EXECUTED: 19 MAY 1536
For a woman who played such an important part in English history, we know remarkably little about her earliest years. Antonia Fraser puts Anne's birth at 1500 or 1501, probably at Blickling (Norfolk) and the date of birth seems to be at the end of May or early June. Other historians put Anne's birth as late as 1507 or 1509.
Anne spent part of her childhood at the court of the Archduchess Margaret. Fraser puts her age at twelve to thirteen, as that was the minimum age for a 'fille d'honneur'. It was from there that she was transferred to the household of Mary, Henry VIII sister, who was married to Louis XII of France. Anne's sister Mary was already one of the French Queen's Lady's in waiting However, when Louis died, Mary Boleyn returned to England with Mary Tudor, while Anne remained in France to attend Claude, the new French queen. Anne remained in France for the next six or seven years. Because of her position, it is possible that she was at the Field of Cloth of Gold, the famous meeting between Henry VIII and the French king, Francis First.
Her personality was that of an ambitious, intelligent, skilled woman. She was also rather cruel to Catherine of Aragon and her daughter Princess Mary, now viewed in law to be a bastard. She objected to Henry's new relationship with Jane Seymour and argued with him openly.
She gave birth to the future Queen Elizabeth 1 but miscarried what is commonly believed to be around 3 children including a couple of sons. This is maybe why she was so angry in her later and final years.
She was accused of adultery and treason as well as witchcraft and incest and found guilty, striped of her title as Queen and her possessions and sent to the tower of London.
She was executed by the kings order, with a french sword off came Anne's head after having to witness the beheading of her brother and all the people accused of adultery with her.
No comments:
Post a Comment