Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, 1st Marchioness of Pembroke (c.1507 – May 19, 1536) was the second wife and queen consort of Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Henry's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and marriage to Anne was part of the complex beginning of the considerable political and religious upheaval which was the English Reformation, with Anne herself actively promoting the cause of Church Reform. She is probably best known for her premature death when she was beheaded on false charges of adultery and treason. Her life has been the subject of numerous biographies, novels, motion pictures, plays and operas.

Marriage

The conference was a political triumphant since the French government gave their support for Henry?s re-marriage. Immediately upon returning to Dover in England, Henry and Anne went through a secret wedding service. After that they enjoyed a long honeymoon in Anne?s native county of Kent, finally enjoying a sexual relationship after seven years of frustration. Anne became pregnant within a few months and the couple had another more public wedding Mass on January 25 1533 at Anne?s favorite palace of Whitehall.

Related Topics:
Dover - England - Kent - January 25 - 1533 - Whitehall

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Catherine was formally stripped of her title as queen in time for Anne?s coronation in May 1533. In defiance of the Pope, Cranmer now declared that the English Church was under Henry?s control not Rome?s. This was the famous ?Break with Rome,? which signaled the end of England?s history as a devout Roman Catholic country. Few people were aware of the signifance at the time and even fewer were prepared to defend the Pope?s authority. Anne was delighted at this development. She was a Catholic, but she believed the Papacy was a corrupt and immoral influence on Christianity.

Related Topics:
May - 1533 - Christianity

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The cost of Anne?s coronation was enormous and the festivities lasted for three days. Catherine?s supporters turned out in force to state their opposition to the new queen, but Anne also made a good impression on other members of the City. She was not universally popular but religious reformers and patriots (who preferred an English queen to a Spanish one) championed her.

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After the Coronation, Anne settled into a quiet routine to prepare for the birth of her child. She was deeply distressed when Henry was caught committing adultery with a young palace maid, which provoked their first serious row. Anne won however when the girl was dismissed, since Henry wanted nothing to jeopardize her pregnancy.

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Henry and Anne?s child was born slightly prematurely on September 7 1533 at the king?s favorite palace of Greenwich. Disappointingly, the child was a girl who was christened Elizabeth in honor of Henry?s mother ? Elizabeth of York. She was a given a splendid christening, but Anne feared that Catherine?s daughter Mary would still have enough popular support to threaten Elizabeth?s position. Henry soothed Anne?s fears by separating Mary from her many servants and sending her under guard to Hatfield House, where Princess Elizabeth was also given her own magnificent staff of servants. The country air was better for the baby?s health but Anne was an affectionate mother who regularly visited her daughter. Her visits were also the scenes of friction between Anne and Princess Mary who referred to Anne as ???my father?s mistress,??? whilst Anne called Mary ???that cursed bastard.???

Related Topics:
September 7 - 1533 - Greenwich - Elizabeth - Elizabeth of York - Mary

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