Did Queen Anne Boleyn have really over 60 maids-of-honour ?
[faq answer]
6 thoughts on “Did Queen Anne Boleyn have really over 60 maids-of-honour ?”
I’m the one who asked this question and I’ve read about the 60 maids of honour on wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maid_of_Honour I was Kinda surprised of this number,that’s why I asked 🙂
Hi,
I’ve looked at the wikipedia page and it does not cite a reference to back up that number. I’m afraid I just don’t know but 60 sounds rather a lot.
In 1532 at Katherine of Aragon temporary had 250! maids of honor. This was during the time that Katherine spent at Hertforshire manor at Henry’s request they not live together anymore. Henry made sure that the manor was splendidly decorated and had many servants to perhaps show ambassadors that Katherine was not being treated badly as she claimed, maids though she was soon sent to The more where she only a few servants to wait on her.
Anyway! Seeming as though Katherine of Aragon (although temporarily!) had a large number of maids, its very plausible that Anne Boleyn may have had up to 60 maids; most likely for special occasions. It is also important to remember that not all ladies and maids waited on a Queen all at once. They had some sort of timetable where they would serve when required.
Hope this gives you a little insight!
(Source: Alison Weir’s ‘The six wives of Henry the VIII)
Thanks both for those answer ! I actually found out by myself the answer in “The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn” from Eric Ives (Which I bought after I read here that it was the Best Anne Boleyn Biography :D) :
Page 164 It is said that “…with sixty maids of honour in attendance,Queen Anne was prayed for by name and given full regal honours” 🙂
Yes, she did have 60 maids in attendance when she went to mass on Easter Saturday 1533 but I thought you meant in general and I’m not sure how many she had on a day-to-day basis.
I’m the one who asked this question and I’ve read about the 60 maids of honour on wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maid_of_Honour I was Kinda surprised of this number,that’s why I asked 🙂
Hi,
I’ve looked at the wikipedia page and it does not cite a reference to back up that number. I’m afraid I just don’t know but 60 sounds rather a lot.
Hi AnneBoleynFan,
In 1532 at Katherine of Aragon temporary had 250! maids of honor. This was during the time that Katherine spent at Hertforshire manor at Henry’s request they not live together anymore. Henry made sure that the manor was splendidly decorated and had many servants to perhaps show ambassadors that Katherine was not being treated badly as she claimed, maids though she was soon sent to The more where she only a few servants to wait on her.
Anyway! Seeming as though Katherine of Aragon (although temporarily!) had a large number of maids, its very plausible that Anne Boleyn may have had up to 60 maids; most likely for special occasions. It is also important to remember that not all ladies and maids waited on a Queen all at once. They had some sort of timetable where they would serve when required.
Hope this gives you a little insight!
(Source: Alison Weir’s ‘The six wives of Henry the VIII)
Thanks both for those answer ! I actually found out by myself the answer in “The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn” from Eric Ives (Which I bought after I read here that it was the Best Anne Boleyn Biography :D) :
Page 164 It is said that “…with sixty maids of honour in attendance,Queen Anne was prayed for by name and given full regal honours” 🙂
Yes, she did have 60 maids in attendance when she went to mass on Easter Saturday 1533 but I thought you meant in general and I’m not sure how many she had on a day-to-day basis.
-maids