On Friday, May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, former Queen of England, was executed for high treason and adultery, her head severed from her body by an expert swordsman, the only concession given her by her ex-husband King Henry VIII. How, in so short a time, had the woman that Henry had defied the religious tradition of England for, divorcing his wife and changing the history of religion in his country, whom he pursued relentlessly for years, fallen so far, so quickly? To understand one must examine Henry’s desperate need for a male heir, understand the politics of the time, and the personality of Anne Boleyn herself.
When Henry VIII became seriously attracted to Anne Boleyn in 1525 (Weir The Six Wives of Henry VIII p. 159), he was in his prime. His wife, Catherine of Aragon, was aging rapidly and was beyond child bearing years. Henry’s desire for a male child was common in his time, but especially imperative for him. If he had a male heir, he felt that it would be a sign from God that his reign was approved by God. Catherine of Aragon had provided him only
with a daughter, Mary; therefore his marriage to her must anger God. Henry had had many mistresses in the past and felt that Anne Boleyn, who was young and intelligent, although
not beautiful by the standards of the time, (Weir The Six Wives of Henry VIII p. 152) would be an excellent choice for his next mistress. Anne, who was raised in the French Court, learned much of her flirtatious ways in France, which would come back to haunt her later, had what could only be called sex appeal. Anne, who was ambitious and arrogant, and looking for a good marriage, would have no affair with King, and told him as much (Weir, Henry VIII The King and His Court p. 257) .This intrigued ...
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...d when she did not fulfill her promises lost interest in her quickly, and looked elsewhere. She was arrogant, ambitious, and haughty, feeling that if Catherine of Aragon were gone all of her troubles would be over, which did not happen to be the case. She ultimately became the victim in Henry’s megalomania due to her own ambition and desire to be Queen of England.
Works Cited
Erickson, Carrolly. Great Harry. New York, New York; Summit Books, 1980
Lindsay, Karen. Divorced, Beheaded, Survived; A feminist Reinterpretation of the Wives of Henry The VIII. Boston; Wesley-Addison, 1995
Weir, Alison. The Six Wives Of Henry The VIII. New York; Ballantine Books, 1991
Weir, Alison. Henry The VIII; The King and His Court. New York; Ballantine Books, 2001
Wernicke, Rita. The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn. Cambridge, England; Cambridge Press 1991
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In Catholic religion the King could not divorce. Cornwell found a way to turn things in favor of the King’s wishes. He pushed for a disillusion from the Catholic Church and the King could make his own rules. Thomas accompanied Anne Boleyn from when she was just a lady in waiting to the queen on her rise to power as the wife of King Henry and the Queen of England. Thomas was also believed to have a part in the trial and execution on charges of Adultery, Incest and witchcraft. This woman no longer pleased the king and now she had to be removed. Also, the King had his eye on a new lady in waiting, Jane
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Greaves, Richard L. “Tudor, House of.” World Book Advanced. World Book, 2014. Web. 6 Feb.