Addicted to Anne Boleyn
There is something about Anne Boleyn that still fascinates us and inspires us today, more than 500 years after her birth. On this page you will find articles written by Anne Boleyn Files visitors about Anne and you can also read some poetry written about Anne if you click here.Anne Boleyn Articles
As part of The Anne Boleyn Files "Anne Boleyn Day", I ran an article competition. Entrants had to write an article on why Anne Boleyn still fascinates people today. Here are the entries, starting with the winning article by Emma:-“Remember me when you do pray
That hope doth lead from day to day”
These words were penned by Anne Boleyn in a Books of Hours which is now located at Hever Castle. How poignant and almost eerie the words seem now. Could Anne have imagined that people almost 500 years later would still find her as fascinating as Henry did? Surely not, but this verse - along with "le temps viendra" (the time will come) written in another book - show that she had every intention of being a force to reckon with, a person who would not fade from memory. How is it that she has maintained her status as one of history's most interesting women?
Firstly, her character was deep and complex. Although her most commonly referenced traits are her sharp temper and ambition, true history lovers know that is only scratching the surface. In the last ten years of her life, during her highest and lowest moments, every angle of that character was exposed. She was demanding yet giving, strict but playful, a woman who could not be controlled or crossed.
In the end, stripped of her title and honor, it was her immense courage which carried her through those dark, final hours. Who among us cannot be inspired by that? Some sources portray Anne as a victim, some portray her as a villain, but the truth is that she was human. Her story may have been larger than life as a queen, but at the core she was not much different than any other woman: a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister. She saw joy and heartbreak, tragedy and triumph. We try to imagine the emotions she felt, perhaps finding a bit of her in ourselves, and this realism binds us to her even today.
Another fascinating aspect of Anne’s story is her physical appearance. Even in the present, unfortunately, judgment of women is frequently based on looks. Despite not having a firm likeness of her, we know from contemporary accounts and varied portraits that while she was attractive in an exotic way, she was not beautiful to the typical standard. Henry was not in love with Anne because of something as superficial as beauty - he was captivated by her grace, wit, intelligence and poise. She was proof of how far women can go by using her brain… how refreshing and empowering!
Ultimately, the answer to the question of why Anne is so fascinating revolves back to the question itself. Why?... We simply don't know. So much about the time period is unknown and will remain unknown. We can't be certain what Anne looked like, or precisely when her relationship with Henry began, and when it first began to unravel. Even the year of her birth is a subject for disagreement among historians. Centuries of debate and research has not answered all, and thus her story did not end with the stroke of a sword. We continue to learn and question, year after year, pausing on May 19th to honor a woman who is still a great mystery.
Little could Anne Boleyn have known how many lives she would impact - not just her contemporaries, but for centuries to come. The approximate ten years she spent in the public eye is but a small blip on the historical radar, yet she is one of the most popular, controversial figures of all time.
Anne was a woman before her time, a woman who dared to step outside the boundaries set by the men who ruled. When she jotted down the lines in that Book of Hours, she could not have foreseen just how much people would indeed remember her. And perhaps that is her legacy, along with her daughter Elizabeth I. Henry put out that bright flame, but it has continued to burn for 473 years in the hearts of those of us who admire her so greatly. She gives us pride, and courage, and indeed when we remember her - we find hope.
By Emma
Here is an excellent entry from one of Anne's teenage fans, Ana Sofía:-
"Why people –especially women- admire Anne Boleyn"
Anne Boleyn, or as the title she held, Queen Anne Boleyn, is one of the most important figures in all time of British history. Her existence was of such relevance because she was the object of transition from the Catholic Church to the Anglicans in England, but also because she was a non-royal woman who besotted the king of England and his court. Anne in her early years must’ve day-dreamed about her future and her ambitions, but never imagined how high her star would rise.
By Ana Sofía
Kimberly Eve, a writer who is writing her very first novel inspired by Anne Boleyn, wrote the following top quality article:-
Anne Boleyn Thye Most Happy
I firmly believe Anne Boleyn stood out to Henry VIII not only for her rumoured beauty but because she was unlike any British born woman he had ever met. This is partly the reason why she is still being talked about to this day. During her adolescent years, Anne Boleyn was groomed and educated in the Netherlands and France by three very influential women: Archduchess Margaret of Austria, Henry VIII’s sister, Margaret Tudor, who was betrothed to French King Louis XII of France, and Queen Claude of France. She served as a maid of honour or junior attendant but not yet a lady-in-waiting. By the time she returned to England and met Henry VIII she was every bit a French Lady.
by Kimberly Eve
Our next wonderful entry is by RobertaPhilbrick:-
Anne Boleyn…Her Worldly Attraction
People have been attracted to the story of Anne Boleyn and her life with King Henry VIII for centuries…I believe the draw is because she was an “empowering” woman in a time where women had no “legitimate” power in the world and because she was once the “underdog” we can all relate to. In the 1500’s the people of England and most other lands were ruled by fear. The church governed the masses with the fear of an afterlife in damnation. The Roman Catholic Church held their “virtual” power by keeping the public ignorant and not permitting the Bible to be translated into other languages. The Church itself feared, and rightly so, that if the general masses could read and actually interpret the bible for themselves, then in turn they would be capable of governing their daily lives and “afterlives”.
By Roberta Philbrick
The next entry is by Heather Rieseck and is a great article - I must add some Team Anne T-shirts to our Cafe Press store!
The Mystery of the Fascination with Anne Boleyn
The interest in historical fiction and especially the Tudor court has climbed to a fever pitch in recent years. People have developed a passion for their favorite queen of Henry VIII and debate with each other as to who was the best queen and for what reasons; I am surprised that I haven’t seen any Team Anne or Team Katherine shirts yet (reminiscent of Team Aniston and Team Jolie)! Out of all of Henry’s queens, Anne Boleyn is frequently the most talked about and probably for good reason. I think much of the fascination with Anne Boleyn begins with the way she pushed her way into Henry’s heart and would not settle for the role of Royal Mistress. She had a power and force to her that most women of the time would not even dare to think about. In fact, many women today probably envy her passion and the strength and resolve that she had. To that end, she can be seen as a role model. She was one of those rare women that fought hard for what they wanted, and actually succeeded, for awhile.
By Heather Rieseck
In this entry, Sabrina Padilla talks of the different views that people hold of Anne - icon and anti-Christ - brilliant!
Why we still discuss Anne Boleyn
The second queen of Henry VIII was one of the most controversial queens England has ever known. In a time where women were the property of men with really no independence, she took it upon herself to become independent and break the rules of Tudor society. She embraced her intelligence and wit, and used them to her advantage. Most of us know that her bold attitude is what first attracted Henry to her. She broke the rules of what women were supposed to be and did not apologize for it. She became an icon to some of us, and to others she was the anti-christ. Catherine of Aragon said she was the “Scandal of Christendom.” Reformers looked to her as their savior, endorsing those who wanted Rome out of England. Either you loved her, or hated her. Her enemies set out to destroy her, simply because they were afraid of her, of what she could do, and how fast it could be done.
By Sabrina Padilla
The following article by Ann O'Neill is an excellent examination of why this woman is still affecting us nearly 500 years later:-
Anne Boleyn
Nearly five hundred years have passed. Why should the cries of any one woman echo more forcefully than the cries of so many others? Was she in fact more important? Was her situation perhaps more tragic than others? Not necessarily, of course. History, both written and unwritten, is full of stories of women the world over who were mistreated, maligned, and even murdered. I believe though that as tragic as Anne Boleyn’s story was, it is her bravery, her intelligence, her charm and her dignity as Queen that draws us to her story. She was more than just a footnote in the history texts, more than just number two on an infamous list of six. She was literally and figuratively a renaissance woman, who lived and went to her death in a manner of her own choosing. Some called her scheming, conniving. Others recognized her quick mind, and her shrewd ability to assess situations ranging from matters of state to those of a more personal nature. She was inimitably herself, and could be nothing more, nothing less. And if that was her undoing, it was also that which has carried her story down through centuries.
By Ann O'Neill
I have to agree with Amy Li in the next article when she talks of Anne's mystery and the puzzle we want to piece together - great article!
Anne Boleyn
Perhaps it is part of human nature to find fascination with the unknown, to explore the fiery depths of the past, and the future—whatever aspects of life that man does not already know of. Why else would scholars study the past? To learn from it? To prevent themselves and others from repeating it? While those may be driving forces to study the past, a much greater desire to understand the mysteries of events many know not of overshadows other reasons. Such is most likely the reason why modern men are so drawn to the queens and courtiers of centuries past, among them Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII and the mother of Elizabeth I. Lady Anne was a witch, traitor, heretic, and perhaps one of the most influential woman in the history of England. She was not beautiful, yet she captivated the heart of almost every man at court, including the king himself, regardless. As the daughter of a wealthy noble man, Anne received an education at Burgundy, under the Regent Margaret. Through the guidance and leadership of this noble woman, Anne not only learned to read, write and speak French perfectly, but also became very fluent in Latin as well. She was taught to sing, dance and entertain. She attended lavish courtly events at one of the most sophisticated courts of the time period (Ives 19-22). Upon her return to England, these intellectual opportunities gave Anne the upper hand at court, allowing her to stand out among the other less educated ladies of a patriarchal English society.
“Madame Anne is not of the handsomest women in the world; she is of middling stature, swarthy complexion, long neck, wide mouth, a bosom not much raised and eyes which are black and beautiful (Denny 20).”This is to say that Anne may not have been the most beautiful woman at the English Court, but a haunting quality drew many men to her. Unlike her elder sister Mary, Anne refused to be the king’s mistress. Although he wrote her numerous letters and courted her for nearly seven years, promising to make her his one and only mistress, she still refused. She had her own dignity and sense of self-pride. Anne Boleyn knew what she wanted. Though the king tried to woo her for years, she would not succumb to his charm, until he made her his queen, attesting to her ambitious spirit. Although she had many enemies, who called her a witch, a traitor and a heretic, her high level of education, impeccable fashion sense and immaculate courtly manners prove her to be an avant-garde woman way beyond her time, regardless of the mysteries and uncertainties that shroud her true character. Works Cited Denny, Joanna. Anne Boleyn A New Life for England's Tragic Queen. Ives, Eric W. The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn.
By Amy Li
Janette missed the competition but wrote a wonderful article about why she is fascinated by Anne.
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn is still talked about today because she’s the most controversial of all Henry's wives. I, like you all, am totally obsessed with her and have been for the last 35 years. I think she was the prettiest of all Henry's wives. She exuded sex appeal, mystery, magnetism and she had eyes that captivated the onlooker, taking them tantalisingly into her self, which, although she was not thought a beauty, made her seem so, she was also petite.
She had lived at the French court of Francis I from a fairly young age and so learned their etiquette, mannerisms and dress, which she bought to the English court. This style had not been seen before, so she would have stood out against the English fashion. She could speak French fluently so when she spoke in English her voice would have the French accent, which at that time, when people where not travelled, would make her even more attractive and seductive. She was an incorrigible flirt and men flocked to her, and women were jealous of her. This in itself made her unpopular.
She did not want to be involved with Henry at first but when she could see there was no way he was going to let his prey go and to say 'NO' to the king was unheard of, her fate was sealed. The power she held over Henry by keeping him celibate and at arms length for some seven years, making sure she did not go the way of her sister, who was Henry's mistress for many years before Anne came to court, and who now was cast aside after he had had his fill of her, had gone to Anne's head. No one had ever refused his sexual advances before. So I think we can all appreciate, sympathise and understand to a certain degree her predicament.
She was intelligent, musically sound and well educated, more so than almost every other women bar a few, and her wit was exceptional, very quick with an answer for every comment made to her, which also made her amusing to be around. But she was terribly ambitious. Henry felt let down by her promise to present him with a healthy male heir and not providing to do so. He was getting tired of her tantrums, jealousies, hysterics, and arrogance and told her ‘she should turn a blind eye as her betters had done before her’ And he could ‘drag her down as fast as he had elevated her‘. Henry and his councillors believed England must have a male heir, and so did not give up this pursuit of achieving it.
Anne had asked Henry numerous times to have Katherine and her daughter executed as she felt this was God's way of saying that until they where both out of the equation, dead, she would not conceive a male heir. She knew her life depended on this. But I think ultimately she thought she would be treated like Katherine had been, exiled, but she failed to remember, Katherine WAS a true princess in her own right and Anne after all, was not.
Anne had moles on her person and a sixth nail on her small finger which she tried to conceal with the French fashion of long flowing sleeves. This also ultimately went against her, she was seen as a witch, having beguiled Henry by witchcraft. What once had seemed attractive to him in this ‘different’ woman now repulsed him. He had said ‘her French way of love making now appalled him’! What ever that meant? He was acquainted with Jane Seymour and fell in love by her veneer of meek, gentleness, because underneath, she too was ambitious like Anne but knew when and where to use it. Anne could not live, she had to be got rid of. Henry wanted to make sure any future sons he had by Jane, were legitimate.
Anne was brave at her trial and execution, she had come to terms with her imminent death. Henry failed to supply a coffin for her, so her headless body lay on the scaffold covered in flies until someone put her in an arrow box!
In the end their daughter Elizabeth I reigned some fifty or sixty years.
By Janette Parlett