Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was only queen for three years but remains one of the most famous; still inspiring books and films 500 years on. She was the mother of Elizabeth 1st; the first English queen to be publicly executed and was indirectly responsible for the formation of the Church of England. What I find incredibly interesting about her, was that in a time when women were often used as pawns to advance a family’s position, she shrewdly played the game her way, and won, for a while.

Anne’s father, Sir Thomas Boleyn was ruthlessly ambitious and even his marriage to the well-connected Lady Elizabeth Howard seemed to work to his advantage. His three children, George, Mary and Anne, were all well-educated and formed part of his master plan to attain greater power and status.


The young girls spent their teenage years in France as ladies-in-waiting to Henry's sister the French Queen, Mary Tudor. Anne arrived back in England when she was about twenty and was immediately placed in the household of Henry VIII’s wife, Catherine of Aragon, as her maid of honour.

Anne had dark, olive-coloured skin, thick dark brown hair and dark brown eyes which often appeared black. Her dark looks were at the time unfashionable and although she was never recognised as a great beauty, her sexual allure is well documented.

For her behaviour, manners, attire and tongue she excelled them all. — Lancelot de Carles

So when in 1527 King Henry met Anne, he was instantly captivated by her wit, intelligence and vivacious personality. It was said that she was the only woman who ever dared to argue and answer back to Henry. For a long time, the King tolerated her feisty demeanour and her witty repartee excited him.

However, Anne had witnessed the King use her sister Mary for sexual favours, and then discard her. (This story is brilliantly told in the book and film, The Other Boleyn Girl). Consequently, she was determined that should she yield to Henry, the her sexual favours would at a much higher price – as his Queen.
One cannot separate the King's desire for Anne with his desire for a son. Catherine of Aragon had failed to provide him with the male heir he needed to assure the continuance of the Tudor Dynasty. Henry now had to find a reason to get rid of his wife. Henry decided a way out was to seek an annulment on the grounds of incest as Catherine had been married his brother (who had died).

I know you, you have decided, but it grieves you. Will you destroy your marriage, your country, your soul before God, on the whim of one girl? Because she denies you? Because she tortures you with her refusal? You think she doesn't know exactly what she's doing? She wants me to step aside. Where is my wise husband? Where is he? You are a king, so be one.

                   Catherine of Aragon to Henry VIII in the film script The Other Boleyn Girl

No more to you at this present mine own darling for lack of time but that I would you were in my arms or I in yours for I think it long since I kissed you. HRAnne skilfully held Henry’s attention for many years, tantalising him with the promise of sex and male heirs. It took nearly seven years for Henry to obtain an annulment. He got what he wanted, and the annulment was granted, however only after a separation with the Church of Rome, an action that brought about the English Reformation.

From a letter written byHenry VIII to Anne Boleyn

Henry finally secretly wed Anne in January 1533, and with that secured the Boleyns' status as one of the most influential families in the land. Anne was very educated, intelligent and had strong opinions about religion. She tried to persuade Henry to give permission for bibles to be published in English. Anne also introduced Henry to the books of Protestant writers such as William Tyndale and the concept that the ruler was answerable to God, not the Pope.

Anne's downfall in the King's eyes began on August 7 1533, when she gave birth to their first child, a daughter, the future Elizabeth I. This disappointed Henry who so desperately needed a son. Anne went on to have three miscarriages, and the King grew tired of her and her promises of a son.

Henry VIII had become infatuated with the mild mannered and gentle Jane Seymour. The King instructed Thomas Cromwell to devise a way to free him from his “troublesome wife” who had “bewitched” him. Cromwell came up with a plan that charged Anne with witchcraft and tacked on adultery, accusing her of having sex with five men in the household, including her own brother. The only evidence gathered against her was provided by a jealous sister-in-law and a musician, whose testimony was elicited under torture.

Anne was arrested and taken to the Tower of London, where she was imprisoned awaiting trial. In May 1536, at the same time that Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was annulling her marriage to Henry, she was tried by twenty-six nobles. Anne was found guilty and her sentence was to be put to death, pronounced by her own ambitious uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. Anne Boleyn proclaimed her innocence and loyalty to the King right up to the moment she was beheaded. (Photo from TV series The Tudors).

Try me good King, but let me have a Lawful Trial, and let not my sworn Enemies sit as my Accusers and Judges; yea, let me receive an open Trial, for my Truth shall fear no open shame...But if you have already determined of me, and that not only my Death, but an infamous Slander must bring you the enjoying of your desired Happiness; then I desire of God, that he will pardon your great Sin therein; and likewise mine Enemies, the Instruments thereof; and that he will not call you to a strict Account for your unprincely and cruel usage of me, at his General Judgement-Seat, where both you and my self must shortly appear, and in whose Judgement, I doubt not (whatsover the World may think of me) mine Innocence shall be openly known, and sufficiently cleared.

Last letter from Anne Boleyn to Henry VIII

My thoughts are that Anne Boleyn was a master manipulator who used her abundant feminine charms and sharp acumen to look after herself. I believe Henry Percy was her true love (Henry VIII ordered an end to their relationship) and I doubt Anne really loved the King, but relished the idea of becoming queen. She was an opportunist who used the King's infatuation with her to her advantage and influence, demonstrated in the executions of her enemies Sir Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher. Nevertheless, Anne Boleyn being accused of treason, adultery, incest and even witchcraft is not consistent with the evidence of Anne being a religious, intelligent woman who knew her how to handle her husband. To me, Anne played with a very dangerous fire and inevitably got burned.