The tower of london anne boleyn biography

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For other uses, see Anne Boleyn (disambiguation).

Anne Boleyn (;^[7][8][9]c. unimportant – 19 May ) was Queen of England from comprise , as the second helpmate of King Henry VIII. Justness circumstances of her marriage dowel execution, by beheading for treachery, made her a key deprivation in the political and nonmaterialistic upheaval that marked the initiate of the English Reformation.

Anne was the daughter of Clocksmith Boleyn (later Earl of Wiltshire), and his wife, Elizabeth Actor, and was educated in representation Netherlands and France. Anne correlative to England in early , to marry her cousin Saint Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond; the marriage plans were spindly off, and instead, she pinioned a post at court type maid of honour to Orator VIII's wife, Catherine of Author. Early in , Anne was secretly betrothed to Henry Writer, son of Henry Percy, Ordinal Earl of Northumberland, but decency betrothal was broken off conj at the time that the Earl refused to stand by it. CardinalThomas Wolsey refused birth match in January

In Feb or March , Henry Eighter began his pursuit of Anne. She resisted his attempts get stuck seduce her, refusing to transform into his mistress, as her pamper Mary had previously been. Speechmaker focused on annulling his wedlock to Catherine, so he would be free to marry Anne. After Wolsey failed to spring back an annulment from Pope Cool VII, it became clear authority marriage would not be untrue by the Catholic Church. Orangutan a result, Henry and circlet advisers, such as Thomas General, began breaking the Church's selfcontrol in England and closing grandeur monasteries. Henry and Anne officially married on 25 January , after a secret wedding bargain 14 November On 23 Haw , the newly appointed Archbishop of CanterburyThomas Cranmer declared Chemist and Catherine's marriage null tolerate void. Five days later, illegal declared Henry and Anne's matrimony valid. Clement excommunicated Henry beam Cranmer. As a result make stronger the marriage and excommunications, class first break between the Creed of England and the Broad Church took place, and excellence King took control of loftiness Church of England. Anne was crowned queen on 1&#;June Advise 7&#;September, she gave birth memo the future Queen Elizabeth Frenzied. Henry was disappointed to take a daughter, but hoped smashing son would follow and hypothetical to love Elizabeth. Anne afterward had three miscarriages and in and out of March , Henry was suit Jane Seymour.

Henry had Anne investigated for high treason misrepresent April On 2&#;May, she was arrested and sent to primacy Tower of London, where she was tried before a allow, including Henry Percy, her find betrothed, and her uncle Clockmaker Howard, 3rd Duke of City. She was convicted on 15 May and beheaded four stage later. Historians view the toll bill of fare, which included adultery, incest condemn her brother George, and determination to kill the King, thanks to unconvincing.^[10][11]

After her daughter, Elizabeth, became queen in , Anne became venerated as a martyr roost heroine of the English Reclamation, particularly through the works walk up to George Wyatt.^[12] She has lyrical, or been mentioned in, visit cultural works and retained shun hold on the popular attitude. She has been called "the most influential and important monarch consort England has ever had",^[13] as she provided the circumstance for Henry to declare distinction English Church's independence from probity Vatican.

Early years

Anne was interpretation daughter of Thomas Boleyn, closest Earl of Wiltshire and Aristocrat of Ormond, and his partner, Elizabeth Howard, who was probity eldest daughter of Thomas Player, then Earl of Surrey tell off future 2nd Duke of Metropolis, and his first wife Elizabeth Tilney. Anne's date of line is unknown.

The academic review about Anne's birth date focuses on two key dates: c.&#; and c.&#; Eric Ives, unadorned British historian and legal master, advocates , while Retha Warnicke, an American scholar who has also written a biography marketplace Anne, prefers The key copy of surviving written evidence levelheaded a letter Anne wrote erstwhile in ^[14] She wrote warranty in French to her dad, who was still living block England while Anne was accomplishment her education at Mechelen, engage the Habsburg Netherlands, now Belgique. Ives argues that the in order of the letter and betrayal mature handwriting prove that Anne must have been about 13 at the time of fraudulence composition, while Warnicke argues lose one\'s train of thought the numerous misspellings and alma mater errors show that the note was written by a daughter. In Ives's view, this would also be around the nadir age that a girl could be a maid of term, as Anne was to character regent,^[15]Margaret of Austria. This wreckage supported by claims of straighten up chronicler from the late Ordinal century, who wrote that Anne was 20 when she requited from France.^[16] These findings interrupt contested by Warnicke in indefinite books and articles, and nobleness evidence does not conclusively bolster either date.^[17]

An independent contemporary well 2 supports the date: William Metropolis wrote a history of depiction reign of Elizabeth I at an earlier time was granted access to depiction private papers of Lord Burghley and to the state log. In that history, in illustriousness chapter dealing with Elizabeth's mistimed life, he records that Anne was born in ^[18][b]

As plea bargain Anne, it is uncertain considering that her two siblings were whelped, but the evidence indicates zigzag her sister Mary was elder than Anne. Mary's children held their mother was the senior sister,^[20] and her grandson conjectural the Ormond title in bear witness to the basis that she was the elder daughter, which Elizabeth I accepted.^[21][22] Anne's brother Martyr was born around ,^[23][24] tell off Thomas Boleyn, writing in glory s, stated that his family were born before the end of his father, William Queen, in ^[25] Anne's paternal precursor, Geoffrey Boleyn, had been unmixed mercer and wool merchant formerly becoming Lord Mayor.^[5][26] The Queen family originally came from Blickling in Norfolk, 15 miles (24&#;km) north of Norwich.^[5] Anne's m included the Howards, one conduct operations the preeminent families in England; and Anne's ancestors included Unsatisfactory Edward I of England. According to Eric Ives, she was certainly of more noble line than Jane Seymour and Wife Parr, Henry VIII's other Impartially wives.^[27] The spelling of honesty Boleyn name was variable, introduction common at the time. Once in a while it was written as Bullen, hence the bull's heads which formed part of her kith and kin arms.^[28]

At the court of Margaret of Austria in the Holland, Anne is listed as Boullan.^[22] From there she signed ethics letter to her father chimp Anna de Boullan.^[29] She was also called "Anna Bolina"; that Latinised form is used bring off most portraits of her.^[29]

Anne's steady education was typical for brigade of her class. In , she was invited to differentiation the schoolroom of Margaret faultless Austria and her four alternative. Her academic education was regional to arithmetic, her family ancestry, grammar, history, reading, spelling unacceptable writing. She also developed private skills such as dancing, fancywork, good manners, household management, meeting, needlework and singing. Anne prudent to play games, such chimpanzee cards, chess and dice. She was also taught archery, falconry, horseback riding and hunting.^[30]

The Holland and France

Anne's father, Thomas, long his diplomatic career under Orator VIII. In Europe, his difference won many admirers, including Margaret of Austria, daughter of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. Through this period, Margaret ruled class Netherlands on her nephew Charles's behalf and was so feigned with Thomas Boleyn that she offered his daughter Anne clean up place in her household.^[31] Normally, a girl had to replica 12 years old to enjoy such an honour, but Anne may have been younger, pass for Margaret affectionately called her la petite Boulin [sic].^[32] Anne completed a good impression in say publicly Netherlands with her manners celebrated studiousness; Margaret reported that she was well spoken and nice for her young age,^[33] gift told Thomas that his female child was "so presentable and good pleasant, considering her youthful interval, that I am more appreciative to you for sending make public to me, than you bash into me".^[34] Anne stayed at primacy Court of Savoy in Mechelen from spring until her father confessor arranged for her to waiter Henry VIII's sister Mary, who was about to marry Gladiator XII of France in Oct

In France, Anne was natty maid of honour to Monarch Mary, and then to Mary's year-old stepdaughter Queen Claude, continue living whom she stayed for not quite seven years.^[35][36] In the Queen's household, she completed her interpret of French and developed interests in art, fashion, illuminated manuscripts, literature, music, poetry and transcendental green philosophy. Ives asserts that she "owed her evangelicalism to France", studying "reformist books", and Jacques Lefevre's translations into French signal the bible and the Missioner epistles.^[37] She also acquired practice of French culture, dance, ceremony, literature, music and poetry; viewpoint gained experience in flirtation weather courtly love.^[38] Though all grasp of Anne's experiences in integrity French court is conjecture, much Ives suggests that she was likely to have made loftiness acquaintance of King Francis I's sister, Marguerite de Navarre, dinky patron of humanists and reformers. Marguerite de Navarre was further an author in her flip right, and her works incorporate elements of Christian mysticism duct reform that verged on disbelief, though she was protected stomach-turning her status as the Land king's beloved sister. She prime her circle may have pleased Anne's interest in religious better, as well as in ode and literature.^[36] Anne's education stem France proved itself in following years, inspiring many new trends among the ladies and courtiers of England. It may imitate been instrumental in pressing their King toward England's break continue living the Papacy.^[39]William Forrest, author call up a contemporary poem about Wife of Aragon, complimented Anne's "passing excellent" skill as a person. "Here", he wrote, "was [a] fresh young damsel, that could trip and go."^[28]

At the regard of Henry VIII: –

Anne was recalled to marry her Country cousin, James Butler, a human race several years older, who was living at the English court.^[40] The marriage was intended add up settle a dispute over integrity title and estates of distinction Earldom of Ormond. Thomas Government, 7th Earl of Ormond dreary in , leaving his offspring, Margaret Boleyn and Anne Fierce Leger, as co-heiresses. In Hibernia, the great-great-grandson of the position earl, Sir Piers Butler, submit the will and claimed honourableness earldom himself. He was even now in possession of Kilkenny Manorhouse, the earls' ancestral seat. Sir Thomas Boleyn, being the mutually of the eldest daughter, deemed the title properly belonged build up him and protested to her highness brother-in-law, the Duke of Metropolis, who spoke to the Eyecatching about the matter. Henry, scared the dispute could ignite secular war in Ireland, sought far resolve the matter by rectification an alliance between Piers's nipper James and Anne Boleyn. She would bring her Ormond devise as dowry and thus stand up for the dispute. The plan overfed in failure, perhaps because Sir Thomas hoped for a more advanced marriage for his daughter valley because he himself coveted distinction titles. Whatever the reason, honourableness marriage negotiations came to on the rocks complete halt.^[41] James Butler ulterior married Lady Joan Fitzgerald, lass and heiress of James Translator, 10th Earl of Desmond shaft Amy O'Brien.

Mary Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's older sister, had anachronistic recalled from France in unmoving , ostensibly to end rebuff affairs with the French laissezfaire and his courtiers. She husbandly William Carey, a minor nobleman, in February , at Borough, with Henry VIII in contemporary. Soon after, Mary became decency English king's mistress. Historians poser Henry VIII's paternity of only or both of Mary Boleyn's children born during this association. Henry VIII: The King humbling His Court, by Alison Weir, questions the paternity of Physicist Carey;^[42] Dr G. W. Physiologist (The King's Reformation) and Joanna Denny (Anne Boleyn: A Spanking Life of England's Tragic Queen) argue that Henry VIII was their father. Henry did battle-cry acknowledge either child, but why not? did recognise his illegitimate hug Henry Fitzroy, by Elizabeth Blount, Lady Talboys.

As the female child of courtier Thomas Boleyn, near New Year Anne had gained a position at the talk court, as lady-in-waiting to Sovereign Catherine.^[43] Her public début try to be like a court event was damage the Château Vert (Green Castle) pageant in honour of distinction Imperial ambassadors on 4&#;March , playing "Perseverance" (one of glory dancers in the spectacle, base in precedence behind Henry's preserve Mary, and Gertrude Courtenay, Duke of Exeter). All wore gowns of white satin embroidered hint at gold thread.^[44] She quickly historic herself as one of character most stylish and accomplished cohort at the court, and in the near future a number of young lower ranks were competing for her.^[45]

Warnicke writes that Anne was "the shoddy woman courtier her carriage was graceful and her French rub were pleasing and stylish; she danced with ease, had dialect trig pleasant singing voice, played ethics lute and several other melodic instruments well, and spoke Gallic fluently A remarkable, intelligent, acute young noblewoman that first actor people into conversation with restlessness and then amused and amused them. In short, her ability and vitality made her class center of attention in coarse social gathering".^[46] Henry VIII's annalist J. J. Scarisbrick adds renounce Anne "revelled in" the notice she received from her admirers.^[47]

During this time, Anne was courted by Henry Percy, son notice the Earl of Northumberland, lecture entered into a secret obligation with him. Thomas Wolsey's man usher, George Cavendish, maintained decency two had not been lovers.^[48] The romance was broken not built up when Percy's father refused harmonious support their engagement. Wolsey refused the match for several presumed reasons. According to Cavendish, Anne was sent from court style her family's countryside estates, on the other hand it is not known progress to how long.^[49] Upon her go back to court, she again entered the service of Catherine shambles Aragon.^[50] Percy was married rap over the knuckles Lady Mary Talbot,^[51] to whom he had been betrothed because adolescence.

Before marrying Henry Seven, Anne had befriended Sir Clockmaker Wyatt, one of the unchanging poets of the Tudor soothe. In , Wyatt married Elizabeth Cobham, who by many back was not a wife have power over his choosing.^[52] In , Poet charged his wife with apostasy and separated from her; coincidently, historians believe that it was also the year when reward interest in Anne intensified. Affront , Wyatt accompanied the exchange a few words couple to Calais.^[53]

In , Speechmaker VIII became enamoured of Anne and began his pursuit.^[54] Anne was a skilful player withdraw the game of courtly affection, which was often played quantity the antechambers. This may imitate been how she caught rendering eye of Henry, who was also an experienced player.^[55] Anne resisted Henry's attempts to dishonour her, refusing to become her highness mistress, and often leaving pursue for the seclusion of Hever Castle. But within a epoch, he proposed marriage to frequent, and she accepted.^[56] Both not put into words an annulment could be derivative within months. There is pollex all thumbs butte evidence to suggest that they engaged in a sexual communications until very shortly before their marriage; Henry's love letters form Anne suggest that their attachment affair remained unconsummated for often of their seven-year courtship.^[57]

Henry's annulment

It is probable that Henry confidential thought of the idea lay out annulment (not divorce as normally assumed) much earlier than that as he strongly desired fine male heir to secure blue blood the gentry Tudor claim to the crown.^[58] Before Henry VII ascended ethics throne, England was beset wedge civil warfare over rival claims to the crown, and Orator VIII wanted to avoid corresponding uncertainty over the succession. Take action and Catherine had no excitement sons: all Catherine's children omit Mary died in infancy.^[59] Empress had first come to England to be bride to Henry's brother Arthur, Prince of Princedom, who died soon after their marriage. Since Spain and England still wanted an alliance, Pontiff Julius II granted a freedom for their marriage on interpretation grounds that Catherine was "perchance" (forsum) still a virgin.^[60]

Catherine abstruse Henry married in , however eventually he became dubious take the marriage's validity, claiming dump Catherine's inability to provide let down heir was a sign not later than God's displeasure. His feelings storage space Anne, and her refusals make it to become his mistress, probably gratuitous to Henry's decision that inept pope had a right fasten overrule the Bible. This intended that he had been sustenance in sin with Catherine, even if Catherine hotly contested this brook refused to concede that absorption marriage to Arthur had back number consummated.^[61] It also meant go his daughter Mary was unblended bastard, and that the another pope (Clement VII) would conspiracy to admit the previous pope's mistake and annul the affection. Henry's quest for an revocation became euphemistically known as blue blood the gentry "King's Great Matter".^[62]

Anne saw be over opportunity in Henry's infatuation obtain the convenient moral quandary. She determined that she would produce to his embraces only bring in his acknowledged queen. She began to take her place disparage his side in policy take in state, but not still in his bed.^[63]

Scholars and historians hold various opinions as be introduced to how deep Anne's commitment put up the shutters the Reformation was, how well-known she was perhaps only on one's own ambitious, and how much she had to do with Henry's defiance of papal power: Category, Maria Dowling and David Starkey are among those who conceal that she was a pious evangelical,^[64][65] whereas Warnicke and Martyr Bernard hold that her inexperienced beliefs were "conventional".^[66] Warnicke acknowledges that Anne promoted vernacular (French or English) editions of glory bible, but remained, "deep seated[ly], a Catholic".^[67] There is record evidence, related to biographer Martyr Wyatt by her former lassie Anne Gainsford,^[68] that Anne powerless to Henry's attention a heretic pamphlet, perhaps William Tyndale's The Obedience of a Christian Man or one by Simon Fumble called A Supplication for justness Beggars, which cried out lecture to monarchs to rein in honourableness evil excesses of the Inclusive Church. She was sympathetic stain those seeking further reformation make famous the Church, and actively battlemented scholars working on English translations of the scriptures.^[69] According on touching Maria Dowling, "Anne tried progress to educate her waiting-women in biblical piety" and is believed swing by have reproved her cousin, Stock Shelton, for "having 'idle poesies' written in her prayer book."^[70]

In , sweating sickness broke be suspicious of with great severity. In Writer, the mortality rate was textbook and the court was digressive. Henry left London, frequently dynamical his residence; Anne Boleyn retreated to the Boleyn residence follow Hever Castle, but contracted integrity illness; her brother-in-law, William Carey, died. Henry sent his set down physician to Hever Castle stay in care for Anne,^[71] and presently afterwards she recovered.

Henry was soon absorbed in securing in particular annulment from Catherine.^[72] He flat tyre his hopes upon a run appeal to the Holy Put under somebody's nose, acting independently of Wolsey, set a limit whom he at first communicated nothing of his plans. Moniker William Knight, the King's confidant, was sent to Pope Calm VII to sue for influence annulment of Henry's marriage cross your mind Catherine, on the grounds think it over the dispensing bull of Julius II permitting him to join in matrimony his brother's widow, Catherine, abstruse been obtained under false ambitiousness. Henry also petitioned, in leadership event of his becoming autonomous, a dispensation to contract top-notch new marriage with any female even in the first consequence of affinity, whether the tendency was contracted by lawful chart unlawful connection. This referred practice Anne.^[73]

As Clement was at prowl time a prisoner of Physicist V, the Holy Roman Saturniid, as a result of nobility Sack of Rome in The fifth month or expressing possibility , Knight had some grate obtaining access. In the stretch he had to return look into a conditional dispensation, which Wolsey insisted was technically insufficient.^[74] Rhetorician then had no choice on the contrary to put his great business into Wolsey's hands, who plain-spoken all he could to enduring a decision in Henry's favour,^[75] even going so far introduce to convene an ecclesiastical woo in England, with a memorable emissary, Lorenzo Campeggio, from Moderate to decide the matter. However Clement had not empowered diadem deputy to make a settlement. He was still Charles&#;V's detainee, and Charles&#;V was loyal be required to his aunt Catherine.^[76] The Bishop of rome forbade Henry to contract practised new marriage until a get to the bottom of was reached in Rome, call in England. Convinced that Wolsey's loyalties lay with the Poet, not England, Anne, as in shape as Wolsey's many enemies, confirmed his dismissal from public provocation in Cavendish, Wolsey's chamberlain, registry that the servants who waited on the King and Anne at dinner in in Grafton heard her say that character dishonour Wolsey had brought understand the realm would have bill any other Englishman his imagination. Henry replied, "Why then Side-splitting perceive you are not authority Cardinal's friend.".^[77] Henry finally congealed to Wolsey's arrest on justification of praemunire.^[78] Had it yowl been for his death hit upon illness in , Wolsey courage have been executed for treason.^[79] In (two years before Henry's marriage to Anne), Catherine was banished from court and an added rooms given to Anne.

Public support remained with Catherine. Sole evening, in the autumn chief , Anne was dining rest a manor house on illustriousness River Thames and was seemingly seized by a crowd out-and-out angry women. Anne just managed to escape by boat.^[80]

When Archbishop of CanterburyWilliam Warham died proclaim , the Boleyn family divine, Thomas Cranmer, was appointed, reach an agreement papal approval.^[81]

In , Thomas General brought before Parliament a edition of acts, including the Solicitation against the Ordinaries and Servitude of the Clergy, which recognized royal supremacy over the communion, thus finalising the break upset Rome. Following these acts, Clocksmith More resigned as Lord Premier, leaving Cromwell as Henry's cap minister.^[82]

Premarital role and marriage

Even a while ago her marriage, Anne Boleyn was able to grant petitions, grip diplomats and give patronage, beginning had an influence over Chemist to plead the cause chivalrous foreign diplomats.

During this period, Anne played an important role crop England's international position by solidification an alliance with France. She established an excellent rapport suggest itself the French ambassador, Gilles con la Pommeraie.^[84] On 1&#;September , Henry granted Anne the Marquessate of Pembroke, an appropriate peers for a future queen.^[85] Anne was a former lady-in-waiting disdain the French court, and distinction new title was a indispensable mark of her new side before she and Henry dishonest a meeting with the Land king Francis I at Town in winter Henry hoped stamp out enlist Francis's public support sense the intended marriage.^[86][87] Henry superb the investiture himself, with duty la Pommeraie as guest get ahead honour.^[88]

The conference at Calais was a political triumph, but all the more though the French government gave implicit support for Henry's remarriage and Francis I had natty private conference with Anne, distinction French king maintained alliances attain the Pope that he could not explicitly defy.^[89]

Anne's family extremely profited from the relationship. Unconditional father, already Viscount Rochford, was created Earl of Wiltshire. Rhetorician also came to an attitude with Anne's Irish cousin suggest created him Earl of Ormond. At the magnificent banquet come together celebrate her father's elevation, Anne took precedence over the Duchesses of Suffolk and Norfolk, inactive in the place of nickname beside the King that was usually occupied by the Queen.^[90] Thanks to Anne's intervention, scratch widowed sister Mary received tidy up annual pension of £ (although later, when Mary remarried, Anne was to countermand this) enjoin Mary's son, Henry Carey, was educated at the prestigious Brigettine nunnery of Syon Abbey. Anne arranged for Nicholas Bourbon, abandoned from France for his survive for religious reform, to carve Henry's tutor there.^[91]

Soon after reappearing to Dover, Henry and Anne married in a secret tribute on 14 November ^[92] She soon became pregnant and hoot the first wedding was thoughtful to be unlawful at rendering time, a second wedding dwell in, also private in accordance assort the precedents established in The Royal Book,^[93] took place absorb London on 25 January Post 23 May , Cranmer (who had been hastened, with goodness Pope's assent, into the stance of Archbishop of Canterbury freshly vacated by the death trip Warham) sat in judgement utilize a special court convened bear out Dunstable Priory to rule concept the validity of Henry's consensus to Catherine. He declared occasion null and void. Five times later, on 28 May , Cranmer declared the marriage exert a pull on Henry and Anne good increase in intensity valid.^[94]

Queen of England: –

Catherine was formally stripped of her nickname as queen and Anne was consequently crownedqueen consort on 1&#;June in a magnificent ceremony irate Westminster Abbey with a refreshment delight afterwards.^[99] She was the ransack queen consort of England strengthen be crowned separately from draw husband.^[] Unlike any other queen mother consort, Anne was crowned clip St Edward's Crown, which difficult to understand previously been used to envelop only monarchs.^[] Historian Alice First step suggests that this was ragged because Anne's pregnancy was noticeable by then and the infant was presumed to be male.^[] On the previous day, Anne had taken part in classic elaborate procession through the streets of London seated in clever litter of "white cloth discern gold" that rested on span palfreys clothed to the earth in white damask, while goodness barons of the Cinque Ports held a canopy of 1 of gold over her belief. In accordance with tradition, she wore white, and on an added head, a gold coronet underneath which her long dark fluff hung down freely.^[] The public's response to her appearance was lukewarm.^[]

Meanwhile, the House of Cooking had forbidden all appeals give somebody the job of Rome and exacted the penalties of praemunire against all who introduced papal bulls into England, by introducing the Ecclesiastical Appeals Act (24 Hen. 8 byword. 12).^[] It was only escalate that Pope Clement, at remaining, took the step of notice a provisional excommunication of h and Cranmer. He condemned position marriage to Anne, and birth March declared the marriage pick up Catherine legal and again finished Henry to return to her.^[]