History Lessons

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, Henry's second wife; married about 3 years

Father: Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire
Mother: Lady Elizabeth Howard

Before becoming Queen 

It is unknown when she was born

But it is believed it was between 1501 and 1507

It known that Mary Boleyn was her older sister

Her brother George was born around 1504

Anne Boleyn was betrothed to Henry Percy but the engagement was called off

Her father, Tomas Boleyn was one of Henry viii favorites, he often sent him diplomatic missions aboard

Her academic education was limited to arithmetic, her family genealogy, grammar, history, reading, spelling, and writing. She developed skills such as dancing, good manner, music, needlework, and singing. She learned to play games, such as cards, chess, and dice. She was also taught archery, falconry, horseback riding, and hunting

Court (lady in waiting for Catherine of Aragon)

Both Mary and Anne Boleyn were ladies in waiting for Queen Catherine

Mary was married to William Carey

Mary was also a mistress to the King

Mary had two kids during her marriage

Historians argue about whether Henry was the father of one or both kids, Henry did not acknowledge either

1526 is when Anne really caught The Kings eye

Some say Anne resisted The Kings attempts to seduce her for she didn't want to become a mistress like her sister

Within a year he proposed marriage

Many love letters suggest their love-affair remained unconsummated for much of their 7 year courtship there is no proof that there was a sexual relationship till shortly before their marriage in 1533

It is believed that his desire for an heir is what started his separation to Catherine

He had no heir to the throne being Mary is the only child that survived from Catherine

His feelings for Anne, and her refusals to become his mistress, probably contributed to Henry's decision that no Pope had a right to overrule the Bible

Which would mean he'd been living a sin with Catherine and his daughter, Mary, was a bastard (baby born before marriage for those of you who don't know what that means)

Anne would still not lay with Henry until she was made Queen even after his Annulment from Catherine

In 1528 the Sweating Sickness broke out

Henry left London and Anne went back to the Boleyn residence in Hever Castle

Anne had caught the sickness, so did her brother-in-law, William Carey

Henry sent his physician to help Anne

William died from the sweating sickness

In 1531 Catherine was banished from Court and her rooms were given to Anne

Anne and Henry had a secret marriage ceremony and soon after their first ceremony Anne became pregnant

The first time was unlawful, so they had a second the same year

Queen Anne Boleyn

People assumed the child she was carrying would be a male, Henry's heir

On September 7th 1533 Anne gave birth to a baby girl, Elizabeth

They were so confident that it would be a boy, they had a speech that would be turned to Princess instead of Prince

They had planned the annual jousting tournament for the birth of a boy

Anne feared that now that Mary, Catherine's daughter stripped of the title "Princess" And labelled "Bastard" Posed a threat to Elizabeth's position

In 1534 Anne had a stillbirth or Miscarriage, Henry talked about divorcing her without having to return to Catherine

The people of England did not like Anne, for what she had turned their King into, then failed to produce a son

Downfall and execution

January 8th 1535 the death of Catherine reached Henry and Anne

They were overjoyed (rude much)

It was now Anne tried to make peace with Mary, Mary did not want that

Anne once again pregnant knew what could happen if she miscarried again, Henry could leave without having to go back to Catherine

It was about this time that Henry started paying more attention to Jane Seymour

Anne did miscarry again, it was believed to be a boy as well

Anne would be executed for Adultery, Incest, and treason

Her brother was executed on May 17 1536 for incest, though there was no real proof

Anne was executed two days later on May 19 1536

Anne was buried in a unmarked grave

Her remains were found and identified in 1876 during renovations of the chapel

Anne's grave is now identified in Marble