11 April 1533 – Royal Honours Given to Anne Boleyn
Posted By Claire on April 11, 2013
On 11th April 1533, Good Friday, King Henry VIII informed his Royal Council that Anne Boleyn was now his wife and that they must accord her with royal honours.
Two days earlier, Henry had sent a delegation of his councillors, led by the Duke of Norfolk, to Catherine of Aragon to inform her that her husband had remarried and that she was no longer queen and must call herself the Dowager Princess of Wales. Catherine did not comply, see 3 July 1533 – Catherine of Aragon Ordered to Recognise her New Title or Else!
11th April 1533, the date when Anne Boleyn was officially recognised as Queen, is recorded in the amazing painting by Hans Holbein the Younger, The Ambassadors, which portrays two ambassadors: Jean de Dinteville, maître d’hôtel to Francis I of France, and George de Selve, Bishop of Lavaur. Those who have analysed the painting have found the date marked on the celestial globe, the quadrant and the cylinder sundial. This has led to speculation that it was commissioned by Anne Boleyn, who is thought to have been Holbein’s patron at the time. The painting is rich with symbolism and is a real puzzle.
As I said in a previous article, clues to the painting’s link with Anne Boleyn include:-
- The painting was painted when Holbein was working on Mount Parnassus for Anne’s coronation.
- It was painted at the time when Anne was being recognised as Queen and preparing for her coronation.
- The date of the 11th April in the painting which coincides with Anne being recognised as Queen.
- The cosmati pavement whic Ives believes to mirror that of Westminster Abbey and “the precise spot where Anne Boleyn was anointed Queen”.1
- Jean de Dinteville’s links with Anne, their shared interest in evangelical reform, in the French ‘fashion’, and his role at her coronation. Ives ponders if Dinteville is actually depicted in his coronation outfit.
- The theme of the painting – Religious division but the hope of unity.
You can read more about Holbein’s “The Ambassadors” in the following series of articles:-
- Holbein’s The Ambassadors: A Renaissance Puzzle? – Part One: Context
- Holbein’s The Ambassadors: A Renaissance Puzzle? – Part Two: Symbols
- Holbein’s The Ambassadors: A Renaissance Puzzle? – Part Three: Jupiter and Change
Notes and Sources
- Ives, Eric (2004) The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, p235
- North, John The Ambassador’s Secret: Holbein and the World of the Renaissance (2004)
Other articles you might be interested in:
11 April 1533 – Anne Boleyn is Accorded Royal Honours and Cranmer works on the Annulment
11 April 1533 – Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII Triumphant
11th April 1533, Good Friday – Anne Boleyn is Queen
11 April 1533 – Royal honours for Anne Boleyn
11 April 1533 – Anne Boleyn the Queen
11 April 1533 – Anne Boleyn to be recognised as queen
I love that my birthday is associated with Anne Boleyn, if only in a minor way. Jean de Dinteville looks almost as grand as King Henry
Happy Birthday Daniela! April Birthdays are great though as a child, I hated when my birthday occurred during Holy Week (though it didn’t happen this year). I too treated myself to a Tudor book, “The Autobiography of Henry VIII”. Aside from a few historical inaccuracies, it is marvelously written. I loved it!
Have ordered the book, “The creation of Anne Boleyn” by Susan Bordo, looking forward to reading it. This is a wonderful painting, the skull is intriguing. Didn’t realise the 11 th April 1533 was significant in this way. I also celebrated my birthday yesterday and have ordered Susan’s book as a treat!!
A belated happy birthday to you and I hope you enjoy Susan’s book, it’s very good.
Thank you Mummerswan for your birthday wishes, yes April Birthdays are great I agree. Enjoy your book too, not sure if I have that one. Thank you Claire for your birthday wishes and for such a fantastic website. I enjoy your articles very much. X
Can you please let me know your source for Henry the 8th’s declaration on the date 11 April 1533? Thanks very much!!