Anne Boleyn

**Anne Boleyn** (1499 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England and Ireland by her marriage to Henry VIII, King of England. Anne was the most famous wife of Henry VIII because of her downfall by beheading. Anne Boleyn's daughter Elizabeth I became one of the most famous monarchs in history.

Anne Boleyn was engaged to her cosuin Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland in early 1523. The marriage was called off for an unknown reason. Anne Boleyn served at the court of Queen Catherine of Aragon the first wife of Henry VIII. Catherine was Infanta of Aragon and Castile. But she never bore Henry and male heir, only a daughter named Princess Mary. Henry was a follower of the Salic law. The Salic law forbid woman from taking power in any sort of way.

Anne Boleyn became a Mistress to Henry, but Anne wanted to marry him. But Henry was already married to Catherine of Aragon. But Henry started the reformation in England. The reformation was very unpopular in England, England had been a Christian, Roman Catholic country for other 600 years. The English people hated Anne Boleyn and they nicknamed her "Nan Bullen".

Anne Boleyn broke Henry's promise for a male heir. Anne gave birth to a daughter named Elizabeth. Henry had an affair with Anne Boleyn's lady-in-waiting Jane Seymour, Henry soon grew tired of Anne Boleyn, and had her beheaded on 19 May, 1536.

## Early life

Anne Boleyn was born into the rich and influecial Boleyn family, Anne may and most likely may have been born July 1499. But it is possible she was born 1501 or 1506. Anne's parents were Lady Elizabeth Howard and Sir Thomas Boleyn. Her parents were rich nobles and the Earls and countesses of Wiltshire and Ormond. Anne's sister Mary Boleyn was either Anne's younger sister or older sister. Most likely Anne's older sister.

Anne's younger brother was Sir George Boleyn. George Boleyn was heir apparent to Sir Thomas Boleyn's lands. Anne was expected to marry a rich noblemen to continue Boleyn lines through other families. The Boleyn line was very much connected to the house of Butler and nee.

Anne Boleyn's early childhood remaines a mystery. But it is known Anne and her sister were taught chess, math, History, archery, dance, fashion, and poetry. Anne was known to be smarter then her sister Mary, but Mary was the more Beautiful one.

## Life at the French court

When Anne was a teenager she was given a job as a maid-of-honor to Queen Claude of France. Anne's sister Mary caught the attention of the French king Francis I, Mary and Francis started an affair. Anne was not that in to what Mary was into, the sisters were never close. Anne became popular at the French court she was called Anna 'di Bulan. Anne signed her letters to her father as Anne Bullen instead of Boleyn.

Anne became close to the Queen of France. Anne amazed the court with her wittiness and smartness. Anne Boleyn wore gold dresses and the French head band or more famously known as the French hood. This gave the impression that Anne Boleyn was a good French noblewoman. Anne's tutor Archduchess Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy, said Anne Boleyn was very smart and thanked her father Thomas Boleyn for letting her teach such a woman.

Anne was taught the pleasure of the ducks and birds at court, and many other stuff. One thing Anne never grew out of was her violent temper. Anne's temper was unstandible, she most likely suffered major anger problems through-out her life.

## Return to England

Anne and Mary were called back to England in 1522, they were ought to get married to rich noblemen. Anne's sister Mary Boleyn was bethrothed and married to William Carey, Earl of Aldenham, Anne was engaged to her cousin Henry Percy. Anne and Henry were ill at ease together as they shared no chemistry.

Anne's bethrothal was canceled for an unknown reason, but Mary married William 1522. Anne and Mary were offered to be a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon. They both accepted.

## Mistress to the King

Catherine of Aragon was the wife of Henry VIII, King of England. Catherine had been married to Henry's brother Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales before she wed Henry. Catherine's claim as Queen was weak because she had not male heir, just a daughter named Princess Mary. Catherine disapointed the King a lot because of her failure to produce a son.

Henry was a handsome man who had red hair and a tall structure. He had many mistresses including Anne's sister. Anne impressed King Henry a lot and Henry was amazed on how smart Anne was! Catherine of Aragon in her youth was very Beautiful, but Catherine did not age well. Catherine looked old and weak. Many painters flattered Catherine in paintings, but Catherine looked old.

But Anne Boleyn was young and sexy. Anne was tall and the girl who was always in for a party. Catherine admired Anne and called her "My Lady Anne". Anne's duty as a lady-in-waiting was to sew with the Queen, read with her, and keep her company when she was bored.

But Anne Boleyn got unusual attention from the king. Henry started aproaching Anne more-and-more at courtly enternainments. Henry soon had an affair with Anne. Catherine knew Henry had loads of girlfriends, but Catherine never saw Henry hang-out with any woman more than Anne Boleyn. Catherine soon started disliking Anne Boleyn and avoided her. Catherine even avoided Anne's sister Mary Boleyn.

Anne became Henry's favourate and every courtier knew. Anne's popularity grew much to Catherine's anger. Anne introduced many French fashion to England. Many woman followed Anne's clothing choices other then Catherine's.

## Courtly debate

Anne wanted to marry the handsome king, but Catherine was very popular, it would be an un-smart move to divorce Catherine of Aragon. Anne returned all the gifts from Henry that Henry gave to her. Henry was deeply in-love with Anne and wanted Anne to always be his wife, but it would be hard stating Catherine came from a more powerful family and she was very popular. But Anne played the hard-to-get game on Henry.

Henry begged Anne to be his mistress, one letter Henry wrote was to kiss Anne's "Pretty Duckies". But Anne refused. Anne Boleyn was not an easy-prey, Anne wanted a wedding ring or nothing. Henry thought he would be more happy with Anne Boleyn so he asked the Pope to file a divorce against Catherine. This made the Vatican go crazy. The Vatican was not going to let Henry divorce Catherine.

England also freaked out and began starting rumors that Anne Boleyn was an ugly witch pretending to be an innocent noblewoman. Catherine of Aragon burst into tears, but Catherine was not going to let Anne win. She gathered support by her powerful niece Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine also won the pope's support. But Anne did not care, Anne had won the country of France's support because of her powerful friend Claude.

Catherine, Henry, and Anne wen't to court. Henry found excuses to divorce Catherine. One of his most famous excuses was because in the bible, it says;

*"Marrying your brothers widow is an unclean thing, they have uncovered there brothers nakedness; they shall be childless"*

Catherine had been married to Henry's older brother Arthur Tudor. And Henry said Catherine had slept with Arthur. Catherine refused to say her marriage to Arthur Tudor was valid. She said that Arthur Tudor and she never had any children together, thus saying there was no actual marriage.

But Henry was not going to be defeated by the pope, he started being influenced by the protestant reformation happening in Germany, that was started by Martin Luther. This horrified the English and led to several rebbelions.

In 1530 Anne was in her late 20's. Anne wanted to have children with Henry before she was to old. She started getting tempted for Henry to figure-out a way to have her marry him. Henry broke ties with the Catholic church and declared his union with Catherine invalid. Henry and Anne became Protestants, Henry replaced Catholic churches with Protestant ones. Henry made himself the supreme head of the Church of England. Henry Annulled his marriage to Catherine and married Anne in 28 May 1533. Anne was crowned Queen of England on 1 June 1533. Catherine was stripped from her title as Queen and named "Dowager Princess of Wales"

## Life as Queen of England

Anne Boleyn was hated in England, only a small group of Protestants respected her. Anne hated her step-daughter Mary so she banished her from court-life. Anne expelled Henry's ex-friend Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Anne and Henry liked going hunting together. Anne and Henry also loved watching jousting games. (Jousting is a game were men dressed in armor knock each other down with jousting sticks.

Anne's primary color choice was Black with a white pearl necklace with the letter "B" on it for Boleyn. Anne wore the French hood and she popularized it. Anne was tall and had medium sized breasts. Anne was the ideal woman.

Anne Boleyn had many ladies-in-waiting one of them was her sister Mary Boleyn. Anne never showed any signs of being faithful to her sister, neither did Mary but it was certain that Mary did help Anne get dressed the day before her coranation. Mary may have envied Anne because it was clear Anne was the favourate daughter of the Boleyn's and the favoruate mistress of the king.

Anne got her own royal apartments like it was formal for a Queen, Anne's sister-in-law Jane Boleyn probably disliked Anne because of Anne's unfaithfulness to her. Jane Boleyn also disliked her George Boleyn because George spent more time with his sister Anne Boleyn then her.

Anne Boleyn dismissed her sister from court for marrying a man below her rank. Mary Boleyn begged Anne Boleyn to unbanish her but Anne refused. Anne gave Mary a golden cup and a large sum of money if Mary Boleyn would forget the whole banishment statement. But Mary refused. Mary was disowned by Lady Elizabeth and Sir Thomas but Mary remained in rochford with her husband.

## Birth of a child

Anne Boleyn gave birth on September 7, 1533 to a healthy baby girl named Elizabeth. Henry was disapointed with a daughter and even remarked "She was crowned by mistake" "She" reffering to Anne Boleyn. Anne did however care for the young Princess and actually loved her.

However Henry called Elizabeth's birth *"A Great Folly"* and started neglecting Anne as his wife. Henry started having affairs with Anne's ladies. Anne was no Catherine of Aragon, Anne was disgusted when Henry had affairs. One of Henry's mistresses was Anne's companian Lady Jane Seymour.

Jane was not pretty she was in fact quirky looking and flemsy. Jane had a long nose a tight mouth and small eyes. Jane was also uneducated she only know'd how to spell her name. However Anne was infuriated with her friend and slapped her face and then ripped of her jewlery. Jane was shy and quite, but disliked Anne and she was open about that.

Anne gave birth to a second child which was a boy but it died infancy. Henry bulked Jane Seymour even more. Just like Anne when she was just a royal mistress, Jane became popular and the leading mistress of Henry.

## Downfall

Anne Boleyn soon was unable to bare any-more children. Henry ignored Anne as he spent time with Jane. Anne's rage grew stronger, Anne once Henry's beloved Queen whom he was faithful to, was now just a wife on a King that everyone ignored. Anne was furious.

Anne and her ladies spent time taking care of Elizabeth while Henry sat with Jane at his court. It did not take Henry long to say he wanted Jane as his Queen and not Anne. Anne's fall was soon-to-come. Anne was not going to let her fall happen so quickly so she harrased Jane more.

But this did not stop Henry from finding reasons to get rid of Anne. Anne found reasons to stay Queen. Henry soon brought the divorce trial to court, now at court Henry found many false statements about Anne. Henry most likely wen't mad after he fell of his horse in a jousting accident.

## Trial and Execution

Anne Boleyn was found guilty of witchcraft, adultery with local courteirs, and incest with her brother. All of these things Anne was accused of where probably not true but it was Henry's way of getting rid of Anne.

Things only got worse for Anne when her sister-in-law Jane Boleyn accused Anne and George Boleyn of having sex together. A lot of Catherine of Aragon supporters accused Anne of bewitching Henry. Anne was found guilty and subjected to execution. Anne's death warrent was signed and her penalty haw beheading.

Anne was sent to the tower of London after bidding fair well to her friends and her favoruate beloved daughter Elizabeth. Ministers said Anne's friends were devastated and in shock. The next morning of May 19, 1536 was sent out with a cap on her head, she took off her necklace and jewlery her jewls would be given to her daughter Elizabeth. Anne sat on the ground with her legs tucked in, as the french swordsmen took his sword.

Anne was still praying when she looked up at the sky, when a sword sliced through her neck and beheaded her. Everyone shouted "Long live the Queen" as it was formal to say when a Queen died. Anne was never given a funeral and she was burried in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula.

## Legacy

Anne today is a heroine to the English. Anne became famous and well loved during her daughters reign. Anne's daughter Elizabeth I became England's graetest monarch whom led England through the golden age. Elizabeth also made England the richest nation in the world.

Elizabeth was known to the English a "Good Queen Bess" or "Gloriana". Elizabeth defeated the most powerful nation in Europe which was Spain. Elizabeth took the name "Most Powerful Monarch" after she defeated the Spanish Empire.