Claire | May 15, 2022
On this day in history, 15th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were tried by a jury of their peers presided over by their own uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. Did they have any hope of justice? What happened? What do the contemporary sources tell us? And what happened […]
Claire | May 15, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 15th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, the courtier, poet and diplomat, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were tried in the King’s Hall at the Tower of London. They were tried separately by a jury of their peers presided over by their uncle, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of […]
Claire | May 15, 2020
On this day in history, 15th May 1536, less than two weeks after their arrests, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were tried by a jury of their peers in the King’s Hall of the Tower of London. Their own uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, presided over the trial. What happened […]
Claire | May 15, 2017
On this day in history, Monday 15th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were tried for high treason in the King’s Hall of the royal palace at the Tower of London. Their fellow courtiers, Mark Smeaton, William Brereton, Sir Francis Weston and Sir Henry Norris, had been tried by […]
Claire | May 15, 2016
On 15th May 1536, Queen Anne Boleyn and her brother, George Boleyn, Lord Rochford, were tried in separate trials in the King’s Hall at the Tower of London. As members of the aristocracy, the Boleyn siblings had been given the privilege of being tried by a jury of their peers, presided over by their uncle, […]
Claire | May 15, 2015
According to Eustace Chapuys, the imperial ambassador, on the morning of the 15th May 1536 Jane Seymour received a message from the King informing her that he would send her a further message at 3 o’clock regarding the “condemnation” of Anne Boleyn. Henry VIII was sure that Anne Boleyn was going to be found guilty […]
Claire | May 15, 2014
Following Anne Boleyn’s departure from court, her brother George was brought in to face the same hostile jury. He was, of course, prejudiced by his sister’s conviction because she had been found guilty of incest with him and of conspiring to kill the King with him, but he still put up a spirited defence. So […]
Claire | May 12, 2014
On 12th May 1536, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was appointed Lord High Steward of England in readiness for ruling, as Lord President, over the trials of Anne and George Boleyn. Thomas Howard was the eldest son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, and of Elizabeth Tilney. He was the brother of Elizabeth […]
