Did Anne Boleyn have an incestous relationship?
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Full question: Has it really been proven that Anne Boleyn had an incestous relationship with her brother George or is it lies that were made up to aid her fall from the throne? - Loueezee
There is no evidence whatsoever that Anne and George committed incest, but Cromwell needed to remove the Boleyn faction from power, not just Anne. Anne and her brother were close and things like them dancing together and speaking together, and him visiting her in her bedroom, were used as evidence against them. Some believe that Jane Parker, Lady Rochford, had turned against Anne and so backed up the allegations of incest. Denny, in her biography, writes of how Jane was rewarded by the position of a lady in the Privy Chamber in exchange for her testimony. Some historians write of how Jane Parker recanted her testimony and confessed to having lied about George and Anne, but historian John Guy Guy writes that that Jane’s confession is a forgery and the work of Gregorio Leti, a man know for making up stories and inventing sources. You can read more about this at Full question: Has it really been proven that Anne Boleyn had an incestous relationship with her brother George or is it lies that were made up to aid her fall from the throne? - Loueezee
There is no evidence whatsoever that Anne and George committed incest, but Cromwell needed to remove the Boleyn faction from power, not just Anne. Anne and her brother were close and things like them dancing together and speaking together, and him visiting her in her bedroom, were used as evidence against them. Some believe that Jane Parker, Lady Rochford, had turned against Anne and so backed up the allegations of incest. Denny, in her biography, writes of how Jane was rewarded by the position of a lady in the Privy Chamber in exchange for her testimony. Some historians write of how Jane Parker recanted her testimony and confessed to having lied about George and Anne, but historian John Guy Guy writes that that Jane’s confession is a forgery and the work of Gregorio Leti, a man know for making up stories and inventing sources. You can read more about this at http://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/jane-boleyn-and-the-fall-of-anne-boleyn/4012/
Yes, I always knew that they hadn’t slept together!!! I am ‘the most happy’ now! xxx
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Jane Perry Reply:
August 5th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
It’s common sense that they DID sleep together: who else could she have trusted to give her a son, if Henry wasn’t up to it, and to keep his mouth shut if his son became king. I don’t believe she slept with the others
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Lauren Reply:
August 6th, 2011 at 5:09 am
There is absolutely NO evidence of them ever sleeping together, I don’t know where that piece of ‘common sense’ came from. I don’t believe that she slept with ANY of them, and that includes George.
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Chelsea Reply:
February 5th, 2012 at 1:56 pm
Anne was deeply religious. I think the “common sense” would have placed George as not even on the list of men to sleep with in order to get a son. I would be very surprised if the thought to truly commit adultry even crossed her mind. If she used any special tricks to try and consieve a son I think it would be mostly in prayer….possibly though improbably in a tonic or something known to stimulate and help with conception. And then all that bogus eat more asparegus to get a son stuff. And my constant bafflement is why anyone would think the brother as the first choice. I myself have two older brothers and if I was in a position stressing about an heir,even if the risk was the ax, I would turn to them for support and comfort not anything sexual. Its distateful to even think it. and I am not even that religious compared to how staunch Anne and George were in theirs.
she never did get ‘repregnant’
i feel so sorry for george and anne!!!!!!
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Oh the price some must pay from the evil of others who shove and push and lie to gain the favor of the King hoping for rewards.! I too feel extremely sorry for George Boleyn especially when you compare him with lets say, Jane Seymour’s brothers who were not wonderful people in their struggle to the top. George looks like this innocent little kid compared to them and yet all met the same fate. Where is the justice?
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“Before her execution, in the whole Catherine Howard affair, Jane Parker recanted her testimony and confessed to having lied about George and Anne.”
This isn’t true; it was just a rumor that became very widespread.
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Claire Reply:
November 7th, 2010 at 4:18 am
Hi Carolyn,
I wrote that answer about 18 months ago so I’ve updated it to reflect my current opinions based on my research. Although some historians believe that Jane confessed on the scaffold, there is no real primary source evidence of that or her being the one who provided the prosecution with evidence of incest.
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