Log In
Register
Home
Topic RSS
3:57 pm
July 2, 2011
Offline
I don't know if this has been a topic before, but I thought I'd give it a try =) Basically, what do you think made Anne stand out from other women when she first came to court in England? Obviously she would have been in the new French styles, maybe even with a French accent. She would have been polished, and sophisticated, and elegant. I believe that the very essence of who she was drew people to her, whether they liked her or not! I can imagine her carrying herself with immense dignity, but not really being “cold” or “haughty”. I like going over the little details. Can you imagine her as a person who smiled a lot, or strolled about straight-faced? I like to think that she had a brilliant smile – in the NPG portrait, she definitely does!
I actually find it surprising that Henry VIII wasn't drawn to her straight away; but then at that time he would have been “seeing” Anne's sister. I wonder whether he liked Anne straight away, but kept it to himself? We'll never know, but it sure is interesting to speculate!
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts! =D
xxx
5:58 pm
June 7, 2010
Offline
I agree with your points. There was just something about Anne. I believe she was different from the standards of the day, and that set her apart from the peaches and cream English roses. I agree her French fashions and excellent manners was an attraction. She was the ultimate courtier. Eric Ives does discuss some of these aspects in his bio on Anne.
What I love about Anne is that she was not considered beautiful for her time. She did not fit into the mould of an English beauty. Yet, she used other attributes: intelligence, wit, and talents to attract attention. Yet, there was something about her appearance attracted attention. According to reports about Anne, she did not look like other women: sexy with shiny dark locks and beautiful eyes. She used her eyes to her advantage, and I imagine when she walked by, one flick of her eyes, and you were lost.
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
6:35 pm
November 18, 2010
Offline
Where do (general)you start??
Anne had that je ne sais pas which gave her that extra charisma over the English court beauties. Her French style in clothing and manners.
Her hauteur .
Her education , intelligence and musical abilty.
Her looks.
Her ancestory.
It's always bunnies.
10:31 pm
May 19, 2011
Offline
Anne.. Anne… From my readings of her, she strived to be the peak of feminine courtier-ly perfection- and succeeded!
She was sophisticated in her dress and manners, her words were clever, had many meanings and were spoken with a soft french accent- she sang and danced to perfection, she could play the harp and virginals; she had spirit and fire- wild for to hold, though I seem tame…
I think she was heads above the rest of the English court- including the King, for her culture, intelligence, humour and sophistication. And, as DOB say's, she was the opposite of the other English ladies, so she naturally stood out with her darker colouring, long dark hair and flashing black eyes.
Plus she was alluring, passionate and loyal. What's not to like!
I see Anne as someone always dancing, her eyes sparkling in conversation, laughing and playing the game of courtly love, walking her dogs in the gardens in the latest French fashions, hunting side saddle with an ivory crossbow.. After all, in Wyatt's poem “whoso list to hunt” he says of her: “since in a net I seek to hold the wind..”
"A fresh young damsel, who could trip and go"
6:42 am
July 2, 2011
Offline
Thanks for all the comments, everyone, they’re absolutely spot-on! – You guys put into words something I couldn't =D Anne really was something special, wasn’t she? I bet that the gentlemen of the court were jumping for joy the day she turned up, and that all the other ladies at court were seething with jealousy! In the end, Anne had something that none of them could replicate: simply Being Anne. E, I like your point that she probably surpassed even the king – it makes one wonder if Henry was actually jealous of her? =)
1:01 pm
April 11, 2011
Offline
I think that the point about Henry being jealous of Anne could have some validity. As Henry had a predilection for both egomania and narcissism, then any attention given to Anne that wasn't reflected back on Henry would have been irksome in the extreme to Henry.
So yes, in his own way, I do believe Henry would have been jealous of Anne, or anybody and anything for that matter, that stopped Henry being the centre of attention.
3:09 pm
July 2, 2011
Offline
Excellent points you've made there, Neil! It's interesting to speculate that if Henry was jealous of her, then that envy may have contributed to his possessiveness of her. I'm just speculating here, but maybe he saw in Anne things that he wanted to be considered to have: the ability to dazzle those around her, her wit, her talent – did he want to make her his own so that everything that she was became part of him? When she became queen, did he become resentful of her for stealing the limelight from him?
Anyway, what I'm saying is all just conjecture; I'm not suggesting that Henry's feelings for her were based on jealousy. But I like considering all of these things, wondering what contributed to his fascination for her, and his determination to win her, whatever the cost =)
9:09 am
May 19, 2011
Offline
I agree with you H of Hever- I think Henry did want to dazzle, often in a child like way- he still dressed up in disguise in Anne of Cleve's time at court; his courtiers were expected to pretend they didn't know it was him! Anne had the ability to dazzle whilst also being sophistcated- so much better!
Ive always believed his jealosy of her and obsession with her had something to do with the viciousness of her death..
"A fresh young damsel, who could trip and go"
9:39 pm
August 12, 2009
Offline
Neil Kemp said:
I think that the point about Henry being jealous of Anne could have some validity. As Henry had a predilection for both egomania and narcissism, then any attention given to Anne that wasn't reflected back on Henry would have been irksome in the extreme to Henry.
So yes, in his own way, I do believe Henry would have been jealous of Anne, or anybody and anything for that matter, that stopped Henry being the centre of attention.
This reminded me of rumors of Prince Charles allegedly being jealous of Princess Diana stealing the limelight. He'd always been the 'playboy prince', and yet this commoner wife had a way of drawing attention to herself that completely eclipsed him and he didn't like it. I'm NOT in any way comparing him to Henry, just saying it's not unknown for a man to be threatened by a wife more successful or more popular or more the center of attention than him.
"Don't knock at death's door.
Ring the bell and run. He hates that."
