Contact Us
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
Categories
Home |
Life Hacks |
Inspiration |
Love Is All Around |
Art and Entertainment |
Around the World |
AmO Reviews |
Healthy Lifestyle |
You Are Beautiful |
Fashion Lovers |
Tech & Software |
Business and Success |
AmO Magazine |
Quotation
"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
|
Recent Articles
- Marilyn Monroe: The Brightest Blonde Ever
- Saint Valentine's Day: History
- The Hottest Movies Opening in February
- 33 Interesting Facts about Famous People
- Celebrities Hair Chameleons
- Best Steve Jobs Quotes
- Life Quotes by Mother Teresa
- Top 10 Funniest Quotes of Albert Einstein
- Top 12 Funniest Quotes by Sir Winston Churchill
- How to Write an Autobiography for Quick Completion of Assignment
- Find Relief with These Helpful Natural Remedies for Diarrhea
- The Intriguing History of the Elevator
Home |
Life Hacks |
Inspiration |
Love Is All Around |
Art and Entertainment |
Around the World |
AmO Reviews |
Healthy Lifestyle |
You Are Beautiful |
Fashion Lovers |
Tech & Software |
Business and Success |
AmO Magazine |
Anne Boleyn: The Most Important Queen Consort England Has Ever Had |
Sunday, 26 October 2008 | ||||
Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. Her date of birth used to be considered to be in 1507, but most modern historians believe it was in 1501 (– 19 May 1536). Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, were part of the complex beginning of the considerable political and religious upheaval which was the English Reformation, with Anne herself actively promoting the cause of Church reform. She has been called "the most influential and important queen consort England has ever had". Her life has been adapted for numerous novels, plays, songs, operas, television dramas and motion pictures, including Anne of the Thousand Days, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Tudors, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and Doomed Queen Anne.
Childhood and family At the time of Anne’s birth, the Boleyn family was considered one of the most respectable families in the English aristocracy. Anne's father was a respected diplomat with a gift for languages; he was also a favorite of Henry VII, who sent him on many diplomatic missions abroad. He continued his career under Henry VIII, who came to the throne in 1509. Anne started her education in the Netherlands in the household of Archduchess Margaret of Austria who was ruling the country. She made a good impression in The Netherlands with her manners and studiousness and lived there from the spring of 1513 until her father arranged for her to continue her education in Paris in the winter of 1514. In France, she was a favoured lady-in-waiting to Queen Claude of France and also acted as an interpreter whenever any high-ranking English visitors came to the French court. In the queen's household, she completed her study of French and acquired a thorough knowledge of French culture and etiquette. She also developed an interest in fashion and religious philosophy that called for reform of the Church. Her European education ended in the winter of 1521 when she was summoned back to England on her father's orders. Appearance and personality Anne Boleyn was not conventionally beautiful for her time. She was thin and her colouring was considered by some to be too dark. However, many observers were impressed by her dark eyes and long, dark hair, which she wore loose down her back.One historian has compiled all the descriptions and concludes thus: ![]() Merle Oberon as Anne Boleyn in the film 'The Private Life of Henry VIII’, 1933 People seemed primarily attracted by Anne's charisma. She made a good impression with her fashion sense, inspiring many new trends amongst the court ladies. In hindsight, she was probably the biggest English fashion icon of the early 16th century. "Anne’s charm lay not so much in her physical appearance as in her vivacious personality, her gracefulness, her quick wit and other accomplishments. She was petite in stature, and had an appealing fragility about her… she shone at singing, making music, dancing and conversation… Not surprisingly, the young men of the court swarmed around her."
She was a devout Christian in the new tradition of Renaissance humanism (calling her a Protestant would be an overstatement). She also gave generously to charity and sewed shirts for the poor. In her youth she was "sweet and cheerful" and enjoyed gambling, drinking wine, and gossiping. She was also brave and emotional. Yet, according to her enemies, Anne could also be extravagant, neurotic, vindictive and bad-tempered. "To us she appears inconsistent—religious yet aggressive, calculating yet emotional, with the light touch of the courtier yet the strong grip of the politician … A woman in her own right—taken on her own terms in a man’s world; a woman who mobilized her education, her style and her presence to outweigh the disadvantages of her sex; of only moderate good looks, but taking a court and a king by storm. Perhaps, in the end, it is Thomas Cromwell’s assessment that comes nearest: intelligence, spirit and courage."
A royal love affair Boleyn made her court début at a masquerade ball in March 1522, where she performed an elaborate dance accompanying the king's younger sister, several other great ladies of the court and his mistress—Anne’s sister, Mary. Within a few weeks of this performance, Boleyn was known as the most fashionable and accomplished woman at the court and she has been referred to as a "glass of fashion".
During this time, she was being courted by Henry Percy, son of the Earl of Northumberland, around 1522. The exact nature of their relationship is unclear. The romance was broken off in 1523 when Lord Henry's father refused to support the engagement. One theory is that the liaison was secretly broken up by Cardinal Wolsey, Henry’s chief minister, because King Henry desired Anne for himself. It is impossible to say if this is true, and historians are divided on the issue. The evidence, from grants made to Anne's sister, Mary, and her husband Sir William Carey, indicate that at this time Henry was involved in an affair with Mary Boleyn. ![]() Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn and Eric Bana as Henry VIII in the film "The Other Boleyn Girl." Henry and his ministers applied for his current marriage annulment from the Vatican in 1527. At first, Boleyn was kept in the background, but by 1528 it was common knowledge that Henry intended to marry her. ![]() Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn and Eric Bana as Henry VIII in the film "The Other Boleyn Girl." Her exasperation with the Vatican’s refusal to make her queen also persuaded her to promote a new alternative to Henry. She suggested that he should follow the advice of religious radicals like William Tyndale, who denied Papal authority and believed that the monarch should lead the church. During this period, Boleyn also played an enormous role in England's international position by solidifying an alliance with France. In 1533, the English Church was declared to be was under Henry’s control, not Rome's. This was the famous "Break with Rome", which signalled the end of England's history as a Roman Catholic country. Queen Anne was delighted at this development—although she retained the outward, Catholic trappings, she believed the Papacy was a corrupting influence on Christianity. After her coronation, she settled into a quiet routine to prepare for the birth of her child. She was deeply distressed when Henry was infatuated with a lady of the court, which provoked their first serious fight. The affair was brief, since Henry wanted nothing to jeopardize his wife's pregnancy. ![]() Queen Elizabeth I Life as queen Her reputation as a religious reformer spread through Europe, and she was hailed as a heroine by Protestant figures; even Martin Luther viewed her rise to the throne as a good sign. She also saved the life of the French reformer Nicolas Bourbon. She appealed to the French royal family, who spared Bourbon’s life as a favour to the English queen. Bourbon would later refer to her as "the queen whom God loves". ![]() Merle Oberon as Anne Boleyn in the film 'The Private Life of Henry VIII’, 1933 As queen, she presided over a magnificent court. In the 16th century, royals were expected to be extravagant in order to convey the strength of the monarchy. Anne spent huge sums on gowns, jewels, head-dresses, ostrich-feather fans, riding equipment, and the finest furniture and upholstery from across the world. Numerous palaces were renovated to suit her extravagant tastes.
In the last few days of April, a Flemish musician in Anne's service named Mark Smeaton was arrested and tortured by Thomas Cromwell. He initially denied that he was the queen’s lover, but under torture he confessed. Three other men were tried and they denied their guilt and swore that Boleyn was also innocent. ![]() Anne Boleyn is wearing her Famous pearl 'B' necklace in many of the portraits of her.
|
< Prev | Next > |
---|
Popular Articles
- Use Words Powerfully - 101 Positively Powerful Words
- Top 20 Most Romantic Movies Ever!
- 20 Crazy Things We All Do
- Great People Sleep Less?
- 33 Interesting Facts about Famous People
- Some of the Funniest Exam Answers: Stuff You Wish You Could Have Written
- Top 50 Most Beautiful Women in Hollywood
- 10 Amazing Facts about Love
- The Most Mysterious Places: Can We Explain Everything?
- Top 12 Funniest Quotes by Sir Winston Churchill