Execution of Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn: the woman who turned the history of an entire country upside down Anne the heroine of the reformation 5 letters

In the early morning of May 19, 1536, a young woman in an ermine robe climbed onto the scaffold, erected opposite the White Tower of the Tower. This was the dethroned wife of Henry III, Anne Boleyn, whose biography became an example of how short the path is from the love of august persons to hatred and from the throne to the chopping block.

The childhood that never happened

The future queen, born in 1501, and so sadly ending her life on a platform damp from the morning dew, came from an ancient and influential family, which included the famous Plantagenets. This alone obliged her to meet the requirements that were presented to the lucky ones, whom fate had prepared to enter the circle of the highest aristocracy. That is why Anna’s childhood, spent in the family castle of Hever, was filled not with games and amusements characteristic of this happy time, but with endless classes with the best mentors of that time.

Anna was eleven years old when she and her younger sister Maria received an invitation to continue their education in Vienna, at a privileged school patronized by Empress Margaret of Austria. After studying for two years and succeeding in studying arithmetic, grammar, foreign languages, dancing and many other disciplines required for girls from high society, which also included horse riding, archery and playing chess, the sisters went to France.

Life at the court of Philip I

They arrived in Paris as part of the retinue of Mary Tudor, sister of Henry VIII. Here the girls complete their education, studying not only the French language, but also comprehending the intricacies of court flirting. Very soon, Anna’s sister, Maria, became so carried away by this science that she did not notice how she ended up among the mistresses of the ardent but fickle King Philip I.

There is reason to believe that Anna herself was faced with the temptation to respond to the love of the crowned seducer, but, as the future showed, she had far-reaching plans, and the role of one of the king’s countless concubines did not at all seduce her. We must pay tribute, she did not waste the years she spent in Paris. Communicating with the most enlightened people of that era, Anna not only acquired a taste for high poetry and literature, but also became imbued with the ideas of religious reformation. Subsequently, it was she who took the initiative to translate the Bible from Latin into English.

Return to London

When relations between England and France deteriorated due to political differences in 1522, Anne returned to London. Here she receives a marriage proposal from her cousin, the Irish aristocrat James Butler, and spends some time as his bride, but then the wedding is upset. Obviously, the reason for this was the exorbitant ambitions of the young girl. By this time, fate is preparing a sharp turn in Anna's life. At the court masquerade, held on March 1, 1522, she was invited to dance by King Henry 8 himself.

King's family problems

By this time, the English monarch was married to. Having ascended the throne after the death of his younger brother Arthur, Henry was forced for political reasons to inherit his wife, the daughter of the King of Spain. However, the marriage was not only unhappy, but also unsuccessful in dynastic terms. During the years of marriage, Catherine was unable to produce an heir to the throne. All of her children died in infancy, with the exception of her only daughter, Mary, the future Queen of England, Mary I.

It is known that King Henry 8th Tudor, who received the throne after a long and bloody War of the Roses, was extremely scrupulous in the matter of succession to the throne. Therefore, even before meeting Anna, he was full of desire to retire his wife, who did not live up to expectations, and enter into a new marriage. This idea was very difficult, since according to church canons, divorce was not allowed, and the Pope would not give his blessing.

Then, having found a formal, but, in his opinion, convincing pretext, the king tried to recognize the marriage itself as illegal and to achieve its annulment. This, to put it mildly, ugly story lasted for several years, and by the time Anne Boleyn danced with him at a festive masquerade, King Henry 8 had managed to send his unfortunate wife to a distant castle and was consoled in the company of several young favorites.

Ambitious maid of honor

He intended to include Anna among them. Recently arrived from France and distinguished by graceful manners, she knew how to captivate the male gaze with the thoughtfulness of her outfit, combining puritanical stiffness with sophisticated coquetry. But, to his amazement, she rejected the gifts and did not allow him to get closer than etiquette allowed. In him, accustomed to female submissiveness, this caused amazement.

However, everything was explained simply: Anna did not want to share the fate of her younger sister Maria, who for a short time became the mistress of Philip I and was soon abandoned by him. This woman knew her worth and played big. When the king spoke to her about his wife’s childlessness, she realized that fate was giving her a chance. Poor Anna, she had no idea that she would become just another chapter of the tragedy, which can be roughly called “The Villain Henry 8 Tudor and his Wives”...

An intrigue that succeeded

Once in France, observing the morals of the Parisian court, Anna was a good student and perfectly mastered the “science of tender passion.” She understood: nothing inflames male ardor more than the visible coldness of the chosen one and the danger of losing her irrevocably. Anna takes a risky, but justified step - she secludes herself in her ancestral castle of Hever for a long time.

When she finally appears in the palace again, the king, exhausted by separation and jealousy, becomes her easy prey. Having lost hope of limiting her presence in the palace only as another favorite, the king in love makes Anna an offer to become his legal wife, and she agrees.

Illegitimate but beloved wife

However, before Henry 8 and Anne Boleyn could marry, the issue with Catherine of Aragon must be resolved. Sent by her husband to a distant estate, she still remains his legal wife and is not going to make any concessions. As mentioned above, the case of recognizing her marriage with the king as invalid dragged on for several years, and for a number of reasons could not be resolved in the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, Anna, introduced into the royal chambers, albeit on illegal grounds, behaved like the true arbiter of the destinies of the state. Having unlimited influence over Henry, she unceremoniously interfered in all state affairs, reshaping them in her own way. Letters from Spanish and French diplomats have been preserved, in which they warned their colleagues that before resolving issues in the English Parliament, it was necessary to obtain Anna's approval.

Church Reformation and its consequences

At this stage, the newly appointed First Advisor to the King, Thomas Cromwell, played an important role in her life. A staunch supporter of the Church Reformation, he managed to convince Henry to free himself from the supremacy of the Pope and proclaim the priority of secular power over ecclesiastical power. This step had far-reaching consequences both for the state, which was no longer under the control of the Holy See, and for the king himself, who was no longer obliged to seek permission to annul the marriage in Rome. Soon the desired document was received.

After the royal marriage was officially declared invalid, Henry 8 and Anne Boleyn got married. At first, this ceremony was performed in secret from outsiders, but on January 25, 1533, when Anna announced her pregnancy to her husband, an official coronation took place, the purpose of which was to give legitimacy to their marriage. A description of the celebration left by one of its participants has been preserved. In it he tells how a wedding procession moved through the streets of London. The bride sat in a gilded palanquin, and the most noble barons held a snow-white canopy over her head.

Thirst for the heir to the throne

From that day on, Henry 8 and Anne Boleyn were busy with one thing - waiting for the birth of an heir to the British crown. In order to remove his wife from the bustle of the court as much as possible, the king settled her in his favorite residence in Greenwich, where she was surrounded by the care of numerous servants. All doctors and astrologers unanimously predicted the birth of a son, but, contrary to expectations, on September 7, 1533, Anna gave birth to a girl named Elizabeth.

This was a considerable disappointment for the spouses and the first step on Anna’s path to the terrible platform that would be built for her opposite the White Tower of the Tower. By this time, Henry’s passion that accompanied the first days of marriage had given way to satiety, followed closely by boredom and hostility towards the woman who had once occupied all his dreams. In addition, the issue with the heir to the throne remained unresolved, and this left an imprint on their relationship.

The story of Anne Boleyn and Henry 8 is entering a completely different phase. The queen understands that she will not be able to return the love of her husband, and therefore she only bets on the opportunity to give birth to his much-desired son. A year later she is pregnant again. The king surrounds her with the same care and showers her with gifts. It seemed like we were back better days their love. But suddenly everything ends. At the end of December 1534 she had a miscarriage.

The death of the last hopes

Having lost hope, he begins to speak openly with those close to him about the divorce. Another misfortune awaits Anna: at this time, a young lady-in-waiting, Jane Seymour, appears at court, taking her place in the king’s heart. The last hope was a new pregnancy, which she informed her husband about after they spent the summer of 1535 together. A few months later, news came of the death of Henry VIII's former wife, Catherine of Aragon.

On a cold January day, during the funeral ceremony for her predecessor, Anna suffered another miscarriage. Perhaps its reason was in the excitement she experienced when, a few days earlier, the king fell from his horse during a tournament, or in the despair that gripped her when she saw the hated Jane Seymour sitting on her husband’s lap. But in any case it was the end.

After the misfortune that happened during the funeral of Margaret of Aragon, Henry 8 and Anne Boleyn actually ceased to be spouses. She was evicted from the royal chambers, which were occupied by a happy rival. Soon Henry declared that he was forced into marriage by the power of witchcraft, and therefore considers it invalid.

Alone among countless enemies

Here it is appropriate to recall the name which, according to researchers, could provoke the fall and subsequent execution of the queen. It was he who initiated the Reformation of the Church, which was then carried out by Henry 8. England left the influence of Rome, and as a result, significant church revenues were confiscated. Anna demanded that they be used for charity, and Cromwell demanded that the money be transferred to the treasury, with significant amounts retained in his favor. On this basis, a deadly enmity arose between them.

To eliminate the disgraced queen and gain the opportunity to enter into a new marriage, Henry 8 Tudor accused his wife of treason. Since the king was the personification of the nation, in this case adultery was legally equated with high treason and punishable by death. Men from her inner circle were named as lovers. Their confessions were not the issue - they were obtained with the help of experienced executioners.

At the beginning of May 1536, Anne Boleyn was also taken to one of the Tower cells. England reacted to her arrest without sympathy, since she did not enjoy the slightest popularity among the people. The prisoner understood that the upcoming trial would be demonstrative and formal, so she had no doubt about the sentence that would be given to her.

The last morning of her life

The execution of Anne Boleyn was scheduled for May 19, but two days before that, Tower constable William Kingston reported to the king that the condemned woman was ready to humbly accept the fate in store for her. It is difficult to say whether mercy stirred in the chest of Henry VIII or whether he was guided by other feelings, but at the last moment he replaced the burning at the stake, customary in such cases, by cutting off his head with a sword. Humanity sometimes has the most unexpected manifestations.

Early in the morning of that fateful day when the sentence was to be carried out, there was excitement under the arches of the Tower. Bishop Boleyn arrived here, despite the inopportune hour, and confessed Anna in the presence of the constable. In the face of imminent death, she swore on the Bible that she had never committed adultery. But this could no longer affect her fate. Those who admitted to being her lovers in the hands of the executioner were executed two days ago. Following them, Anne Boleyn was to die. The biography of this woman was coming to its sad end.

So, let's return to the scene with which this story began. A woman in an ermine robe climbed onto the scaffold built near the White Tower of the Tower. It was the now former Queen of England, Anne Boleyn. The Tudors, when cutting off the heads of convicts, carried out this procedure with the ax adopted in such cases, but in this case, Henry VIII ordered chopping with a sword. I had to call a specialist from France, since there was no such skill among my executioners.

When Anna said goodbye to several ladies-in-waiting who had found the courage to escort her to last way, her robe was taken off, and her hair was tucked under her headdress. The constable blindfolded Anna and helped her to her knees. The Frenchman did not disappoint and completed his job with one swift blow. The members of the Council of State, led by Thomas Cromwell, who were present as witnesses to the execution and standing around the platform, began to silently disperse. As a contemporary wrote, some of them looked like people who had just committed a crime.

The death of the old schemer

Henry 8, whose biography is replete with marital tragedies, outlived Anne Boleyn by eleven years. In 1547 he died, suffering from excessive obesity. and the voluptuous man became so fat that he could only move with the help of special devices. They say that this was retribution for everything he had done during his life.

Henry 8 Tudor and his wives, of whom he had six, subsequently became the material for the plots of countless novels and plays. This is not surprising, because he divorced two of them, executed the other two, one died herself, but at a very strange circumstances and only the last of them was destined to outlive her husband.

Ann Bolein. Queen for 1000 days.

10 Interesting facts about Anne Boleyn.

The queen who changed the course English history, a woman who was able to charm a king who had been married for almost 20 years... and dared to set her own rules for religion.

1) Even the exact age of Anna’s birth is unknown. Some historians indicate the date 1499, which refers to the 15th century, while others... tend to believe that this was the period from 1502-1507. (16th century). Anna was born in England (Hever)
One can only guess about the real date of birth of the queen.

2) Anne Boleyn is a woman who changed the history of an entire country. Anna was a staunch Protestant. At that time, the bulk of Europe was under the rule of the Roman Catholic Church.

3) Anne was the second and most famous of Henry VIII's wives
The first meeting between Anna and the English king was a reception in honor of the Spanish ambassadors in 1522. At that time, Anna was about 14 years old.

By this time, the king’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon had already lasted 13 years (since 1509). Accumulated mutual claims and fatigue. Henry VIII constantly blamed his wife for her inability to bear him an heir.
Anna's next return to court dates back to 1525-1526. The king renewed his courtship. But the girl was in no hurry to respond to his attempts at rapprochement. She did not want the fate of her mistress.
And Henry, increasingly tormented by the desire to get an heir (by this time he had a daughter, Maria, who later received the nickname bloody), decided to offer Anna not the status of a favorite, but the status of a wife and queen.

4) Many women gossiped about the amazing girl who managed to melt the king’s heart, a girl who, although not possessing dazzling beauty, knew how to seduce and lead men.
She was even credited with having 6 fingers on her hand and a third breast.

5) The seven-year battle for marriage.
After official proposal Anna and Henry needed to get a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The Catholic Church, led by the Pope, was categorically against this.
Then the king created the Church of England, independent of Catholicism.

6) In 1533, Anna pleased the king with the long-awaited news of pregnancy. And on January 25, 1533... in the strictest confidence... King Henry VIII of England and Anne Boleyn got married.
But the king’s new wife turned out to be not as accommodating as Catherine. The wayward Anna began to establish her own rules, promoting and introducing Protestantism everywhere.

7) Dreams about the birth of an heir soon dissipated when Anna gave birth to a girl. The girl was named Elizabeth.
(The age of Elizabeth's reign is called the "Golden Age of England").
The relationship between the king and Anne Boleyn cooled. Henry VIII began to actively court one of his ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour. Despite this, Anna becomes pregnant for the second time. But the situation is aggravated by the fact that the child is stillborn.

8) Then the king finally decides to get rid of Anna, accuses her of treason... and takes her into custody in the Tower.

9) The show trial of Anna took place on May 19, 1536. Anna was beheaded with a sword. The king considered this a more humane execution... since... an ax would cause more pain. And the executioner was specially discharged from France.
Anna spoke about it this way: “I heard that the executioner is a skilled person, and my neck is thin.” Before last breath Anna behaved with dignity.

10) Last words Anna before her execution began: “I will die according to the law. I am not here to accuse anyone or talk about what I am accused of. But I pray to God that he will save the king and his reign, for there never was a kinder prince, and to me he has always been a most gentle and worthy lord and sovereign. I say goodbye to the world and from the bottom of my heart I ask you to pray for me.”
After which, the former queen fell to her knees... and said: “Jesus, accept my soul. O almighty God, sorrow for my soul,” and was beheaded to the amusement of the crowd.

P.S Just 10 days after the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry marries Jane Seymour.

“I have now fully experienced your good deeds. I was nothing; you made me a lady of state, a marquise, a queen; and when it was no longer possible to completely exalt me ​​on earth, you make me a saint.” (lines of Anne Boleyn's last letter to the King)

Anne Boleyn is usually portrayed as either an evil bitch or an unfortunate victim treacherous husband. The first looks impressive on the screen, the second is the result of “cleansing” of historical chronicles and active PR of Elizabethan times. Queen Elizabeth's mother, by definition, could not be considered a witch, a devil or a courtesan. After all, she is the mother of the sovereign, the head of the church, God’s anointed. Thus, during the reign of Elizabeth, the courtiers, who still remembered Anna and had their own opinion, could think whatever they wanted to themselves, but officially Anna became a martyr and an innocent victim.

Elizabeth treated her mother's memory with reverence. Not only because she had to constantly prove the legitimacy of her birth, which was regularly called into question, but also because with the death of her mother, her life turned from the life of a crown princess into the life of a bastard. Not a long and happy childhood is over. Can we talk about deep affection for a woman who disappeared from the child’s life when he was three years old? Did she remember her? But the depth of feelings is invariably evidenced by the ring that Elizabeth wore on her finger. It was a ring with a secret - if you carefully pressed the secret lock, the signet on the ring opened, and two portraits were hidden there - the queen and her mother, Anne Boleyn.

Anna had a complex character. She was capable of strong feelings. And she knew how to hide them. This skill failed her after the birth of her child, when she found herself in danger and could not protect herself. And could she?

The chain of events in her life says a lot about the character of this woman.

Portrait of Henry by Holbein andportrait of Anna: unknown artist, probably 1525

The exact date of her birth is unknown. Historians call the period from 1501 to 1507. Anna was born in noble family, her mother belonged to the Gjward clan - one of the most influential and ancient families England.

It is known that Anna and her brother George received an excellent education at home. And in 1514, the girl went to France in the retinue of the king’s sister Mary, who became the French queen. It is not known what exactly happened there, but Mary Tudor hated Anne until her death, and when Mary, after the sudden death of her crowned husband, returned to England as the wife of Lord Suffolk, Anne remained at court in France for several more years.

Anna spent nine years abroad. There she grew up, learned graceful manners, dancing, learned all the fashionable lessons and, most importantly, learned to masterfully flirt and attract men.

The girl returned to England in 1520. Anna was already about 20, it was time to marry her off, which is what her parents tried to do. At first she was matched to a certain Piers Butler, but something didn’t work out.

The first meeting of Anna and the king is considered to be a reception in honor of the Spanish ambassadors in 1522. The girl was young, beautiful, flirtatious, stood out against the background of the ladies-in-waiting of Queen Catherine of Aragon, who adhered to strict principles and morals, and monitored the moral character of her court. No, it's not that Anna was slutty. But she was beautifully dressed, knew how to skilfully carry on a conversation, played the musical instruments, sang, and flirted recklessly.

And then she met Henry Percy, and they seemed to really fall in love. Or he fell in love, and she really wanted to become a countess. But the marriage of Henry Percy was a dynastic issue, it had to be agreed upon long and tediously, and Percy was also going to marry the daughter of George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, in general, everything was very complicated, but Anne Boleyn was not suitable for Percy’s relatives. One way or another, Henry had to marry Talbot’s daughter, because Henry VIII had already paid attention to Anna by that time, and he did not need rivals.

Anna was furious and vowed to take cruel revenge on Cardinal Wolsey, who took an active part in arranging the marriage of her lover to another. Shrew was sent home to Hever, there were rumors about secret marriage, but whether he was or not, we don’t know.

When her engagement to Percy was called off, Anna realized that her wishes were not worth it. pennies in a world where men rule, and all men are king. There will not be a wedding so desirable for her, which could elevate her and her family. Will be short novel the king with her (after all, by refusing, she would put her entire family at risk), and then - what? Possible birth of a bastard, dishonor, fading of the king's interest in her, and a quick wedding with some minor nobleman who would ban her from his estate, she would give birth to a child a year. And goodbye to youth, goodbye to brilliant ambitions, goodbye to the royal court. This is exactly how the life of her sister turned out, who obediently ascended to Henry’s bed. Was she then born into this world, and then did she shine for so many years at the French court?

Mademoiselle Anna was not happy with such a future. Vengefulness and wounded pride forced her to shout out to Cardinal Wolsey, who contributed to the breaking of the engagement with Percy, that she would not forgive him and would see his fall and would cause him the same pain that he was causing her. And she will achieve her goal - Wolsey will fall not without her help. Yes, Anna was vindictive.

The return to the court occurred in 1526. Henry began to actively court the girl. She rejected his advances. This came as a surprise to Heinrich. He was 35 years old at that time, he had a wife who bore him 8 children, of whom only one girl survived - Princess Mary. He had many mistresses, among whom was Anna’s sister, Maria.

Anna could have become the king's mistress. But you didn’t want to? Who would ask her... A brilliant mind, a fair amount of self-confidence and ambition told her that she could sell herself at a higher price. You can have everything. Crown.

And then she behaved very correctly. She either let Henry come to her or pushed him away, promised him a son, but refused to be close to him. The king's courtship continued for more than a year. During this time, his feelings from the desire to possess a beautiful and colorful toy turn into a deep feeling of affection.

King - what about the king? Then he was still a man in the prime of his life, possessing a fair amount of attractiveness, which was emphasized not only by the crown on his head. Although the crown too. Significantly emphasized, I must say. Married... so what if he's married. This hasn't stopped anyone yet. This fact was especially of little concern to the king himself when he was flirting with a young lady-in-waiting, when he sent her passionate letters and expensive gifts.

She sent the gifts back. Which surprised the king in the least. You see, he’s going broke, and some girl refuses him. But she refused him without offending his feelings, explaining that her pure and immaculate love for him could not find a way out, as long as the king had nothing to offer her except bodily pleasures. And she cherishes his beautiful and pure soul, which rightfully belongs to his wife. But it belongs to the wife - formally, because the marriage of Henry and Catherine is illegal. Catherine was his brother’s wife for several years, that is, the sister of Henry himself. So what if the Pope gave permission for this marriage, before God they are still almost relatives, God does not encourage such a union, therefore it jeopardizes the future of the dynasty, the future of England, depriving the king of an heir. And the king may have an heir - after all, his concubines gave birth to boys. Why not be an heir in a legal marriage? No, they cannot test this theory, because if Anna has a son, and he will definitely be born, if Henry ends up in her bed, he will not be legitimate, not an heir. But England doesn’t need this goodness. Moreover, Anna doesn’t need it.

The French cap, which Anna brought into fashion in England, the English cap and the Spanish cap (these were worn by Catherine of Aragon)

In order to slowly and persistently introduce these thoughts into the consciousness of Henry, who is extremely religious, who was prepared for religious life until he became heir, to develop them, to present them as his own, not only special female wisdom is needed, but also a fair amount of patience and extreme caution. And in order to maintain passion for six years in a man who refuses nothing, is capricious and spoiled, without giving him anything in return except spiritual and emotional food, considerable art of seduction, seduction and persuasion is required.

The influence she had on him cannot be explained only by appearance. She did not meet the standards of beauty of that time; she was short, dark-skinned, and dark-haired. In 1532, a year before she became queen, new ambassador Venice in England wrote: "...Not the most beautiful woman in the world. Medium build, dark skin, long neck, large mouth, not high chest; in general, nothing special - except that she aroused the king's interest. And the eyes - black beautiful eyes<…>».

Portrait unknown artist, probably 1533-1536 and miniature by John Hawkins

But the very graceful, thin, “little Boleyn” managed to get the king to marry her. There were many political motives in his break with the Catholic Church, but it is unknown whether he would have decided on this if he had not dreamed of how “little Boleyn” would give him an heir?

Calculating and smart, cunning, stopping at nothing, not afraid of God or the devil, Anna becomes the Queen of England. Formally, eight months pass between the birth of Elizabeth and the wedding. They say that Anna conceived a child before she was Henry’s wife. But he has considered her his wife for a long time; these are little things that do not matter to happy spouses.

I will not go into the details of his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, his break with the Pope, and the beginning of the Reformation.

On January 25, 1533, Henry VIII secretly married Anne Boleyn. In September of the same year, Anna gave birth to a girl - the future Queen of England Elizabeth I. Henry was disappointed and angry. Almost 8 years have passed since he began caring for Anna. Henry is tired. He tried so hard, but the woman failed him again. Apparently God doesn’t like this marriage of his either, since he didn’t give him an heir.

And the child turns out to be a girl. But they promised him a boy. And then - a miscarriage, then another. Anna is in despair. Her position is so precarious - the king is no longer so attached to her, he begins to pay attention to other women, and at court there are so many beautiful and young women who, using the example of Anna herself, saw that nothing is impossible, that any of them can become a queen England. But the worst thing is not this. The worst thing is that Henry VIII realized that anyone could be made queen.

After all the miscarriages, after all Anna’s hysterics and reproaches of infidelity thrown at the king, who, by the way, was not getting any younger, his character was getting worse (which was greatly influenced by a leg injury, gluttony and, probably, incipient impotence), a crisis ensued. Just as passionately as he had once loved, he now hated her. In his mind, it was she who became the culprit in the death of his first wife, it was she who became the culprit of the unrest in the country, it was she who became the culprit in the death of his adviser and friend Thomas More.

Henry was generally not very consistent. He quickly caught fire, gave orders for the execution of those close to him, and then became sad and regretted what he had done. So, after the execution of Cromwell, he shouted that his adviser was slandered, that he was forced to execute his best minister. It was always the fault of those around him, but never His Majesty.

Sketch of Holbein the Younger and portrait based on the sketch

After giving birth, something happened to Anna. She always read her moves so skillfully, always achieved her goal. Confidence left her. She begins to realize that the king is no longer so passionate about her. And, having become the head of the Church of England, the king can easily get rid of his new queen. She untied his hands herself. The king is tired of the eccentric and passionate Anna.

The spouses' relationship deteriorated sharply. Henry began to pay attention to Anna's maid of honor - Jane Seymour; Anna staged scenes of jealousy, became hysterical, and did not give birth to a boy. The new pregnancy ended in miscarriage. It is believed that Anne saw Jane on Henry’s lap and tore a necklace with a miniature portrait of the king from her new favorite’s neck.

Anna had several more miscarriages, and in 1536 she gave birth to a meter-long boy.

Henry was categorically unhappy with the lack of a male heir. Now we understand that the problem is genetic - the Tudors constantly had difficulties with childbearing, miscarriages, difficult pregnancies and rarely had boys.

Henry believed that women were to blame for everything. Well, they don’t want to give him a boy, bitches, and that’s all. There was another argument - if God does not want to reward him with an heir in this marriage, then something is wrong with the marriage and an urgent need to change his wife.

That same year, Anne finally quarreled with the king's minister, Cromwell. The king was already ready to get rid of his queen. He just needed an excuse. And specially trained people found this excuse.

Anne Boleyn jewelry replicas

Hatred of Anna, fueled by those who were not happy with her rise at court, quickly turned into a very significant accusation of treason. But not only treason, but also witchcraft, high treason and incestuous relations with one’s own brother.

She bewitched the king and forced him to divorce the kind and beautiful Catherine of Aragon. She deprived the king of his male power. She lured the king into the net of heresy and deprived his pure soul of peace. It was even rumored that she had a sixth finger, two fused toes, membranes between her toes, and her body was covered with huge moles that she hid.

All the gossip spread by envious people and enemies at court acquired the force of an irrefutable and proven fact. Did the king believe what he once accused the woman he loved? Perhaps he believed it. He was refused for so many years, he was made henpecked in the eyes of Europe, he was cheated on, and maybe even before the wedding. Yes, he was simply bewitched! Otherwise, how could he leave his only legitimate wife, Catherine? Of course he was bewitched.

According to prosecutors, Anna slept with the musician Smithton, with the courtier Henry Norris, the poet Thomas Wyeth, and most surprisingly, with her brother George. Everyone confessed, everyone. Under torture they would confess to anything. Everyone was executed. Only the poet Wyeth was released.

And how could the king doubt it - after all, those with whom Anna cheated on him admitted everything. So what, under torture. After all, no one lies under torture.

It was especially convenient to believe this when his gaze fell on the beautiful and modest Jane Seymour, the complete opposite of his wife and Queen Anne.

The queen was arrested after a magnificent tournament, at which the king smiled at her, she laughed, flirted with the courtiers, and distributed honors to the winners of the tournament.

Did Anna cheat on Henry? Not known. Historians are still arguing about this, and even a year ago they found some lost sonnet, from which it supposedly follows that yes, she cheated. I'm inclined to think that she had no time for cheating. She had too many worries. And he is not the type to seek carnal pleasures and risk the crown for them. And Henry was still in the prime of his life, he was not yet fat, his leg had not yet festered. In his youth he was considered very handsome.

The British Library contains the book of hours that Henry gave to Anne. It contains messages from Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn to each other:

“If in your prayers you remember my love, as much as I adore you, I will hardly be forgotten, because I am yours.Henry R. forever” (“If you remember my love in your prayers as strongly as I adore you, I shall hardly be forgotten, for I am yours. Henry R. forever”).AnnawroteanswerunderminiatureAnnunciation: "INconfirmation, dayotodaylovingAndtenderYouyou'll findme“(“By daily proof you shall find me To be to you both loving and kind”).

At dawn on May 2, Boleyn, accompanied by hostile guards, arrived at the Tower. There she was met by the Commandant of the Tower, Kingston. Anna begged to be allowed to meet the king. The queen became hysterical. Everything she shouted was carefully recorded and passed on to Cromwell. Then he brilliantly used these words in his guilty verdict.

Years after the execution, a witness to the last meeting between Anne and Henry wrote to Elizabeth : “Alas, I will never forget the painful feeling that I experienced when I saw the righteous king Eve, Your mother, having raised you, still a child, in her arms, stood on her knees before the most merciful of rulers, yourtheir father, and he was looking through the window somewhere into the distance...”

How did Anna, smart and calculating everything five steps at a time, allow this to happen? It seems that after the birth of a child and several miscarriages, her essence underwent changes. She was afraid, she was disappointed, because the crown did not bring her the alluring happiness, and yet, she was completely alone. There were no people nearby whom she could trust, no people who could protect her. Moreover, a daughter appeared in her life, whose interests she, in turn, had to protect and put above her own.

Why didn't Henry divorce Anna like he divorced Catherine? Firstly, after being accused of treason against him, as a man, and the state, in his person, she betrayed England. Having believed in his own accusations, he could no longer forgive her. This is how wine becomes vinegar, and fierce love becomes no less fierce hatred. Secondly, even if Henry offered Anna a divorce, she would have rejected him, because she would have made her daughter illegitimate. The path to the crown for Elizabeth would have been cut off forever.

Anne's execution was the only way out that would satiate Henry's hatred. The irony of fate is that Anne’s judges were those whom she so defended during her lifetime - her former lover Henry Percy and her uncle the Duke of Norfolk.

Anna was sentenced to death. Henry relented and summoned an executioner from Calais. The queen should have had her head cut off with a sword, not burned at the stake. Anna, hearing this, laughed and said: “I heard he’s a good master, it won’t be difficult for him - I have such a thin neck.”

May 19, 1536. The scaffold was covered with black material. The sword is hidden between the boards. The execution was closed; foreign ambassadors were not allowed into the Tower courtyard. Anna ascended the scaffold and said : “I will die according to the law. I am not here to accuse anyone or talk about what I am accused of. But I pray to God that he will save the king and his reign, for there never was a kinder prince, and to me he has always been a most gentle and worthy lord and sovereign. I say goodbye to the world and from the bottom of my heart I ask you to pray for me."

Having received the news of the execution, the king, who was impatiently awaiting it, shouted cheerfully: “The job is done! Let the dogs go, let's have fun!" Eleven days later he marries Jane Seymour.

When I think about this story, it seems to me that it was at that time, the time of his love for Anna, that the king went crazy. And it was the execution of Anne Boleyn that made him a tyrant for the whole country. From that moment on, he allowed himself everything. And no one could contradict the king. Great and crazy.

And I also think that the king knew that all the accusations against his “little Boleyn” were lies and falsification. But he came up with it himself and convinced himself of their validity. Another manifestation of madness.

Oh, if Anna had given birth to a boy... Then Henry would not have had these doubts. He would be happy father, the richest ruler in Europe, the strongest sovereign. He would have someone to hand over the throne to. But a girl was born. Another girl.

Mad and unhappy, Henry will doubt all his life. Was the marriage of Catherine of Aragon and his brother Arthur really over, or did he marry a virgin? Did he legally become the head of the English church, is this pleasing to the Almighty, or is this just a politically advantageous position? Was his marriage with Anna legal, for which the Pope never gave permission.

And all his life he would be haunted by the ghost of Anna, who, in the depths of his soul, he knew, was not guilty of what he accused her of. All his life he will run away from her image, only once captivated by a woman similar in appearance to her - Catherine Howard (Anna's cousin), who was really guilty of treason, of which he accused the one who alone gave birth to the real heir to his Kingdom.

After becoming Queen of England, Elizabeth I destroyed all incriminating documentary evidence in her mother's case.

Ann Bolein. Second woman in English history to be crowned without being crown princess. The woman who led England to the Anglican faith. Elizabeth's mother. An amazing and sad fate.

“No, Henry, we don’t live in paradise! In a mad state, the king has the right to be mad. You called me not to be your wife, but to the throne! Let me go like a queen. And if you value me even a little, don’t humiliate me by admitting something that you yourself know I’m not guilty of.” (G. Gorin)

King Henry had favorites. As a rule, he took on new lovers during his wife’s pregnancy. For Catherine of Aragon this was not news, and she turned a blind eye to such pranks of her husband. One of these favorites was the sister of the future queen, Mary Boleyn. Anna and Maria came from an old family, their family occupied a high position in the circles of the English aristocracy. Both girls were raised at the court of Queen Claude of France. There they studied language, dance, etiquette, singing, literature, music, religion and philosophy. Maria left the French court before Anna, most likely in connection with a sex scandal. Anna had to return to England in 1522 after relations between the two powers cooled. Henry's first meeting with her occurred, presumably, at the same time.

Anne Boleyn: the Queen's new lady-in-waiting

Returning to England, Anna was presented to the court, where she had great success. She was well educated, attractive, and knew how to carry on a conversation. Not much is known for certain about Boleyn’s personality; the characteristics that were awarded to her in books and films are mostly speculation. The queen's appearance is also described very differently. Thus, Catholic propagandist Nicholas Sanders claimed that Anna had 6 fingers on one hand, as well as a huge wart on her neck. It is not surprising that such a demonic appearance is contained in the description of an ardent Catholic preacher. In other sources there are much more prosaic notes. Anna was of average height, fragile build, with dark hair, olive skin and deep brown, almost black, eyes. She looked more French than English, with her milky skin and blue eyes.

At the English court, Count Henry Percy courted Anna; the lovers wanted to get married, but the engagement was terminated by their parents, perhaps not without the participation of the king himself. Anna was sent to the family estate. She returned back to the court only in 1526 as a maid of honor to Catherine of Aragon.

It is not known exactly how and when Henry became interested in Anna; most likely, he paid attention to her during one of the court holidays. The king showed Anna signs of attention, sending expensive gifts and Love letters, in which he openly offered to become his mistress, but was refused. One day the king sent as a gift a gold pendant in the shape of a whistle and a touching note: “If you whistle, I will come running.” Anna gently rejected advances and teased Henry: she only wanted to be a wife, but not a mistress.

Henry and Catherine of Aragon: divorce

The same pendant in the shape of a whistle. (wikipedia.org)

Henry had long been looking for a reason to dissolve his marriage with Catherine of Aragon and take new wife, which he hoped would bring him an heir. Having received Anna's consent, the king decided to turn to the Vatican with a request to annul his union with Catherine. Cardinal Thomas Wolsey was entrusted with this issue. As the main argument, the cardinal was going to use the fact that, the king and Catherine, ex-wife the late brother of the sovereign were considered relatives, and therefore Pope Julius II did not have to give consent to this union. In May 1527, the first court hearing took place, which did not bring the desired results: the jury demanded a theological examination, which was supposed to confirm or refute the legality of the marriage.

Meanwhile, Catherine herself did not even want to hear about the annulment of the marriage, or about voluntarily going to a monastery. In this case, in addition to the loss of the title and all bonuses due, her own daughter- Mary Tudor - would have lost the right to claim the throne and would have been declared a bastard. Catherine's nephew, Charles V, takes Pope Clement VII prisoner, and therefore the issue of Henry's divorce is postponed indefinitely. However, the pope, one way or another, refused the king of England.

It is believed that it was Anne Boleyn who pushed Henry to break off relations with the Catholic Church and make England independent of the power of the pope. Most likely, her influence on the king is somewhat exaggerated: Henry himself was not satisfied with the position of a vassal of the Vatican. However, now he had another good reason - the long-awaited marriage with Boleyn. His new adviser, Thomas Cromwell, a supporter of the Reformation, also pushed the king to take this decisive step.

Portrait of Henry and Anna. (wikipedia.org)

In 1531, Catherine was removed from the palace, and her chambers were given to Anna. A year later, the secret wedding of the lovers took place, future queen was already pregnant. The new Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared Henry's previous marriage illegal and recognized the new union. The official wedding took place in London on January 25, 1533. That same year, Pope Clement VII excommunicated Henry from the church.

Queen Anne

On September 7, 1533, Princess Elizabeth was born. Henry was disappointed. The feast prepared in honor of the birth of the heir had to be cancelled. However, the king was still under the influence of Anna’s spell, and therefore decided to secure Elizabeth’s position by depriving his first daughter, Mary, of all possible privileges. In 1534, the Vatican issues a papal bull, which states that Henry’s marriage to Catherine is considered legal, and therefore the king of England must return to his “legitimate” wife. In response to this attack, the English parliament adopted the First Act of Succession to the Throne, according to which Mary was declared illegitimate and deprived of all rights to the throne. Elizabeth becomes the heir.

What about the new queen? Anna bathes in luxury and is never denied anything. Its staff of servants was expanded to 250 people. She spends England's money on clothes, hats, fashionable furniture, horses, and jewelry. The people treated the new queen with more than restraint, if not hostility. It is believed that Anna took an active part in state affairs almost on a par with Henry: she met with ambassadors and diplomats, attended official events and presented petitions. Anna, of course, had influence on the king, but it is unlikely that she conducted really vigorous political activity.

At the end of 1534, Anna had a miscarriage. The relationship between spouses is cracking. The fickle Heinrich is already thinking about a new divorce. At the same time, to Anna's great displeasure, he welcomes new favorites. The monarch's wife sometimes has to put up with her husband's infidelity and pacify a woman's pride. But Anna was not fully ready for such a role. She is jealous and openly expresses her complaints to Henry, which infuriates her husband. The couple separates, however, not for long.

Henry's love letter to Anna. (wikipedia.org)

In 1535, Anna became pregnant again. She understands the fragility of her position and desperately wants to give birth to an heir for Henry. But, alas, a miscarriage occurs. By that time, the king had already found a new favorite - Jane Seymour, Boleyn's maid of honor.

It becomes obvious: the fall of Anna and her entire family is inevitable. The king's wife was accused of witchcraft, treason and incest. At the trial, Boleyn behaved with restraint and calmly denied all charges. However, she was found guilty and sentenced to death penalty through cutting off the head.

A sword was chosen as a tool instead of the usual axe. It is believed that this was the last “mercy” shown by the king to his disgraced wife. While imprisoned, preparing for execution, Anna writes to Henry last letter, where she assures him of her love and devotion. Nevertheless, on May 19, 1536, the sentence was carried out, and on May 20, the King of England secretly became engaged to his new wife, Jane Seymour.

Queen Consort Anne Boleyn was born in 1501 (some sources give the year 1507). During her marriage to the reigning king of England, the future queen was born. Thanks to this union, Boleyn became key figure at the beginning of the reform movements in England.

Childhood and youth

Anne Boleyn comes from a noble family. The father of the future Queen Consort was Sir Thomas Boleyn, who was later given the title of Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde. Anna's mother, Lady Elizabeth Howard, belongs to an old aristocratic family. All their lives the Boleyn family was at the English court. Thus, Thomas regularly traveled abroad on diplomatic missions from King Henry VIII. The ruler appreciated his skills and knowledge of several foreign languages. Mother worked as a maid of honor under Elizabeth of York and Catherine of Aragon.

The Boleyn family had their own estate, which was located in Blickling, Norfolk. In England, the family was among the most respected among the aristocracy. The noble origins in the future did not go unnoticed. Anna grew up with her brothers and sister Maria. The children spent their childhood at Hever Castle, Kent. I wonder what elementary education the future queen consort received money differently from what was customary in her class. My father went to Brussels on a diplomatic mission. A year later, the sisters were invited to the school taught by Margarita of Austria.

Anne Boleyn was taught reading, grammar, arithmetic, spelling, family genealogy, household management, foreign languages, needlework, singing, dancing, good manners and music. It was normal for a girl from a noble family to learn the basics of horse riding, playing chess or cards, and archery. Young Anna charmed Margaret of Austria. The ruler soon invites the girl to the court, calling 12-year-old Boleyn “la petite Boulin” (little Boleyn).

Anne's parents plan to move to Paris, so Anne and Mary end up in the retinue of Princess Mary Tudor. It was planned that the sister of King Henry VIII would marry the French King Louis XII, but due to his venerable age, the ruler dies. The widow Mary Tudor returned to England, and Anne Boleyn continues to live at the court of King Francis I. For 7 years, the girl acted as maid of honor to Queen Claude of France. This helped Boleyn complete her education.

Life at court

In 1522, Anne had to return to England due to growing tensions in relations with France. The first appearance at the court of Henry VIII happened in the same year. Spanish ambassadors were received in York. For this purpose, they organized a unique performance “Chateau Vert” (in the lane “Green Castle”). Anna played the role of Perseverance in this performance. In company with other ladies, including Mary Boleyn, as well as younger sister King Mary, Anna performed an aerial dance.

Day by day, the girl's popularity increased. People who met Anna were impressed by her sophistication, pleasant voice, lightness, energy and cheerfulness. The girl liked the attention of fans, but did not show it. Anna did not want rumors about extramarital affairs to circulate around her name, as was the case with Maria. The girl was credited with an affair with King Francis I and some courtiers of the French court. Already in England, Boleyn's sister was Henry Tudor's concubine.

Queen Consort

The story of the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn looks like a fascinating love story. For the first time the king and the future queen consort met at one of the special occasions in 1522. The ruler did not show feelings and emotions until 1526. Henry Tudor had been married to Catherine of Aragon for 17 years, but her wife never produced an heir.

From the moment of her appearance at the English court, Anna managed to become engaged to Count Henry Percy. The wedding did not take place due to the reluctance of the lovers' parents. There is an opinion that the King of England had a hand in canceling the marriage: he really liked Anne Boleyn. For several years the girl lived on the family estate. It was only in 1526 that she became a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon and returned to the royal court.

From that time on, Anne Boleyn became the object of Henry's passion, who sent her expensive gifts, love letters with offers to become his mistress. The girl was categorical and gave a negative answer. Anna did not want to be a mistress, she wanted to become a wife. The marriage to Catherine of Aragon was bursting at the seams. The king was dissatisfied with the lack of an heir and often cheated on her with his favorites. The wife knew about this, but turned a blind eye.

The love that flared up for Anna forced Henry VIII to turn to the Vatican with a demand to annul the union with Catherine. A special examination was required, since the king insisted on the illegality of the marriage due to family ties with his wife. Catherine was categorically against divorce. She did not like the future in the monastery. This meant that the woman would lose her title and other bonuses, and her daughter Mary Tudor would become a bastard. Catherine of Aragon persuaded her nephew to take the Pope hostage. Henry VIII had to postpone the issue of divorce.

Perhaps this situation pushed the King of England to break off relations with the Catholic Church. Now the country has ceased to depend on the decisions of the pope. Researchers believe literature may have exaggerated Anne Boleyn's influence on Henry VIII. By 1531, the king resettles Catherine. Anna appears in the palace instead. Secretly from everyone, the lovers get married a year later. Soon the couple has a child - daughter Elizabeth. Henry was disappointed in what had happened. Only Boleyn's spell helped preserve the union and keep the child safe.

The king strips his first daughter of her titles and privileges. The act of succession to the throne states that Mary is an illegitimate child, and therefore has no right to claim the throne. Newly crowned Queen Anne Boleyn plunges into the world of luxury. The king does not deny his beloved anything. For her sake, the staff of servants was increased to 250 people. The budget of England allocates money for expensive Jewelry, new furniture, hats, dresses, even horses. Anna does not delight the English people with her extravagance.

Politics intrudes into Boleyn's life. The girl helps her husband with government affairs, meets with ambassadors and diplomats. Happiness does not last long: a year after the birth of her daughter, Anna has a miscarriage. This undermined the relationship between the spouses. Heinrich again begins to think about divorce, new favorites.

Boleyn does not intend to hide her emotions. The Queen Consort actively expresses her indignation. This led to the temporary separation of the spouses. The new pregnancy failed - there was a miscarriage. The desire to give birth to an heir does not leave Anna. But the king had already decided everything. The ruler now has a favorite - Jane Seymour. Previously, the girl was Anne Boleyn's maid of honor.

Personal life

Anne Boleyn attracted the attention of men with her eccentricity and energy. The girl's first admirer was Henry Percy. The man was the Earl of Northumberland. He was in the service of Cardinal Wolsey. Passion captured the lovers. At some point, young people decide to get married.

Opposed Wolsey's union. The cardinal treated the Boleyn family with disdain, and the king spoke categorically. Percy fought to the last for the happiness of being Anna's husband, but all attempts were in vain. Now Boleyn was already expressing dissatisfaction, whose independence they tried to challenge.

Anna's biography lists another suitor - the poet Thomas Wyatt. For a long time young people enjoyed talking about creativity and other exciting things. Thomas was struck by Boleyn's sensuality and passion. Wyatt was married at that moment, so Anna did not experience any special feelings towards the man in love. The role of a mistress was disgusting to the girl.

Death

The inability to give birth to an heir put Anna's life at risk. Accusations of treason, including state treason, rained down on the girl. Crimes were punished strictly - the perpetrators were executed. Boleyn's lovers included friends - Henry Norris, William Brerton, Francis Weston, Mark Smeaton, even sibling George. All the men interrogated unanimously insisted that they were trying to slander Anna. But those who wanted to get Boleyn out of the way had a different opinion on this matter.

In 1536, Anna was arrested and taken to the Tower, where the girl was held last days life. On May 12, 1536, Boleyn's four "lovers" were convicted. Only one of them admitted guilt. And on May 15, Anna and George appeared in court. Despite the fact that Boleyn denied all the affairs attributed to her, the peers considered the girl guilty of incest, infidelity and high treason. In accordance with official documents Anna was supposed to burn at the stake, but the ex-queen is sentenced to death by beheading.

An executioner is called from France. On May 19, 1536, a girl climbs to the scaffold. The mantle with the ermine is taken from Anna, and the moment of farewell comes. One of the ladies-in-waiting blindfolded Boleyn. The executioner takes the life of Anne Boleyn with one stroke of his sword. An unmarked grave was used for the burial of the king's ex-wife. It was only in 1876 that a memorial plaque appeared on St. Peter's Chapel.

Ghost story

There are legends that in England you can meet the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn. Some people think this unique opportunity get to know the pristine country. Anna is seen now in one building, now in another - the girl does not have a specific habitat.

During her lifetime, Boleyn was energetic and cheerful. This is called the main reason that even after 5 centuries the Queen remains a presence in the lives of the British and tourists. Some managed to capture the ghost of Boleyn in the photo.

Memory

• 1948 - play “The Thousand Days of Anne Boleyn”
• 1995 - opera “Royal Games”
• 2003 - film “Henry VIII”. The role of Anne Boleyn went to.
• 2007 - TV series “The Tudors”, dedicated to Henry VIII. Played Anna.
• 2008 - new film adaptation of the film “The Other Boleyn Girl.” Two actresses were invited to play the roles of the Boleyn sisters - and.
• 2010 - play “Anne Boleyn”.