On 1st September 1532, at a ceremony at Windsor Castle, Henry VIII made Anne Boleyn Marquis of Pembroke, a title in her own right. The purpose of the granting of the title was to ‘fit’ Anne for the European stage, in readiness for the couple’s upcoming meeting with King Francis I of France. Henry and Anne were seeking his recognition and approval of their relationship and his support for the annulment of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon.
You can read more about the ceremony and the valuation of the lands granted to Anne Boleyn as part of her title in my article from 2012 – 1 September 1532 – Anne Boleyn Created Marquis of Pembroke
So appropriate that Anne was given the feminine form of the title that Jasper Tudor once held and that Henry expected her to be the mother of his line just as Jasper was the so-called father of his line.
In fact, the feminine form is marchioness.
What is interesting that the title could be inherited simply “issue”, not “lawful issue” as was usual.
Hannele
LP spells it both ways.Either way it seems the title functioned like a male Marquis.
Yes, she held it in her own right like a male marquis rather than being the consort of a marquis.
I bet suffolk was delighted, I don’t think to be there to honour Anne at the side of the King, as he and Norfolk were expected to be as the highest in the land after any royal duke or prince. Henry was also conveying a unique title on Anne as he was making her a peeress in her own right and not in right of her husband, father, son or other male relative. This is why he uses the male marquis and not the female. He also states in the patent that her heirs were to inherit the title which suggests male or female as it does not specify tails male which would have been more usual.
I have a question from the other article: what does ‘in her hair’ mean? Does it mean her hair was worn long and loose?
The Pembroke title itself of courss is also important as this was the title of Henry’s father, grandfather and his mother with that of Richmond already applied to his son, Henry Fitzroy, another statement of intent. Henry is raising Anne above the other Dukes by inferring a Tudor royal title. He is preparing her road to Queenship and marriage by making her a noblewoman and all of their children as royal heirs. He is making her acceptable to his royal contemporaries, King Francis and to his subjects. What Henry did not claculate was that no matter how many titles he gave her, Anne would never be acceptable to the majority of his subjects or to his nobles. She would never be accepted by the Papacy, the Emperor and even Francis would sit on the fence; accepting her before the wedding as a future Queen, but failing to publically recognise the marriage or to speak in favour of it to the Pope, sending wedding presents but breaking promises made at Calais. Francis’s wife, Eleanor, the sister of Charles V, would not receive Anne and his sister, Marguarite, would not either, despite claims that Anne had served in her court and was her friend or at least aquaintance. Anne was not going to find her rise to power easy; even if it was a transforming experience in a mystical sense. Her own failure to make the transformation from demanding royal mistress to traditional, subervient royal wife, would further alienate her not only from the nobles who now witnessed her elevation to one of them, but on whose loyalty and support she and Henry depended.
The ceremony itself must have been a minor triumph for Henry and Anne, one of her highest moments; must have been indeed beautiful and very regal. There is a beautiful reconstruction of this on the Tudors, with Anne in her velvet dress and jewels, Henry and Suffolk and others in the robes of state, her father and brother, although it is unlikely that they actually took part in the dias as they are not high enough, her ladies and the others are all there, all in their best dress, Cromwell reads the patent and she is enobled and her growns are placed around her with the coronet on her head. There is a fanfare and off she and Henry goes to be greeted and cheers on the way back through the court in procession with the other nobles. I guess they had a bog nosh up afterwards. But this was a rare high spot. I hope that she made the most of it.
In her hair meant just that Bandit Queen, I read that she wore her hair loose for the occasion, she did prefer to wear it loose I believe rather than pinned up and when the opportunity arose she made the most of it.
Thanks, Christine, yes, she would have had her hair down, thanks for the information.
Though I read and watch everything “Tudor” so to speak , I can only imagine what it was truly like during those 3 or so years for Anne . The incredible life changing highs , then the complete opposite side of the spectrum and lowest low for Queen Anne Boleyn . I actually cry during “The Tudor’s” episode when Queen Anne is murdered on her husband King Henry’s orders . I am sure it is the closest I will ever be to where it actually took place in England . Unfortunately Anne Boleyn was born before her time or those minds could wrap their heads around the fact that women were also intelligent and equal to men . God rest your soul Queen Anne.