Michala Weick

October 5, 2010

ANNE BOLEYN
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Websites
www.tudorhistory.org/boleyn/
http://englishhistory.net/tudor/monarchs/boleyn.html
Books
Erickson, Carolly. Mistress Anne. New York: Summit Books
1984
Ives, E.W. Anne Boleyn. New York: Basil Blackwell Ltd 1986
Lofts, Nora. Anne Boleyn. CM&C, Inc.1979
Warnick, Retha. The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn. New York:
Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge 1989
 No one really knows when Anne Boleyn was born. Some historians put it

between 1501 and 1503 and others between 1503 and 1509. She was born

in Blickling, Norfolk which her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn, owned. Sir

Thomas also owned Hever Castle in Kent, Norfolk. Anne’s mother, Elizabeth

Howard came from a very wealthy and noble family, while her father’s family

was not a member of the old aristocracy.

In Tudor times it was not common for girls to have education. Tudor

families only gave their boys an education because they were considered

more precious and valuable than the girls, which is why it is so extraordinary

that Thomas Boleyn arranged for Anne to have an education. Anne had a

French governess, Simonette, who taught Anne how to read, write and

speak French as well as English.

Anne’s father was very skillful at infiltration. He arranged for his

daughter Mary, Anne’s older sister, to serve in Brussels with Margaret of

Austria who was at the time ruling the Netherlands as well as with King

Henry VIII and Queen Catherine of Aragon. He also arranged for Anne to go

serve as ‘fille d’honneur’ with the Queen of France and then later as a lady in

waiting for Henry and Catherine.

Anne began serving the English court at about 14 years of age which

would have been around 1521. King Henry VIII was first attracted to her in

1523 when she was around 16 years old. The ladies in the court could not

comprehend why the king would be attracted to Anne. She was not fair
haired like the English ladies. Instead she was dark haired with mysteriously

dark eyes. She was also thought to have a sixth nub of a finger and a mole

or goiter on her neck. But these things were not noticed at first because she

had a clever way of covering them up. She disguised her “finger” by having

an extra bit of lace or fabric added to the sleeve, and for her mole she would

wear a jewel or pendent on a piece of ribbon. It is said that the King was

more attracted to her wit and charm than her mysterious looks.

Henry began seeing Anne quite frequently. They were seen going on

walks in galleries and court yards. Anne also began to accompany the King

on his royal hunts in place of Queen Catherine. 1523 was also around the

time that King Henry VIII attempted to have an annulment made between

Catherine and him. Unfortunately for the king, the annulment was not

official until 1532. King Henry VIII repeatedly asked Anne to be his mistress

after her sister, Mary, ‘retired,’ but she always refused. In Anne’s mind it

was Queen or nothing. Anne would sometimes go out into a secluded area

and sing “Queen Anne” out loud to herself.

King Henry VIII’s attempt to attain an annulment from Catherine of

Aragon was not going as planned. In those days the only way to attain an

annulment was through the pope. At this time the pope would not grant the

annulment. This led Henry to make himself head over the Church of

England, therefore he could grant his own annulment. The annulment from
Catherine took almost 9 years. Then King Henry VIII wanted to declare their

daughter invalid so that she would not have a right to the throne.

Anne and Henry were married on January 25, 1533 under the cover of

darkness with only witnesses and a clergy. Their marriage was a good one

until Anne bore Henry a daughter Elizabeth (would later become Queen

Elizabeth I). One of his reasons for marrying was because she had promised

him a son. Anne also had two miscarriages and by the second one Henry

was ready to be out.

Anne tried to convince Henry not to annul their marriage but it didn’t

work. He already had his next wife picked out. In Henry’s eyes he wanted

the young and fresh girls. His next wife was Jane Seymour. Jane was the

only wife that bore Henry a ‘legitimate’ son. When Anne found out that she

was going to be executed she said “I have heard the executioner is very

good. And I shall have little neck.” Anne was charged with adultery and

witchcraft. Anne was executed on May 17, 1536.