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| Feb 9 2008, 9:14 PM EST | Cinefila | 1 photo added, 1 photo deleted |
| Feb 8 2008, 2:11 PM EST | MsSquirrly | 9 words added, 8 words deleted |
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| Motto : "The Most Happy" See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide | |
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Anne Boleyn, Queen Consort of England, 1st Marquess of Pembrokec. 1501/1507 - May 19, 1536 crowned: May 28, 1533 | |
| Character's Backstory: Anne Boleyn was born at either Blickling Hall in Norfolk or at Hever Castle in Kent. Anne's family life was generally okay: showing affection to her sister Mary, wanting to please her father, and having a close relationship with her mother and brother, George. She spent a time in The Netherlands under the Archduchess Margaret of Austria and later finished out her education in Paris, France. While in France, she became a favored lady-in-waiting to Queen Claude of France. She returned to England in January 1522. Gentility: Highbred daughter of a lesser noble and niece of one of England's most powerful families, on her mother's side, educated in The court of the Arch duchess Margaret of Austria, and later sent to France to wait on Princess Mary Tudor. When Mary's aging husband died Anne and her sister remained in the French court where Anne was the envy of all the ladies at court for her good breading, impeccable reputation, intelligence, beauty, and exquisite sense of style Personality type: Anne was a quick-tempered and spirited person. She was pious but not rigid, clever, conniving, and loyal to those she loved. She had a gentle heart when needed -- showing kindness to the poor. Like her daughter, Elizabeth I, she was adventurous, influential and advantageous. Signature look: Anne was not a "looker" compared to people of her times. Her looks were more exotic with her olive-toned complexion, dark brown hair, and capitivating dark eyes. She knew she possessed a beauty like no other and used this fact to her advantage. She was often seen wearing a necklace with a "B" pendent with three pearls dangling from it. Endearing trait(s): intelligence, wit and impeccable style, love for her daughter, care for her advancement of a more tolerant religious point of view, loyalty to friends who seem fit and close, determined, ambitious, cultured, musically talented, talento to control others. Annoying trait(s): Like her one time husband Henry VIII and Queen Catherine of Aragon, she is convinced in her will as maxim. Vindictiveness, arrogance, pride. Alienates both her supporters and her enemies. Capable of being mean spirited and bossy, obnoxious when she is the winner, very emotional, high-strung, jealous. |  Natalie Dormer   |
Talents : Anne was said to have been an impressive musician and songwriter and played
several instruments including the lute, harp, virginals and probably the recorder which was
popular at the time. She was also renowned for her singing voice.
Family Members: Paternal Grandfather: Sir William Boleyn Paternal Grandmother: Margaret Butler Maternal Grandfather: Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk Maternal Grandmother: Elizabeth Tilney Father: Sir Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire Mother: Lady Elizabeth Howard Brother: George Boleyn Sister: Mary Boleyn Husband: King Henry VIII Children: Daughter: Elizabeth I, Queen of England -- September 7th, 1533 Unknown Child: Miscarriage -- July, 1534 Son: Henry Tudor (died) -- June, 1535 Son: (died) -- January 29, 1536 Romance(s): King Henry VIII Henry Percy At one point almost engaged to James Butler Friends: George Boleyn Lady Margaret Lee (nee Wyatt ) Mary Wyatt -- both sisters of Thomas Wyatt Mrs. Orchard --Anne's childhood nurse Henry Norris --a dear a loyal friend, also accused of adultery with Anne but defended her good name till the end of his life Thomas Cranmer --Anne's chaplain and eventual Archbishop of Canterbury. He was a close friend and ally and also heard her last confession. Matthew Parker --Chaplain who believed Anne had in some way commended Elizabeth to his spiritual care. Thomas Wyatt --It will never be clear what her relationship was to him and may never will be since many speculations are bias. Enemies: Since the politics of the Tudor court was determined by factions and favourites, Anne's friends and enemies were not constant and was always open to change. Initially her Uncle, The Duke of Norfolk and Thomas Cromwell supported her but this changed and they became instrumental in her demise. She had no fondness for Cardinal Wolsey since he put an end to her Romance with Henry Percy but Wolsey worked in her behalf with regard to "the King's secret matter", when he was unsuccessful, it was his downfall. The catholic faction which supported Katherine of Aragon & Princess Mary were always working against Anne. The Seymour faction which included Thomas & Edward Seymour & Sir Nicholas Carew worked against Anne to make Jane Seymour the next queen. The dynamics of the Tudor court meant that if you were in the King's favour, you were a target for any number of enemies. Mary (Margaret in the show) Tudor who said she was a "vulgar" woman and "usurper". Queen Anne's Household It is estimated that Anne had approximately 60 Ladies-in-waiting (& 250 servants) Including: Lady Margaret Lee Mary Wyatt Lady Bridgett Winfield Elizabeth Holland - the Duke of Norfolk's mistress Margaret Shelton Jane Seymour Lady Worcester - gave evidence against Anne Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford - " Nan Cobham - " Mistress Stonor Mistress Cosyns Interesting facts: - Apart from Katherine of Aragon, Anne was the only one of henry's subsequent wives to have a coronation and be crowned. - Anne was very supportive and even defended the censored writing of Protestant upstarts and yet worshipped as a catholic until her death. - She convinced Henry that the bible should be translated into English and be available to the common people and not just the clergy. - She distributed a fortune in charity among the English people, more that her predecessor Katherine. She even sewed clothing with her own hands to distribute to the poor & personally tended to the ill on her travels. - She had a droll sense of humour and when there were protests to Henry choosing her as queen, for a short time she changed her motto to the Latin equivalent of "Grumble all you like. This is how it's going to be" and this was emblazoned on all her livery. A few weeks later it was removed. - George Wyatt (grandson of Thomas Wyatt) said she had a "double nail" on one of her fingers and suggested she had a large Adam's apple "like a man's". - No heretics were burned during her tenure as queen and in fact she saved the life of one Nicholas Bourbon. -Anne is probably the only person to ever say "no" to the King. - the french swordsman was paid 23 pounds to reduce her suffering to a minimum and he took her head in one try. Executions were routinely botched and often took several strikes to sever the head. Anne was worried about this having witnessed it and it was Henry's last act of "kindness". |
DOWNFALL AND EXECUTION
| Anne's life would soon come to end following the arrest and torture of her musician, Mark Smeaton, sometime in the last week of April, 1536. All accusations were denied (adultery) but he soon confessed under torture. He provided another name, Sir Henry Norris. Henry was arrested on May Day and being an aristocrat and could not be tortured; however, he denied any wrongdoing between himself and the Queen. Sir Francis Weston was arrested two days after Norris on the same charges as the two above-mentioned. William Brereton was arrested shortly after Weston. The final man to be arrested on charges of incest and treason was Anne's own brother, George Boleyn. Two other men were arrested and later released ; Sir Thomas Wyatt & Sir Richard Page. Anne was arrested on May 2, 1536 and taken directly to The Tower. On May 12, 1536, four of the men were tried in Westminster. Norris, Brereton, and Weston maintained their innocence. Only Smeaton confessed to the charges he was accused of committing. Anne and George were tried three days later in The Tower. She was accused of incest, adultery, high treason, and witchcraft. On May 17, 1536, George and the four other men were executed and two days later (May 19, 1536) Anne was beheaded. Her body and head was placed into an arrow chest and buried in the Chapel of St. Peter of Vincula. Anne's Final Speech: "Good Christian people, I am come hither to die, for according to the law, and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it. I am come hither to accuse no man, nor to speak anything of that, whereof I am accused and condemned to die, but I pray God save the king and send him long to reign over you, for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never: and to me he was ever a good, a gentle and sovereign lord. And if any person will meddle of my cause, I require them to judge the best. And thus I take my leave of the world and of you all, and I heartily desire you all to pray for me. O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul." |
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TELEVISION AND MOVIE PORTRAYALS
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  Queen Anne and King Henry VII   Compare and Contrast Natalie to the real Anne Boleyn |    |
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  |  Jonathan Rhys Meyers & Natalie Dormer  |
 David Starkey (Historian) on Anne Boleyn - Part One |  Miniature portrait of Anne Boleyn - a ring that her Daughter Elizabeth 1 wore.  Anne Boleyn Miniature by John Hoskins based on a contemporary portrait & David Starkey (Historian) on Anne Boleyn - Part Two considered by historians to be the most authentic likeness of Anne  Anne Boleyn Miniature by Lucas Horenbout / Horenbolte. This is a rare miniature portrait of Anne Boleyn in her mid-twenties, before she became queen of England. Horenbout also painted miniatures of Henry VIII's other wives. However, Sir Roy Strong, the preeminent authority on 16th century portraiture, has identified the sitter as Anne; note, for instance, that she wears Anne's falcon badge |
| See also: The Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide | |
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