The Story of Anne Boleyn

There’s a lot to be said of Henry and his attitude and behaviour with his six wives. For Anne, more should be said.

I’m happy to have my dear friend, Hannah Elizabeth, guest blogging today! It’s wonderful to have guest posts at the Tearoom; there are many wonderful storytellers on Substack, all of whom shed a different light on the historical figures that we all know. I love helping other voices to be heard!

Check out Hannah’s blog when you’re finished! Her posts are eloquent and relatable. And now, the life of Anne Boleyn!

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So excited to do a guest blog for the amazing Mariella! My chosen topic is Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn.

I chose Anne, in part, because I’m watching the TV adaptation of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall. I thought how she became queen was interesting, yet her death was a manipulated tragedy.

Her mother was Elizabeth Howard (connected to the other Howards, yes, that Howard) and her father was Thomas Boleyn. Thomas sent Anne to school in Europe, where she sat in the courts of Margret of Austria and Queen Claude of France.

In 1522, Anne returned home, where she and her sister Mary became ladies in waiting to Catherine of Aragon. Henry was married to Catherine of Aragon for seventeen years before he began pursuing Anne.

Henry was convinced that Anne could give him a son. After all, Catherine had suffered multiple miscarriages. She was only able to give him a daughter. The king decided the only way to solve this problem was by seeking a divorce from Catherine (gasp!)

Divorce was a big no no. In those days, all religious people were Catholic, which complicated matters further. If Henry needed a divorce, he would need to break away from Catholicism, dismantling all monasteries. Anne added pressure by telling Henry that she would not be a mistress. She would wait until they were able to marry.

After seven years of courting, Henry married Anne in 1533. She was pregnant at the time and, once again, Henry hoped for a boy. Oh, how wrong he was! Later that same year, a daughter named Elizabeth was born.

After this, Anne suffered miscarriages. She was unable to give him the son he wanted, proving to be another disappointment. Henry decided to look for someone else who could fulfil his dream of having a son.

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Anne’s downfall and death came after only three years of marriage to Henry. His right-hand man, Thomas Cromwell, accused Anne of adultery and of plotting against the king’s life. Numerous trials were held, and men were brought forward as witnesses to the adultery.

She was arrested in 1536 and taken to the Tower of London. All the while, the fallen queen held on to a hope that Henry would change his mind and spare her. It was not to be; Henry’s attentions had already turned to Anne’s own lady in waiting, Jane Seymore.

The execution of a queen was unheard of, so Henry and Cromwell ensured that Anne’s execution was done within the walls of the Tower, rather than in public. She was beheaded on May 19th, 1536. Up until the last moment, when a courtier placed a blindfold over her eyes, Anne protested her innocence.

It’s said that she kept turning to look at the Tower, waiting for Henry’s pardon—a gift that never came. In her final speech, she spoke of him with nothing but kind words. She even prayed for him.

Eleven days after Anne’s death, Henry married Jane Seymore.

There’s a lot to be said of Henry and his attitude and behaviour with his six wives. For Anne, more should be said. Even after all that he put her through, she loved him until her last breath.

She may not have been perfect, but she has the grace to wish him well.