Game of Thrones @GameOfThrones and History (Anne Boleyn)
Parallel Lives: Margaery Tyrell & Anne Boleyn
1. House Tyrell is one of the most influential and affluent houses in Westeros. Their family originally served the reigning House Gardener, but rose to power, when the family was wiped out. House Boleyn, was originally made up of merchants, but steadily became one of the most influential and powerful families in Tudor England.
2. The Tyrell’s are an ambitious family. They married Margaery to Renly Baratheon, Loras joined his kingsguard and they fully supported his claim. After his death, they were able to swiftly change their allegiance to the Lannisters, and arranged the marriage of Margaery to two kings Joffery and Tommen, and Loras joined the kingsguard. The Boleyns were exceedingly ambitious, and hoped that their king would favour them, by offering two Boleyn girls, Mary and Anne. Mary had previously been the mistress to Francis I of France. Henry took Mary as a mistress. As soon as he grew bored of her, the family expected Anne to replace her. Her involvement with the King lead to her family gaining lordships and riches.
3. The thing Margaery desires the most is to be ‘the queen’. Anne refused to become the King’s mistress, insisting that he make her queen. A impossible request at the time, given the king would have to divorce his wife in order to make her queen.
4. Margaery is skilled in charm, grace, seduction and the art of dressing. She is described as one of the most beautiful ladies in Westeros. Anne was known as a stylish woman, and learnt the art of conversation and wit from her time in the French court. Her looks were said to be unusually beautiful and bewitching.
5. Margaery shares a close bond with her brother Loras, who prefers the company of men. Anne was said to be close to her brother George Boleyn, who also engaged in homosexual relationships.
6. Margaery uses her influence over Tommen, to persuade him to cut the apron strings that bind him to his controlling mother Cersei. Anne Boleyn persuaded Henry VIII to depose his most loyal supporter Cardinal Wolsey, who disapproved of Henry’s divorce and marriage to Anne.
7. Margaery was not a virgin when she married Renly Baratheon, her first husband. Anne secretly eloped with Henry Percy, and he marriage was said to have been consummated, before they were separated by their families who deemed the union unsuitable.
8. Loras was imprisoned along with Margaery (TV Series). In the books. Brother George Boleyn was imprisoned the same time as Anne, and was executed on accounts on incest and treason.
9. During Margaery’s trial in the books, a musician Blue Bard is tortured into revealing Margaery’s lovers to strengthen the case against her. A musician Mark Smeaton, was tortured into revealing he was Anne’s lover. Others were named and arrested, serving as evidence against her in trial.
10. Margaery is threatened by the possibility of being executed. Anne Boleyn was executed on the grounds of treason, adultery and incest. Other Tudor Parallels: - Margaery was briefly married to Tommen’s elder brother Joffery Baratheon, before he died. Catherine of Aragon was married Henry VII’s heir Arthur, until he died, and she was married off to his younger brother Henry.
Some of these are fairly solid points, far more well placed than others I’ve seen. And I like the extra tie in to Katherine of Aragon. But (to be fair I haven’t lurked around your blog to get a judge) how much do you actually know about these historical figures? Because it sounds a bit like a listing of facts yanked out of various websites (not all but some).
3) What unprecedented powers of foresight was Anne Boleyn supposed to have here? The image of the seductive, demanding Anne might be a popular view in modern historical interpretations, but it is also utterly incorrect. Anne placed no such demands on Henry VIII other for him to leave her be. In our own time his pursuit of her would have been labeled as sexual harassment. Truth be told, Henry’s infatuation with Anne merely had remarkable timing. Henry was already starting to doubt his marriage. Katherine of Aragon could no longer bear children. He had managed to have a healthy son with his mistress, Bessie Blount, but not with the union that should have been blessed by God. There would have been no reason for Anne to imagine herself queen, much less insist upon it from Henry. If you’re looking for women who purposefully fanned a King’s desire, look to Jane Seymour, who knew how to play to the desires of a man exactly like Margaery or Elizabeth Woodville, who told Edward IV, “I am too good to be your mistress, I cannot be your wife.“
5) No. Trust me, I would love to have a historical character to show as homosexual or even bisexual, but George Boleyn is not your man. There are others that can explain it better (ladyjaneparker for insistence, who actively studies him) but this concept arouse as a way to blacken the Boleyn name further. There isn’t anything to support it outside of a fun fictional imagining.
6) I’m not trying to say your wrong on this one so much as to say it could be extended. Anne gets cited as one of the most important Queens in English history because, without her influence over Henry, the groundwork for the Church of England would never have begun.
7) For the love of all that is holy, please tell me you didn’t get this from The Other Boleyn Girl. To be fair, it can be taken as one of those, “Who can say for sure? We weren’t there?” historical details, but, by all accounts, the union was stopped before it could ever be taken this far. There was courtly flirtation and plans to marry, which were enough to get Cardinal Wosley (or, through some rumors Henry VIII) to be put his foot down. There was no secret elopement, that much is the truth, and having grown up guarding her virginity in the French court while her older sister got labels such as “the English Mare” and “the Great Prostitute” I doubt Anne would have given her virginity away without a full marriage. You discovered beyond the usual with your connections between these two figures here. But Margarey’s personality is heavily related to that of Jane Seymour’s. For this post, I drew on a number of sources that I have read while studying the Tudors. The post is deliberately simplistic in it’s comparison, as most of the source material, like many accounts of historical characters, is based on rumour and not every angle is associated with Margaery. Without rumour we would have no idea of these peoples true motives or personalities, as such observations are not recorded in official documents, but are written in diaries and letters, and told from a personal point of view of the writer, who can be deemed as unreliable.
So we are bound to clash on the portrayal of their charters. I concentrated on an accumulation of stories, facts and rumours that may have inspired the author when he created Margaery, whether they be historically accurate or hearsay. I doubt the author questioned their validity given that some of the fictional accounts make for more interesting story-lines. Nevertheless they were said about Anne Boleyn, and therefore strengthen the case that Anne inspired Margaery. Though totally get your Jane Seymour angle!
3. I don’t believe Henry would have taken on the herculean task of divorcing his wife in medieval England, if Anne had merely teased him or outright rejected him, whether it was to secure the crown or to deter his advances by propositioning an opportunity that seemed impossible at the time. She may not have wanted it, but her family certainly would have wanted it if it were made possible. For the seven years that it took to get it, Anne must have put pressure on him at various stages, which we know from her involvement in the reformation. He had never been so adamant to divorce Catherine until he meet Anne, and I don’t believe he had looked into beforehand? So she may have put that notion in his mind, as his advisors at the time certainly wouldn’t have. Though a great example, Elizabeth Woodville cannot be compared in a similar light as Margaery, as their positions are very different. Elizabeth was lowborn, and had little but love to offer the king, while the Tyrells stand to offer wealth, influence and an army. Her meeting with the king was circumstantial, while Margaery, Anne and Jane were deliberately placed in front of the king by their families. For Margaery, Anne and Jane, their families a dominate third party in their marriage while Elizabeth did it on her own accord, which kinda makes her a boss!
5. Of course there is no way to be sure whether George Boleyn was gay, bisexual or straight. I only address the rumours that were said at the time and for what came up during his trial, when a letter between Anne and his wife was brought to light that questioned his virility. In the books Loras’ sexuality is only alluded to, never shown or verified much like George’s.
6. Completely agree, but I didn’t go into much detail, as Margaery’s influence on her husband has not lead to such a great outcome, therefore I could not expand the point.
7. Nope it wasn’t based on The Other Boleyn Girl. That accusation has appeared a number of times throughout Anne’s life.
1. Percy’s wife accused him of entering a pre-contract with Anne Boleyn, and believed it had been consummated. This was apparently brought up by Percy himself, who confessed to her. They both later denied it under oath, whether it was true or to save their own skins, we don’t know. Cromwell revisited the claim. During the trial, Anne apparently agreed to the existence of a pre-contract with Percy. Percy, who was present among the jury, denied the claim, and is said to have later fainted. If the union had been completely stamped out by Wolsey or Henry at the time. Cromwell would have no use for it in court. There is no evidence to the consummation of their union, but the rumour of it could have inspired the author to write Margaery as a woman who had previous carnal knowledge before her marriages. Something that cannot be said about Jane Seymour. Don’t think we are at liberty to say what Anne would have done in that situation. Though you make a valid point, Anne was a rebel and at the time she would have had no idea she would later court a king, and the better option would have been to bind herself to the future Earl of Northumberland. The relationship is also believed to have been a love match, and therefore it’s possible that Anne would have given herself to Percy. Anne and Henry consummated their relationship after their secret ceremony, which like her union with Percy, was invalid. Proving the bride’s virginity may not have occurred given the secrecy of their marriage and possibly due to the fact Henry may have bedded her after seven years of courtship. During their official legal marriage and her coronation in May, Anne was believed to be with child. She gave birth, four months later to a healthy daughter Elizabeth. I completely agree, Margaery’s personality is more alike to Jane Seymour. But I think her circumstance, in terms of her imprisonment and trial, her beauty and reputation are taken from Anne, whether they are facts or rumours said about her. I think Margaery is probably an amalgamation of all three Tudor queens, Catherine, Anne and Jane, but most predominantly Jane. Do you have a post on it? I don’t believe Henry would have taken on the herculean task of divorcing his wife in medieval England, if Anne had merely teased him or outright rejected him, whether it was to secure the crown or to deter his advances by propositioning an opportunity that seemed impossible at the time. She may not have wanted it, but her family certainly would have wanted it if it were made possible. We know from Henry’s own letters that Anne rejected him, retreated to her home at Hever (quitting her job as a maid of honor to the queen to escape his advances and protect her reputation) and refusing to answer his letters. The first half a dozen or so love letters Henry wrote to Anne are full of pouting complaints that he doesn’t know why she won’t respond, and he doesn’t know what he could have possibly done to offend her. he kept sending her more gifts, hoping to get her to respond, and when she wouldn’t he went to stay with one of her cousins who lived near Hever so he could ride over at his leisure. There is no indication - NONE - that Anne encouraged Henry in any way. she had to be polite and smiling, of course, because he was the king, but she would not sleep with any man outside the bonds of matrimony. She was as blunt as she could be in her refusals to become his mistress, but Henry wouldn’t back off. The fact she actually quit her job and left court was a huge step, and it’s proof that she wasn’t joking around. It had taken her family a lot of effort to get her a position at court, and when she was promoted to serving the queen herself, it was a major boon for her family. It was the 16th century’s equivalent of the corporate ladder. Hugely prestigious, and massively expensive to maintain, these positions were intensely fought for. Giving it up was walking away from everything her family had spent the last couple of decades trying to build for her. Anne’s family hoped she would use her position to get the favor of the queen, which would lead to opportunities for her marriage, and for her family’s advancement. The attention of the king was a bad thing, as far as her career was concerned. If the queen blamed Anne, it could mean negative repercussions on her and her family. (Remember, Henry’s previous mistresses had to leave court - Bessie when she became pregnant, and Mary when the king was finished with her and married off to a willing courtier.) and what other noble lady would want a “home-wrecking hussy” serving her? That Anne “quit her job” was a terrible thing for her family. But she had no choice. The king wouldn’t leave her alone, which meant Anne could not make an advantageous marriage. Her reputation was being destroyed the long er it went on, because few people believed she could still be a virgin with the king chasing after her for a year. Her reputation was just as bad as though she’d been the king’s mistress in truth. And then the king presented her with an offer she LITERALLY could not refuse. A royal proposal of marriage was not a request. (Ask Kateryn Parr, who was in love with another man when the king proposed.) It wasn’t like today, where a woman has agency to choose who she wants to marry. In those days, the girl’s personal opinion on the matter was the least of anyone’s concern. A dishonorable proposal, she could - and did - refuse, but an honorable proposal of marriage was not something she could turn down, even if she wanted to. So, yes, once they were betrothed - which was almost as legally binding as a marriage and needed a papal dispensation to dissolve - Anne worked with Henry to help him get his annulment. It was her future, too, at that point. She would do her duty. As time wore on, Anne began to see the hand of God at work in this. She believed God had raised her to this position so she could reform the church, and it was what she dedicated her reign to doing. It was her work that lad the foundation for the Reformation in England. For the seven years that it took to get it, Anne must have put pressure on him at various stages, which we know from her involvement in the reformation. He had never been so adamant to divorce Catherine until he meet Anne, and I don’t believe he had looked into beforehand? So she may have put that notion in his mind, as his advisors at the time certainly wouldn’t have. Yes, Henry had talked of annulling his marriage to Katharine long before Anne was on the scene. According to historian David Starkey, it had been rumored in Rome as early as 1514 that Henry intended “to repudiate his wife … because he is unable to have children by her,“ nearly a decade before Anne Boleyn was on the scene. He voiced doubts as to the validity of his marriage to his confessor in 1520, and stopped having marital relations with her in 1524, when it became obvious she’d never become pregnant again. He didn’t become obsessed with Anne until late 1525/early 1526. She didn’t put the notion in his head. It was already there. Anne was just the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Of course there is no way to be sure whether George Boleyn was gay, bisexual or straight. I only address the rumours that were said at the time and for what came up during his trial, when a letter between Anne and his wife was brought to light that questioned his virility. The rumors came later. There was never any whispers about it WHATSOEVER during George’s lifetime or during the trial. There was no letter, either. George read aloud a note passed to him at the trial that contained the claim Anne had told Jane that Henry had problems with virility. George was supposed to read the charge silently and respond to it so the audience wouldn’t know the king had impotence problems. George, for whatever reason, decided to read the charge aloud. Again, the rumors came much later. Like, hundreds of years later when historians were speculating, not from anything presented at the trial, or evidence from George’s life. The relationship is also believed to have been a love match, and therefore it’s possible that Anne would have given herself to Percy. Anne and Henry consummated their relationship after their secret ceremony, which like her union with Percy, was invalid. Proving the bride’s virginity may not have occurred given the secrecy of their marriage and possibly due to the fact Henry may have bedded her after seven years of courtship. During their official legal marriage and her coronation in May, Anne was believed to be with child. She gave birth, four months later to a healthy daughter Elizabeth. Anne and Henry married on November 14, 1532. They had a second ceremony in January, 1533 after it was discovered she was pregnant. They were following tradition, because most royal couples of the era had two wedding ceremonies, a proxy marriage service and a second service for the public. Both were valid and legitimate unions. Henry never did anything by halves, and their secret ceremony in Dover had stayed too secret. He would soon doubly crown his queen as a consort and as a monarch in her own right - he would marry her twice, too, to remove any doubt she was his wife. There is no reason - none - to believe Anne ever had sex outside of marriage. Any speculation about her sleeping with Henry Percy is just that - speculation. There’s not a hint of evidence to support it. We actually don’t KNOW the reason stated in the annulment. Historians believe it probably was Percy, but no one knows for sure, because it wasn’t detailed in the records. Percy swore on the damnation of his soul upon the Communion host that he’d never been pre-contracted to Anne, and that wasn’t something done lightly in those days. Anne was an intensely religious woman. She would not sleep with any man besides her lawfully-wedded husband. Today, even the most religious girl might decide to cast aside her principles for a night of passion, but Anne had been raised to believe her self-worth was tied up in her chastity. Her honor was the most precious thing she had, and she was not going to give it up for simple emotion or pleasure’s sake. Say what you will about Anne, but she was not a weak-willed woman. Henry expected he would have sons with Anne, but he wanted those sons to be LEGITIMATE children, conceived in holy matrimony. He wanted Anne and wanted her badly, but he wanted that legitimate son from her even more. He wouldn’t have wanted to sleep with her without being married even if she had agreed to it. Lastly, remember it’s not like in the movies where the king and his favorite lady suddenly find themselves alone in the woods or whatever. Anne was surrounded at every moment by her ladies. They slept in her bed and even attended her on the toilet. She was never alone, and this wasn’t by accident. It was to protect her reputation. Her mother was with her, too, as a chaperon. Anne could not slip away to have sex with the king if the mood suddenly struck her.
Parallel Lives: Margaery Tyrell & Anne Boleyn
1. House Tyrell is one of the most influential and affluent houses in Westeros. Their family originally served the reigning House Gardener, but rose to power, when the family was wiped out. House Boleyn, was originally made up of merchants, but steadily became one of the most influential and powerful families in Tudor England.
2. The Tyrell’s are an ambitious family. They married Margaery to Renly Baratheon, Loras joined his kingsguard and they fully supported his claim. After his death, they were able to swiftly change their allegiance to the Lannisters, and arranged the marriage of Margaery to two kings Joffery and Tommen, and Loras joined the kingsguard. The Boleyns were exceedingly ambitious, and hoped that their king would favour them, by offering two Boleyn girls, Mary and Anne. Mary had previously been the mistress to Francis I of France. Henry took Mary as a mistress. As soon as he grew bored of her, the family expected Anne to replace her. Her involvement with the King lead to her family gaining lordships and riches.
3. The thing Margaery desires the most is to be ‘the queen’. Anne refused to become the King’s mistress, insisting that he make her queen. A impossible request at the time, given the king would have to divorce his wife in order to make her queen.
4. Margaery is skilled in charm, grace, seduction and the art of dressing. She is described as one of the most beautiful ladies in Westeros. Anne was known as a stylish woman, and learnt the art of conversation and wit from her time in the French court. Her looks were said to be unusually beautiful and bewitching.
5. Margaery shares a close bond with her brother Loras, who prefers the company of men. Anne was said to be close to her brother George Boleyn, who also engaged in homosexual relationships.
6. Margaery uses her influence over Tommen, to persuade him to cut the apron strings that bind him to his controlling mother Cersei. Anne Boleyn persuaded Henry VIII to depose his most loyal supporter Cardinal Wolsey, who disapproved of Henry’s divorce and marriage to Anne.
7. Margaery was not a virgin when she married Renly Baratheon, her first husband. Anne secretly eloped with Henry Percy, and he marriage was said to have been consummated, before they were separated by their families who deemed the union unsuitable.
8. Loras was imprisoned along with Margaery (TV Series). In the books. Brother George Boleyn was imprisoned the same time as Anne, and was executed on accounts on incest and treason.
9. During Margaery’s trial in the books, a musician Blue Bard is tortured into revealing Margaery’s lovers to strengthen the case against her. A musician Mark Smeaton, was tortured into revealing he was Anne’s lover. Others were named and arrested, serving as evidence against her in trial.
10. Margaery is threatened by the possibility of being executed. Anne Boleyn was executed on the grounds of treason, adultery and incest. Other Tudor Parallels: - Margaery was briefly married to Tommen’s elder brother Joffery Baratheon, before he died. Catherine of Aragon was married Henry VII’s heir Arthur, until he died, and she was married off to his younger brother Henry.
Some of these are fairly solid points, far more well placed than others I’ve seen. And I like the extra tie in to Katherine of Aragon. But (to be fair I haven’t lurked around your blog to get a judge) how much do you actually know about these historical figures? Because it sounds a bit like a listing of facts yanked out of various websites (not all but some).
3) What unprecedented powers of foresight was Anne Boleyn supposed to have here? The image of the seductive, demanding Anne might be a popular view in modern historical interpretations, but it is also utterly incorrect. Anne placed no such demands on Henry VIII other for him to leave her be. In our own time his pursuit of her would have been labeled as sexual harassment. Truth be told, Henry’s infatuation with Anne merely had remarkable timing. Henry was already starting to doubt his marriage. Katherine of Aragon could no longer bear children. He had managed to have a healthy son with his mistress, Bessie Blount, but not with the union that should have been blessed by God. There would have been no reason for Anne to imagine herself queen, much less insist upon it from Henry. If you’re looking for women who purposefully fanned a King’s desire, look to Jane Seymour, who knew how to play to the desires of a man exactly like Margaery or Elizabeth Woodville, who told Edward IV, “I am too good to be your mistress, I cannot be your wife.“
5) No. Trust me, I would love to have a historical character to show as homosexual or even bisexual, but George Boleyn is not your man. There are others that can explain it better (ladyjaneparker for insistence, who actively studies him) but this concept arouse as a way to blacken the Boleyn name further. There isn’t anything to support it outside of a fun fictional imagining.
6) I’m not trying to say your wrong on this one so much as to say it could be extended. Anne gets cited as one of the most important Queens in English history because, without her influence over Henry, the groundwork for the Church of England would never have begun.
7) For the love of all that is holy, please tell me you didn’t get this from The Other Boleyn Girl. To be fair, it can be taken as one of those, “Who can say for sure? We weren’t there?” historical details, but, by all accounts, the union was stopped before it could ever be taken this far. There was courtly flirtation and plans to marry, which were enough to get Cardinal Wosley (or, through some rumors Henry VIII) to be put his foot down. There was no secret elopement, that much is the truth, and having grown up guarding her virginity in the French court while her older sister got labels such as “the English Mare” and “the Great Prostitute” I doubt Anne would have given her virginity away without a full marriage. You discovered beyond the usual with your connections between these two figures here. But Margarey’s personality is heavily related to that of Jane Seymour’s. For this post, I drew on a number of sources that I have read while studying the Tudors. The post is deliberately simplistic in it’s comparison, as most of the source material, like many accounts of historical characters, is based on rumour and not every angle is associated with Margaery. Without rumour we would have no idea of these peoples true motives or personalities, as such observations are not recorded in official documents, but are written in diaries and letters, and told from a personal point of view of the writer, who can be deemed as unreliable.
So we are bound to clash on the portrayal of their charters. I concentrated on an accumulation of stories, facts and rumours that may have inspired the author when he created Margaery, whether they be historically accurate or hearsay. I doubt the author questioned their validity given that some of the fictional accounts make for more interesting story-lines. Nevertheless they were said about Anne Boleyn, and therefore strengthen the case that Anne inspired Margaery. Though totally get your Jane Seymour angle!
3. I don’t believe Henry would have taken on the herculean task of divorcing his wife in medieval England, if Anne had merely teased him or outright rejected him, whether it was to secure the crown or to deter his advances by propositioning an opportunity that seemed impossible at the time. She may not have wanted it, but her family certainly would have wanted it if it were made possible. For the seven years that it took to get it, Anne must have put pressure on him at various stages, which we know from her involvement in the reformation. He had never been so adamant to divorce Catherine until he meet Anne, and I don’t believe he had looked into beforehand? So she may have put that notion in his mind, as his advisors at the time certainly wouldn’t have. Though a great example, Elizabeth Woodville cannot be compared in a similar light as Margaery, as their positions are very different. Elizabeth was lowborn, and had little but love to offer the king, while the Tyrells stand to offer wealth, influence and an army. Her meeting with the king was circumstantial, while Margaery, Anne and Jane were deliberately placed in front of the king by their families. For Margaery, Anne and Jane, their families a dominate third party in their marriage while Elizabeth did it on her own accord, which kinda makes her a boss!
5. Of course there is no way to be sure whether George Boleyn was gay, bisexual or straight. I only address the rumours that were said at the time and for what came up during his trial, when a letter between Anne and his wife was brought to light that questioned his virility. In the books Loras’ sexuality is only alluded to, never shown or verified much like George’s.
6. Completely agree, but I didn’t go into much detail, as Margaery’s influence on her husband has not lead to such a great outcome, therefore I could not expand the point.
7. Nope it wasn’t based on The Other Boleyn Girl. That accusation has appeared a number of times throughout Anne’s life.
1. Percy’s wife accused him of entering a pre-contract with Anne Boleyn, and believed it had been consummated. This was apparently brought up by Percy himself, who confessed to her. They both later denied it under oath, whether it was true or to save their own skins, we don’t know. Cromwell revisited the claim. During the trial, Anne apparently agreed to the existence of a pre-contract with Percy. Percy, who was present among the jury, denied the claim, and is said to have later fainted. If the union had been completely stamped out by Wolsey or Henry at the time. Cromwell would have no use for it in court. There is no evidence to the consummation of their union, but the rumour of it could have inspired the author to write Margaery as a woman who had previous carnal knowledge before her marriages. Something that cannot be said about Jane Seymour. Don’t think we are at liberty to say what Anne would have done in that situation. Though you make a valid point, Anne was a rebel and at the time she would have had no idea she would later court a king, and the better option would have been to bind herself to the future Earl of Northumberland. The relationship is also believed to have been a love match, and therefore it’s possible that Anne would have given herself to Percy. Anne and Henry consummated their relationship after their secret ceremony, which like her union with Percy, was invalid. Proving the bride’s virginity may not have occurred given the secrecy of their marriage and possibly due to the fact Henry may have bedded her after seven years of courtship. During their official legal marriage and her coronation in May, Anne was believed to be with child. She gave birth, four months later to a healthy daughter Elizabeth. I completely agree, Margaery’s personality is more alike to Jane Seymour. But I think her circumstance, in terms of her imprisonment and trial, her beauty and reputation are taken from Anne, whether they are facts or rumours said about her. I think Margaery is probably an amalgamation of all three Tudor queens, Catherine, Anne and Jane, but most predominantly Jane. Do you have a post on it? I don’t believe Henry would have taken on the herculean task of divorcing his wife in medieval England, if Anne had merely teased him or outright rejected him, whether it was to secure the crown or to deter his advances by propositioning an opportunity that seemed impossible at the time. She may not have wanted it, but her family certainly would have wanted it if it were made possible. We know from Henry’s own letters that Anne rejected him, retreated to her home at Hever (quitting her job as a maid of honor to the queen to escape his advances and protect her reputation) and refusing to answer his letters. The first half a dozen or so love letters Henry wrote to Anne are full of pouting complaints that he doesn’t know why she won’t respond, and he doesn’t know what he could have possibly done to offend her. he kept sending her more gifts, hoping to get her to respond, and when she wouldn’t he went to stay with one of her cousins who lived near Hever so he could ride over at his leisure. There is no indication - NONE - that Anne encouraged Henry in any way. she had to be polite and smiling, of course, because he was the king, but she would not sleep with any man outside the bonds of matrimony. She was as blunt as she could be in her refusals to become his mistress, but Henry wouldn’t back off. The fact she actually quit her job and left court was a huge step, and it’s proof that she wasn’t joking around. It had taken her family a lot of effort to get her a position at court, and when she was promoted to serving the queen herself, it was a major boon for her family. It was the 16th century’s equivalent of the corporate ladder. Hugely prestigious, and massively expensive to maintain, these positions were intensely fought for. Giving it up was walking away from everything her family had spent the last couple of decades trying to build for her. Anne’s family hoped she would use her position to get the favor of the queen, which would lead to opportunities for her marriage, and for her family’s advancement. The attention of the king was a bad thing, as far as her career was concerned. If the queen blamed Anne, it could mean negative repercussions on her and her family. (Remember, Henry’s previous mistresses had to leave court - Bessie when she became pregnant, and Mary when the king was finished with her and married off to a willing courtier.) and what other noble lady would want a “home-wrecking hussy” serving her? That Anne “quit her job” was a terrible thing for her family. But she had no choice. The king wouldn’t leave her alone, which meant Anne could not make an advantageous marriage. Her reputation was being destroyed the long er it went on, because few people believed she could still be a virgin with the king chasing after her for a year. Her reputation was just as bad as though she’d been the king’s mistress in truth. And then the king presented her with an offer she LITERALLY could not refuse. A royal proposal of marriage was not a request. (Ask Kateryn Parr, who was in love with another man when the king proposed.) It wasn’t like today, where a woman has agency to choose who she wants to marry. In those days, the girl’s personal opinion on the matter was the least of anyone’s concern. A dishonorable proposal, she could - and did - refuse, but an honorable proposal of marriage was not something she could turn down, even if she wanted to. So, yes, once they were betrothed - which was almost as legally binding as a marriage and needed a papal dispensation to dissolve - Anne worked with Henry to help him get his annulment. It was her future, too, at that point. She would do her duty. As time wore on, Anne began to see the hand of God at work in this. She believed God had raised her to this position so she could reform the church, and it was what she dedicated her reign to doing. It was her work that lad the foundation for the Reformation in England. For the seven years that it took to get it, Anne must have put pressure on him at various stages, which we know from her involvement in the reformation. He had never been so adamant to divorce Catherine until he meet Anne, and I don’t believe he had looked into beforehand? So she may have put that notion in his mind, as his advisors at the time certainly wouldn’t have. Yes, Henry had talked of annulling his marriage to Katharine long before Anne was on the scene. According to historian David Starkey, it had been rumored in Rome as early as 1514 that Henry intended “to repudiate his wife … because he is unable to have children by her,“ nearly a decade before Anne Boleyn was on the scene. He voiced doubts as to the validity of his marriage to his confessor in 1520, and stopped having marital relations with her in 1524, when it became obvious she’d never become pregnant again. He didn’t become obsessed with Anne until late 1525/early 1526. She didn’t put the notion in his head. It was already there. Anne was just the final straw that broke the camel’s back. Of course there is no way to be sure whether George Boleyn was gay, bisexual or straight. I only address the rumours that were said at the time and for what came up during his trial, when a letter between Anne and his wife was brought to light that questioned his virility. The rumors came later. There was never any whispers about it WHATSOEVER during George’s lifetime or during the trial. There was no letter, either. George read aloud a note passed to him at the trial that contained the claim Anne had told Jane that Henry had problems with virility. George was supposed to read the charge silently and respond to it so the audience wouldn’t know the king had impotence problems. George, for whatever reason, decided to read the charge aloud. Again, the rumors came much later. Like, hundreds of years later when historians were speculating, not from anything presented at the trial, or evidence from George’s life. The relationship is also believed to have been a love match, and therefore it’s possible that Anne would have given herself to Percy. Anne and Henry consummated their relationship after their secret ceremony, which like her union with Percy, was invalid. Proving the bride’s virginity may not have occurred given the secrecy of their marriage and possibly due to the fact Henry may have bedded her after seven years of courtship. During their official legal marriage and her coronation in May, Anne was believed to be with child. She gave birth, four months later to a healthy daughter Elizabeth. Anne and Henry married on November 14, 1532. They had a second ceremony in January, 1533 after it was discovered she was pregnant. They were following tradition, because most royal couples of the era had two wedding ceremonies, a proxy marriage service and a second service for the public. Both were valid and legitimate unions. Henry never did anything by halves, and their secret ceremony in Dover had stayed too secret. He would soon doubly crown his queen as a consort and as a monarch in her own right - he would marry her twice, too, to remove any doubt she was his wife. There is no reason - none - to believe Anne ever had sex outside of marriage. Any speculation about her sleeping with Henry Percy is just that - speculation. There’s not a hint of evidence to support it. We actually don’t KNOW the reason stated in the annulment. Historians believe it probably was Percy, but no one knows for sure, because it wasn’t detailed in the records. Percy swore on the damnation of his soul upon the Communion host that he’d never been pre-contracted to Anne, and that wasn’t something done lightly in those days. Anne was an intensely religious woman. She would not sleep with any man besides her lawfully-wedded husband. Today, even the most religious girl might decide to cast aside her principles for a night of passion, but Anne had been raised to believe her self-worth was tied up in her chastity. Her honor was the most precious thing she had, and she was not going to give it up for simple emotion or pleasure’s sake. Say what you will about Anne, but she was not a weak-willed woman. Henry expected he would have sons with Anne, but he wanted those sons to be LEGITIMATE children, conceived in holy matrimony. He wanted Anne and wanted her badly, but he wanted that legitimate son from her even more. He wouldn’t have wanted to sleep with her without being married even if she had agreed to it. Lastly, remember it’s not like in the movies where the king and his favorite lady suddenly find themselves alone in the woods or whatever. Anne was surrounded at every moment by her ladies. They slept in her bed and even attended her on the toilet. She was never alone, and this wasn’t by accident. It was to protect her reputation. Her mother was with her, too, as a chaperon. Anne could not slip away to have sex with the king if the mood suddenly struck her.
0 comments:
Post a Comment