Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, A Biography

by

Elizabeth Y. Johnson

History 111

Mr. Gary Shipp

September 16, 2003

Work Cited

Bevan, Richard, "Anne Boleyn and the Downfall of her Family," bbc.co.uk/history/ 2001 http//www.bbc.co.uk/history/state/monarchs_leaders/anne_boleyn_print.html. (29 August 2003)

"Boleyn, Anne ." The Columbia Encyclopedia . 6th ed. Columbia University Press. New York, 2000.

"Boleyn, Anne," Encarta Online Encyclopedia. 2003. http://encarta.msn.com.1997-2003 Microsoft Corporation.

Eakins Lara E., "Anne Boleyn The Most Happy," tudorhistory.org. 1995-2002. http://turdorhistory.org/boleyn.html. (21 August 2003)

Gavin, Nell, "Threads: Reincarnation of Anne Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's Birthyear -1501 or 1507?," www.nellgavin.com. 2001 ( 21 August 2003)

Hanson, Marilee, "Contemporary Descriptions of Anne Boleyn," englishhistory.net. 2003. http://englishhistory.net/tudor/annedesc.html (8 August 2003)

Lindsey, Karen. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived: A Feminist Reinterpretation of the Wives of Henry VIII. Reading, MA: Perseus Books, 1995.

Warnicke, Retha. Anne Boleyn, Queen of England: RethaWarnicke unravels the evidence on the rise and fall of Henry VIII's second wife. History Today Ltd, 2002.

The short lived life of Anne Boleyn and her rise to noble status and power and the controversy to her downfall as queen of England or not? Anne Boleyn, queen of England, second wife to Henry VIII. Historians in tales of gossip and truth alone still today study her reign as queen and her tragic death. You don't know why it had gone so far as executing a queen. To be free of her as a wife, accusations by King Henry of treason, adultery and incest were brought to light. Controversy surrounded her birthyear, childhood, her physical appearance and her sexual behavior with other men including her own brother that were never found to be true. Through all her life up to her death in 1536 she was plagued by these misconceptions. She was a woman who born into status and power and a wanting for more led her into bitter grief and despair.

Anne Boleyn was the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Lady Elizabeth Howard. She had a brother named George and sister named Mary. Anne Boleyn's birthdate is unknown, born somewhere between 1499 and 1507.

Biographers Alison Weir and Eric W. Ives more or less favor a birth year of 1501 based on Anne's appointment as maid of honor to Margaret of Austria in 1513. One had to be at least 11 to be a maid of honor so, based on this, the very latest possible birth year would be 1502. (Alison and Ives)

Anne Boleyn was no commoner, she came from a family of royal status and power that was known throughout England. Anne was well educated and spent most of her childhood in France as a lady-in-waiting to Henry's sister the French queen. She later transferred the court of the new French queen Claude. She returned to England when she was about twenty in 1521. She was then placed to service Henry's VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

By this time, Anne became acquainted with the finer things in life. Her appearance was not like any other lady-in-waiting. She was well known among the English court. Anne was said to be a very charming person who captivated those around her. She was not a beauty to most, as her physical features did not attract.

A quote from the Venetian Ambassador said she was "not of the handsomest women in the world..." She was considered moderately pretty. But, one must consider what 'pretty' was in the 16th century. Anne was the opposite of the pale, blonde-haired, blue-eyed image of beauty. She had dark, olive-colored skin, thick dark brown hair and dark eyes were often appeared black. Those large dark eyes were often singled out in descriptions of Anne. She clearly used them, and the fascination they aroused, to her advantage whenever possible. ("Anne Boleyn, The Most Happy" 2)

During this time, around 1521 or so, she had her first real courtship was with Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. Anne as she grew up with status and power was hoping to continue once married to Percy. It had ended with the interference of the Cardinal Thomas Wosley. During this time she also sought the courtship of Thomas Wyatt. The King also had intentions and sought courtship with Anne.

The courtship of Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII was not desired and rudely condemned by the court and the people of England. Henry VIII was still married to Catherine of Aragon. But, by 1527 Henry began to seek an annulment of his marriage to Catherine. Henry intended for Anne Boleyn to be his next wife, hoping to bear a male heir. Anne refused