIII, King of England, Mary was the daughter of Lady Elizabeth Howard and Sir Thomas Boleyn. Mary was known and famous for her beauty, but Mary was mostly famous for being the sister of Anne Boleyn.

Mary served as a lady-in-waiting to Claude of France, and Claude's step-mother Mary Tudor, Queen of France, and then to her sister's rival Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England. Mary married William Carey but when he died she was left widowed. Mary started an affair with King Henry VIII but there affair was short. But it is unknown when the affair started.

Mary became famous and more known when her Anne sister married Henry VIII. Mary secretly married Sir William Stafford 1534. But the marriage could not be brought put public because William was under Mary's rank. Mary came from the rich Boleyn family but William came from a family close to common orgins.

When the marriage was found out it scandalized the English Royal Family and embarresed Mary's sister the Queen. Mary was banished from court-life and her husband was as well. Mary begged her sister to let her return but Anne gave Mary a golden cup and a large sum of money so Mary would forget about this affair. But Mary refused to accept the Money and she turned down the offer.

Mary's sister was beheaded on May 19, 1536 on charges of Treason. Not much is known about Mary after her sisters execution but it is known she probably took care of her niece Elizabeth I of England.

## Early Life

It is unknown when Mary was actually born. Mary was probably born around 1500 or 1499. She is most likely older then her sister Anne but some historians claim Anne was older then Mary because Anne was engaged before Mary. Mary was born into the rich Boleyn family. Her mother was Lady Elizabeth Howard and her father was Sir George Boleyn. Mary was not known to be smart like her sister Anne, but she was known for her Beauty. Mary was known as *"Lady Mary"* because she was the daughter of an Earl and Countess.

Mary learned chess, History, ect. Mary was and her sister went to Austria to learn French to serve as a lady-in-waiting to Mary Tudor, Queen of France. Her tutor was Archduchess Margaret of Austria. Margaret was pleased with Mary and Anne and both girls set sail for France.

## Lady-in-waiting to Mary Tudor

When Mary arrived she met the famed beauty Mary Tudor. Mary Tudor was pleased with both Boleyn girls and they both settled in. Mary Boleyn served at Mary Tudor's companion and friend, so did Anne. Mary Boleyn was popular at the french court and she was a companion to many noblemen.

But Mary Boleyn was not a lady-in-waiting to Mary Tudor for long after Mary Tudor's husband Louis XII, King of France died.

## Lady-in-waiting to Claude of France

After the death of Louis XII, his daughter's husband Francis I succeeded him. Francis's wife was Claude of France, Claude chose Mary and her sister to become ladies-in-waiting. They both agreed as they returned to the French court. Mary was rumored to have had an affair with Claude's husband Francis of France. But Mary would be stated has an unofficial mistress. Mary was called back to England in 1522 to marry a forgein noble.

Mary said farewell to Claude but they still stayed friends. Mary's sister Anne Boleyn brought french fashion back to the english court.

## Marriage

When Mary came back from France she was engaged and married to William Carey. Mary took the name "Mary Carey" after her marriage. Mary's sister was engaged to Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland. But Anne's marriage to Henry Percy failed for an unknown reason.

Mary was now Countess of Aldenham had plenty of power, she was very rich and she could influence her husband which consorts usually did. Not much was known between the union of Mary Boleyn and William Carey. Mary soon started to notice her sister Anne Boleyn was becoming very popular with the nobles. Mary did not envy it and knew she was popular because of her fashion choices.

Mary Boleyn and her sister became ladies-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon. Catherine was the wife of King Henry VIII. Henry was very handsome, Henry had red hair and a tall structure. But the opposite could be said about his Queen. Catherine was beautiful in her youth, but as she aged she began losing her looks, Catherine's faithfulness to her husband was strong, Catherine loved Henry but Henry had lost intrest in her.

Henry started an affair with Mary Boleyn and Anne. Catherine was certainly well aware that Henry had loads of Mistresses so she did not interfere with the affair.

One of the most beautiful woman at Henry's court; Elizabeth Blount gave birth to an illegitimate son of Henry named Henry, Duke of Somerset and Richmond, this did upset the Queen but she could not do anything about Henry's affairs.

Henry soon stopped focusing on Mary and focused on her sister. Anne was sexy and firey and "Hott". Anne had grew popularity more and more at the English court. Catherine disliked Anne and dismissed her. But Anne was safe under Henry's watch.

Mary's husband William Carey died 22 June 1528. They had 2 children whom were:

* Katherine Carey, Lady Knollys
* Henry Carey, 1st Baron Hunsdon

## Secret Marriage

Mary now widowed fell in-love with William stafford. William was ranks lower then Mary and Mary as a woman was not aloud to marry men below her rank. Mary secretly married William in 1534. Mary kept her husband away from court so the union would go unoticed.

## Sister to the Queen

Back with Anne Boleyn, Henry declared he wanted to marry Anne Boleyn. Catherine bursted into tears when she heard this. Mary took sides with her sister and helped Anne and Henry find reasons to marry. But Pope Clement refused to allow such a union to happen.

Henry was influenced by Martin Luther, Martin Luther was a Roman Catholic who thought the Catholic church was to powerful. Martin Luther had been excomunicated and harrased before. But Martin Luther wanted to create another group that would stay christian but would be different. He was the father of Protestantism his movement spread with people agreeing and disagreeing. Followers of Martin Luther called themselves "Lutherans" . Today there are many branches of Protestantism but Lutherans is the biggest one.

Henry split the church of England and married Anne Boleyn 28 May 1533. Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen of England and Ireland the following month. Mary sought the title "Her Magesty's sister"

## Banishment

Mary and her secret husband had sex and Mary was pregnant. Mary was forced to admit to her sister that the baby was from William stafford. Anne was furious and begged Henry to banish Mary. Henry did just that and Mary was banished.

Mary's father Sir Thomas Boleyn disowned Mary and declared Mary not his daughter. Mary always knew Anne was the golden child to her parents but this was to much for Mary to handle. She missed the up-beeting court life. Exile in Rochford was hard and depressing.

## Children

Mary in exile had a 2 children which both died in infancy

* Anne Stafford
* Edward Stafford

## Anne's downfall

Anne Boleyn was suppose to give the king a son, but Anne only bore a daughter. This was a huge deal for Henry whom had already had one daughter from Catherine of Aragon. There is no evidence Mary Boleyn stood up for Anne Boleyn or helped her. But Anne Boleyn's fall was quick-to-come after Henry founf another mistress whom was Lady Jane Seymour.

Anne Boleyn was calm during the trial made against her. Mary was concerned about her sisters daughter Princess Elizabeth.

## Anne's beheading

Anne Boleyn was found guilty of Treason, witchcraft, adultery, and incest. Anne's sister-in-law Jane Boleyn was known as the "Wicked wife" for saying Anne and Anne's younger brother George Boleyn had sex together.

Anne was taken to the tower of london, and Elizabeth was put in Mary's care. Mary did not see Anne's execution as she was in Rochford and Anne's beheading was in the capital (London)

## Death

A few years after Anne's beheading Mary died of unknown causes.