UNIVERSITATEA TRANSILVANIA BRAOV

Anne Boleyn

A Legendary Queen

AUTOR : LUPU MARIA

PROFESOR COORDONATOR: PIRNU ANDREEA

BRAOV 2014
 Anne Boleyn A Legendary Queen
Anne`s Beginning

Origins
Education and life at European Court
First years of English court life

Anne and Henry VIII Engagement

Henry VIII`s divorce

Pressure on the Pope
The Wedding and the Coronation

Anne`s Marriage

Anne`s role as Queen and the royal living

Anne`s authority
The link of Anne with beauty and art
Anne`s personal faith

Anne`s Disgrace

Reasons of Anne`s fall

The destruction of marriage
Last months of Anne`s life
The execution

Abstract: Anne Boleyn is considered an historic figure and one of the most fascinating woman of her age. Despite
of her keen spirit, of her sensuality and her self-willed character she was doomed to end in disgrace, beheaded.
Descended from humble origins, she was the first Queen publicly beheaded. The prejudices regarding her life over
the time are based on religion, misogyny and feminism.

Key words: queen, royalty ,heir, divorce, execution

Introduction

Anne Boleyn, the most controversed wife of King Henry VIII of England, has
aroused many myths, questions and dilemmas among historians. She played
an important role in the English history especially in the Religious Reform of
those days. Her strong-willed personality and beauty, along with her fatal
end converted the Anne`s image in a romantic one.

Anne`s Beginning

Anne Boleyn`s roots are the Boleyn family, her descendants being London merchants. Geoffrey
Boleyn is the ancestor who made fortune as a trader in London and became a Lord in 1457. Even
the Boleyns were only a bourgeois family, Geoffreys wealth had enabled his son William to
establish himself as a Norfolk gentleman. Anne`s father, Thomas, was the eldest son of Sir
William Boleyn, and her mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey,
one of the premier noblemen in England. Thomas Boleyn was an ambitious man who used his
education, witt and skills to be ranked as higher as possible at Henry VIII `s Court.

This experience and skill, and his knowledge of other things courtly horses, hawks,
bowls, shovelboard allowed Boleyn to pass anywhere andgave him the final accolade of
the humanist courtier, usefulness to his prince. A man of intelligence, gifts and capacity,
with a loyalty only to himself (and so to the king) and a willingness to take on a heavy
workload, was a courtier worth having. For example, in the period 151923 Thomas
Boleyn was successively Henry VIIIs ambassador to the court of France and finally
ambassador to Spain. ( Ives, 2005:10)

Anne had also a sister, Mary who had a liaison with the King Henry before Anne, and a brother,
George both having their roles at court as well.

According to historians the Anne`s birth is dated around 1501 and 1507. Annes date of birth
roused a long-standing controversy whether she was born in 1501 or ian 1507. The place of birth
is also unknown but it is likely that she was born at Blickling Hall in Norfolk where she spent a
great part of her childhood. The property had been in the Boleyn family since its purchase by
Geoffrey Boleyn in 1452, and it passed to Thomas Boleyn when he married.

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Thomas Boleyn noticed remarkable features in Anne`s personality and intelligence and that`s
why he thought that his daughter should have the same education and a proper learning rather
than focusing on domestic skills, so Anne have been educated alongside George and had a tutor.

In sum, her education was similar to that enjoyed by many girls of her class, its purpose
being to perfect those feminine accomplishments that were so prized.With this behind
her, and her undoubted charm and vivacity, she would not fail to attract the right kind of
husband. ( Weir, 1991:45)

In 1512 Anne was placed at to the court of the Archduchess Margaret as one of her maids of
honour where she learnt to speak French fluently. She was aware that her staying there had a
specific purpose: to become a fitting queen consort and mother of Henry Tudor`s children. This
is shown by the letter sent to her father:

Sir, I understand from your letter that you desire me to be a woman of good reputation
[toufs onette fame] when I come to court, and you tell me that the queen will take the
trouble to converse with me, and it gives me great joy to think of talking with such a wise
and virtuous person. This will make me all the keener to persevere in speaking French
well, and also especially because you have told me to, and have advised me for my own
part to work at it as much as I can. (Ives, 2005: 19)

She learned skills such as deportment, conversation, dance and music and other courtly
accomplishments and she was regarded as an honourable lady :

As well as absorbing the best education Europe could offer, Anne learned by
observation, and learned quickly. Peoples memories of Anne as she was after some
months at Mechelen were still vivid twenty years later intelligent, self-possessed, wide
awake, rapidly coming to grips with the French language and with the sophistication of
European courts. (Ives, 2005:25)

This cultural experience prepared her to be placed as maid of honour of Mary Tudor. Being in
Mary Tudor`s service was a step forward to her self-interested plan for future.

In 1515 Anne was invited to serve Queen Claude in whose regime she was for almost seven
years. This is where she have learned how to make use of her features even that her beauty

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wasn`t a classic one. She impressed not by her physical appeareance but she conveyed passion
and aroused lust in men with her gestures, tone and poise, things that she have learned and
practiced. And a trick that the she used were her eyes, a single playful peep could enslave any
man she wanted.

'She became so graceful that you would never have taken her for an English
woman, but for a French woman born, wrote the French poet, Lancelot de Carles.
She dressed with marvellous taste and devised new modes which were copied by all
the fashionable ladies at court; Anne wore them all with a gracefulness that rivalled
Venus. ( Weir, 1991:151)

Anne left France in January 1522 and in February she entered in the household of Katherine
of Aragon. At the English court, Anne's newly acquired skills and the great changes regarding
her manner, her dress, her demeanor brought her high regard from the courtiers.

The King`s interest for Anne awakened in 1525 when he reached the conclusion that Katherine
must go, after he gave up sleeping with her because she didn`t conceive a son. In contrast to
Katherine, Anne was young, graceful, sophisticated and her presence had a mysteriously
enticement that made King Henry to think seriously to divorce from Katherine. This is when
Henry begins the courtly pursuit of Anne by writing her love letters. If at the first Henry wanted
Anne only as a mistress , the passion led him to want Anne as a wife. This is clearly shown by a
this letter:

Praying you also that if ever before I have in any way done you offence, that you will
give me the same absolution that you ask [no doubt for appearing cold], ensuring you that
henceforth my heart shall be dedicate to you alone, greatly desirous that so my body
could be as well, as God can bring to pass if it pleaseth Him, whom I entreat once each
day for the accomplishment thereof, trusting that at length my prayer will be heard,
wishing the time brief, and thinking it but long until we shall see each other again.

Written with the hand of that secretary who in heart, body and will isYour loyal and most
ensured servant,

Henry (Ives, 2005:87)

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Anne and Henry VIII Engagement

1527 is the year of infatuation with Anne Boleyn, the outcome of this affair being the Henry`s
resolution to divorce from Katherine. Despite the occurrence of a divorce was inconceivable at
that time because only the Pope could annul a marriage Henrys determination and belief that he
should have a divorce simply because as king of England he wanted one, was not shared by the
Papacy.

Henry used the Bible to justify his request for a marriage annulment. Henry uses verses from the
Old Testament ( Leviticus 20:21) which forbids a man to marry his brother's widow. In July
1531, Henry officially separated from Katherine and began to live openly with Anne Boleyn . In
1533 she got pregnant with what should have been the king`s heir and after few months they
have married secretly.

Anne realised that becoming pregnant would both consolidate her position and
expedite her marriage. Her hopes of this were awakened during the Christmas
festivities at Whitehall , and with the coming of the new year of 1533, hope turned
to certainty : she was, indeed, pregnant . When the King learned of it, he made up
his mind that they should be married at once. As far as he was concerned, he had
never been lawfully married to Katherine, and was therefore a free man. The best
scholars in Europe had said so. Just before dawn , on the morning of 25 January 1533,
a small group of people gathered in the King's private chapel in Whitehall Palace
for the secret wedding of the King to Anne Boleyn. (Weir, 1991:241)

In May, the marriage with Katherine was declared void, and the marriage with Anne a genuine
one. Katherine lost her title, Anne was named Queen of England, and the little Elizabeth born in
September was the legitimate heir to the throne. He was now divorced and had a new wife, but
still he hadn`t have a male successor.

In the day of 1st June 1533 took place Anne`s coronation at Westminster Abbey on Whit Sunday.
The ceremony of anointing have been dictated by tradition, the mass being held by Cranmer.
The abbey has been invaded with solemn anthems raised by the choirs in the honor of the new
Queen.

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 The elite of the land had taken Anne as queen in the sight of God, and under the most
solemn and hallowed sanctions of Holy Church [ ] This mystique of monarchy now
belonged to Anne Boleyn. Only death could take it away.- (Weir, 1991:179)

Anne's coronation banquet took place in Westminster Hall and lasted several hours. Festivities
have continued for several days after, entertainment being just a hint of success due to the fact
that courtiers have made honours to Anne only for the King`s favour.

Now, Henry has kept his promise and married with Anne crowning her with a pomp as only a
reigning monarch could have. It was Anne`s turn to do her part: give a male heir to Henry. The
urgency for a heir hasn`t been related only to the succession problem, but also with the politics
one. The birth of a boy would bring many waverers and allies to his side.

Anne`s Marriage
Anne`s high education, impressive personality and her daredevil ambition have not been enough
to secure her position as a Queen. Only one thing could has assured the marriage of a woman in
those days: a son. Thus, Elizabeth`s birth has brought disappointment to her parents, anxiety
rushing over Anne`s state of being.

Before the marriage she had seemed to embody the hope of a son for England; in
pregnancy she could be presented as the promise that that hope would be fulfilled. But
with a daughter in the cradle, Anne had still to establish her claim to the throne. The birth
of Elizabeth undid much of what the coronation had set out to achieve; Anne Boleyn
remained a pretender. If she had had a son in September 1533, her position would have
been beyond challenge. (Ives, 2005:186)

The former role of Anne as a mistress has been now replaced by the role of an obedient wife and
mother. After Elizabeth`s birth, Anne had tried again to give birth to a boy, efforts have being
ended with two miscarriages. Tension has aroused little by little in Anne`s marriage. Another
problem that disturbed Anne has been her increasing unpopularity among caused by the dispute
with her stepdaughter Mary, Henry`s first daughter with Katherine de Aragorn.
Marys failure to accept Anne was one problem, but it was linked to another: an
increasing opposition to the queen among the nation at large and among the elite. There is

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 no doubt that a good deal of Annes unpopularity was on account of Mary and the
repudiation of Katherine. (Ives, 2005:199)

Anne`s figure was one hard to overlook. Even that royal household would give to Anne only the
role of King`s consort, she has been an active participant in public affairs. This thing can be
easily demonstrated by her involvement in diplomatic contacts. Anne`s potential and influence
grew due to her marriage, and being a personally combatant in important issues related with both
sovereign and religious matters. Is important to know that Anne played a major part in pushing
Henry into asserting his headship of the Church. Royal patronage has given to Anne economic
power and social authority as well.

In the sixteenth-century, it has been taught that exterior reveal the interior, thus rank and value
were validated by the pomp and magnificence. Anne learned this principle from Margaret of
Austria and Queen Claude whose pupil she has been during the time she was in their service. Her
interest in art and fine objects has given Anne a special place in the cultural history of England.

In England, Christianity has been reformed with the involvement of Queen Anne, her advocacy
for the monarchs freedom to take the initiative in religious change.

After she became queen, she had become the focus of all the hopes of those who had
secretly embraced the Lutheran faith; they imagined she shared their views, which was
not so, although she did constrain the King to be tolerant with heretics. []Of the ten
bishops preferred to sees while she was queen , seven were of the reformist persuasion ,
and in this her influence was plain. 'What a zealous defender she was of Christ 's
Gospel ! ' John Foxe would write many years late (Weir, 1991:278)

Anne was the key figure in promoting this reforms, queens concern for religion being especially
shown in the case of monastic houses. Anne was fully behind the campaign to impose new
injunctions on the the displaying of relics or feigned miracles.

The absolute conviction which drove Anne was the importance of the Bible. She have read,
studied and talked about the Bible along with her brother George. This is why her reform has
been labeled as a evangelical one, word related with written gospel.

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Anne`s Disgrace

The second loss of Anne's child in 1535, has brought the first hints of following problems.

To less conspiracy-prone scholars, Annes loss of a child in January 1536 has seemed the
turning-point to tragedy. Persuaded by the fate she met in. [} The loss and above all
the loss of a son was a huge psychological blow to Henry. Childlessness had revealed
the wrongfulness of his marriage to Katherine; was it now condemning his union with
Anne? As reported, his immediate reaction rings all too true: by denying him sons, God
had shown that the marriage with Anne must be void. Old fears were now out in force,
and Henrys mind was full of them. (Ives, 2005:298)

After Anne has lost Henry ceased playing the doting husband. During the summer Henrys
feelings for Anne were cooling steadily and there were rumours circulating that he wished to
put her away. Moreover he accused her of having been the cause of certain executions,
and for all the troubles in the kingdom.

One of the things that have caused Anne`s miscarriage has been Henry`s interest for Jane
Seymour, daughter of Sir John Seymour one of his courtiers. Henry was enchanted by Jane`s
virtuos image, her angelic features and her kindness and gentleness. Also, Lady Jane had had a
good relation with Princess Mary, Henry`s first daughter.

When Henry begun to court Jane, Anne has been concerned chiefly because she tought Henry
would divorce her and the miscarriage has aggravated the situation. The removal of Anne was a
most wanted thing especially for Chapuys and Cromwell, and Jane was now the best tool used
to reach this goal.

Chapuys had told the Emperor much about Jane, 'the young lady whose influence
increases daily', saying she was a lady of great virtue and kindness, who was known to
be sympathetic towards the Lady Mary.'I will endeavour by all means to make her
continue in this vein. (Weir, 1991:292)

Cromwell wanted Anne to be removed from his way, so he came up with an atrocious idea. His
intention was to bring a charge against Anne, a capital crime such a high treason. The most
important was this crime must be something that would merit divorce and death.

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King Henry has taken Cromwell`s words as true, having behaved as if he were convinced of
Anne`s guilt. He has taken as a fact that she has lied to him over her chastity before marriage.
This was a plot, both Cromwell and Henry being aware that they must be appear as convinced of
Anne`s guilt. All that Henry wanted now was to be free to marry Jane.

Sir Francis Weston, William Brereton, Mark Smeaton, Sir Henry Norris and Anne's brother Lord
Rochford were arrested under suspicion of having relations with the Queen. A secret group,
including Thomas Cromwell, was put forward to inquire into charges of sinfullness and
witchcraft of the Queen. At Anne's trial, she was accused of acting the 'libertine' before her
marriage to Henry. So many factors worked against the Queen, reinforcing the view that she was
a disciple of Satan who had 'bewitched' Henry with black magic. In April 1536 Anne arrived at
the Tower where she was imprisoned till her execution on 19th May

The night of 17th May 1536 was the moment of prayer, Anne preparing herself for execution ,
cleaning her soul with a final confession and she has taken the sacrament. She thought she
would take her final walk in the morning of 18 th May, but her ordeal has been long-drawn by the
postponement of execution, this being planned now for the noon. Thus, few hours more of
gruesome waiting. When noon passed and Kingston informed Anne that her execution had been
postponed until the next day, the 19th. Anne was distressed but she did nothing but resigned and
sought spiritual comfort within her prayers.

In the day of 19th, when Anne passed towards the scaffold a heavy silence has fallen down,
people looking at an Anne more beautiful than never. Anne has addressed for the last time to the
people of her kingdom.

Good Christian people, I have not come here to preach a sermon; I have come here to
die. (Ridgway, 2012: Preface)

Conclusion

Anne Boleyn has been a woman of contrasts, where traits of personality mingle like hues on an
easel. She was religious yet offensive, wily and in the same time sensitive, worshipful despite her
uncommon physical features. A woman in a men`s world, Anne has been a remarkable person

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because she was persistent in her endeavour to become the King`s wife, to overstep the limits
imposed by her origins.

References:

1. Ives, E ( July 22, 2005) The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, London,
Blackwell Publishing

2. Purdy, Brandy ( February 25, 2014) The Boleyn Pride, London, Kensigton Publishing
Corporation
3. Ridgway, C (April 2012) The Fall of Anne Boleyn: A Countdown, London, MadeGlobal
Publishing

4. Weir, A ( January 10, 1991) The Six Wives of Henry VIII, London, Bodley
Head

5. Weir, A (2010) The Lady in the Tower: The Fall of Anne Boleyn, United States of
America, Balantine Books