I never tire of the story of Anne Boleyn and have read some of the books you mention, as well as your thorough account of Catherine Howard's life. The fact that Henry with his giant ego didn't demonstrate rage or humiliation at the accusations levelled at Anne speaks volumes. Thank you so much for this thorough and enthralling exploration of her life.
One thing I've often thought about Anne's downfall is the idea that Anne didn't consider that her interactions with Henry would need to change once they were married. As his "mistress", Anne seemed to be able to say what she thought, offer advice, read banned books, etc. As Queen, that behaviour was suddenly unacceptable and I think Anne would have a difficult time making that transition. That's without mentioning the fact that Anne had years of Henry's complete devotion but, once he had her wedded and bedded, his eyes immediately started wandering to other ladies of the court.
It was believed that you shouldn't have sex while the woman was pregnant, and Anne had at least three pregnancies (IIRC) during her 3 short years as queen. Nobody expected the king to go without, him having relationships with ladies in waiting was pretty par for the course and had Anne given him a healthy son I think she would have been OK.
Thank you Gareth for taking me back in time, at least for a little while to take my mind off things. It was also a well thought out formative account of Anne Boleyn’s life. I very much enjoyed this & can’t wait for the other videos.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate this video. On lockdown since March as I am "at risk", watching my country turn in a hate-filled, anti-science war zone I have regressed to a childhood favorite, weirdly, Anne Boleyn. I live in Atlanta, Ga and as a child many years ago in the early 70's, my mother took me to London. When we toured the Tower and got to the little stone marker which was enclosed with velvet ropes or chains or something, the tour guide mentioned her beheading, I completely lost it, breaking away from Mama's hand and going under the barrier to kneel and touch the marker. I couldn't stop crying and had to be pulled away. I was a shy little girl, but the story affected me and still does to this day. I've read and re-read books and watched anything I can find about her. Your narration is by far, the most sensible and enjoyable. I've always considered her death a murder. Even now she's mesmerizing to me, she's not a Madonna or a whore as we women are so often portrayed. Thank you for your interpretation of a complicated, courageous woman. Love her or hate her, she never deserved to be deprived of her life and even now, her dignity.
@@garethrussell8333 Wow! Saw you on the recent television show, The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family! You absolutely know your stuff and did a wonderful job, just as you do in these videos. Congrats and hope to see more of you and your work in the future.
Quite a fine telling of the life of Anne, and it seems more impartial than most historians allow themselves to become. Your telling of the story seems logical and truthful as far as can be known.
Love all the details you gave as a narrator and at a slow enough rate to fully absorb it. Henry's hatred of her must have been of great significance. To have been a part of such a heartbreaking public humiliation of Anne was beyond cruel...
This was brilliant, and so well told!! Truly it brought to mind the idea that historians are not as boring as I originally thought(in my college days), but may be storytellers in disguise 💕 You have A GIFT of storytelling, and a good cadence indeed, I do hope you'll do many more historical documentaries, I will be following you. Yours truly, A Quarantined Soul, in Cleveland, OH, ruled over by an oppressive orange tyrant whose efforts to take us back into the Dark Ages are relentless 😂
Gareth, thank you for a very enjoyable, a beautiful and thoroughly researched presentation. Just came upon your work and very much looking forward to more. I liked that you meticulously showed the different facets of what had been put forth re what happened. It gives it many more dimensions also reflecting a society's complexity. It worked! If I may, would you mind describing your accent's origin. Yours is a pronunciation I have never heard before, but I am in the USA. You are my celebration today to a new freedom from an abusive and corrupt abominable ruler. We are still in lockdown after the loss of 230,000 lives in only eight or so months. It puts former pandemics in perspective and winter is coming ...Keep up the good work, and stay well.
I have read many books about Anne and have enjoyed your narration very much. I feel it sums up Anne perfectly. I loved your book about Catherine Howard. More please xx
Thanks Garett! I love that you gave a lot of references to read about Anne. You did a good job and of course, what better to do in this quarantine than make a video you’re familiar with. Did you say your British? I sense a slight Scottish accent too. (I hope that’s not taken as an insult.) I’m glad your exploring whether or not she’s a vixen, politician, or a cunning Queen. I loved Anne of a Thousand Days. The scene where she takes sticks and says with each stick represented 100 days of different stages of their lives. I’ve seen every movie including the Tudors, and The Other Boleyn Girl. Loved them all! I also loved Reign and Mary, Queen of Scots, another controversial woman of her day and could easily be said a Catholic martyr, a highly educated woman speaking 6 languages, or a demure, but insecure, immature in the ways of the world. I’d love to hear any knowledge you have or any video like this one about Mary. Great job, Garett! Great job!!
No, that wouldn't be an insult, at all, but I'm Northern Irish, so that's the accent you hear. British can cover English, Welsh, Northern Irish, and Scottish, so I think that's it. I'd happily use British, Northern Irish, or Irish, as and when! And thank you so much for your comment; I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Anne has such a wonderfully interesting story, that it's a pleasure to narrate it!
Gareth Russell and you should be proud! I do love the accent. Glad to know that your specific accent covers several countries for lack of a better word. Yes, I hear Irish too. Please consider doing more “quarantine vids”. You did so well that it would be my pleasure to follow you/sub and listen to your historical perspective on.ANYONE. Thank you for you taking time out to comment back. Stay well, and safe. See you in your next video! Ohh I thought I heard Gareth rather than Garett, then I saw others spell it that way plus spellcheck autocorrects it regardless. Nice to meet you, Gareth. New sub for sure! Greeting from Texas, USA!
Hi Gareth, Thanks for this video. I've just finished watching this from Australia during our current lock down. I'm certainly no historian, but have read a lot about the Tudors over many years. Where Anne is concerned, and I'll state up front, I'm not a fan. I think she came to believe that Henry would do anything for her and he had, but she became too big for her boots. From what I've read she also at some stage questioned his manliness - big mistake!! If she had managed to give him a son, all would have been rosy in the world for her. She didn't learn from Henry's treatment of Catherine of Aragon and Princess Mary how quickly his affections could change. I don't believe the charges brought against her were true, but as you said Henry's obsession and her failings caused her destruction.
Hi, Glenda, thank you so much your comment and expressing it so well. In that spirit, I don't think I would agree she got too big for her boots. I think she had big boots but Henry wasn't a fan of anybody walking except him! Thank you so much for the comment - I hope you and yours are safe and well in these strange times!
It was certainly Henry's obsession that caused her destruction, but not her "failings",which were no more than any other human being might have. Even if she had been absolutely subservient to Henry, the fact remains that she did not give Henry a living male child, so Henry would have found a way to get rid of her.
@@8698gil yes we all have 'failings' of which I have many. However, if I were Anne Boleyn dealing with Henry I would have been aware of my sharp tongue. I would have kept my own counsel, cultivated my enemies and not believed in my own magic too much. Mind you hindsight is a wonderful thing. End of subject for me!
@@glendabrickley8171 Agreed “believe in my own magic” is perfect summation. I feel deeply that something completely lost to history went down between the two of them - words that broke the bond beyond repair. If Henry took on mistresses during her confinements, as he did with K Aragon, there may have been a natural deep hurt and a sense of betrayal for Anne. Her sharp tongue may not have been held back. God knows what she said to him in retaliation. Who knows if even a small part guilt about Katherine of Aragon as well adding tension - and now she was being treated the same as Henry treated the previous queen. Full circle came around quick there. Her insecurity and maybe lack of maturity is obvious by the way she handled Mary 1. He wasn’t going to live with someone who called his ego out as an equal. Little did anyone know what was to come.
Thanks so much Mr Russell. May I ask : when Anne's uncle described her as "a great night crow" precisely what did he mean? Was that what it sounds like? An insult denoting a loud, ostentatious, pain in the behind; particularly a 16th century woman who didn't "know her place"? Or could the Duke have been showing Anne a glimmer of respect and empathy here? Could he have meant Anne was like a fish out of water, an outsider; out of place ? it's such a striking description Would love to know your thoughts.
It's only my opinion, but I have always thought Henry getting the French swordsman for the execution wasn't a last act of kindness but a last mocking of how french Anne liked to behave. I think that because people like Henry was incapable of a last minute kindness. Seems a little uncharacteristic of him.
I just watched your video and it is undoubtedly the very best essay of Anne Boleyn. Excellent! outstanding! I recently purchased your book on Catherine Howard and can't wait to begin reading! To thank you! I hope you produce more videos about the early modern and medieval English monarchy.
I am convinced that spoken truth is effective, even if only a few hear it in the physical sense. Thank you so much for this thorough and enthralling exploration of her life.
I have been to Kilkenny Castle in Ireland. It’s very beautiful!! I had no idea Anne’s father’s family were the Butlers! Wonderful presentation, thank you!!
Thank you for the very interesting story of Anne Boleyn and a super THANK YOU for no obnoxious music which everyone seems to place under their videos now and is 99.9% completely unnecessary. (Rant over) 😁😁
Very enjoyable podcast. Question. I have heard about this poem you mentioned in this podcast but can't find it anywhere on line. Also, I could listen to you for hours.lecturing on history. Thank you.
Hi Gareth! I just found this video, and I really enjoyed it. Your presentation was easy to understand and thoughtful. Who brought Anne down? It had to have been Henry ... I don't think Cromwell would have taken the chance that he was acting against Henry's wishes. People were executed after making that mistake. Why was Anne executed? This question reminds me of another execution, of the Romanov family in July 1918. It's been said the Romanovs were executed to show the people of Russia there was no going back from Lenin and the new government. I think Henry knew Anne was innocent of the charges against her, but I also think Henry needed to move forward without impediment from a living, disgruntled wife. Thanks again for your informative video!
Thank you so much for recording this, and the list of Tudor books. The current lockdown has given me the opportunity to feed my Tudor obsession, including your book on Queen Catherine Howard, Young and Damned and Fair which I highly recommend. I am currently reading Alison Weir's historical fiction novel on her, Katheryn (sic) Howard: The Scandalous Queen, and have your book near to hand for fact-checking! I've read and seen some of the Anne Boleyn books and dramatic interpretations of her life that you've mentioned, and although I disagree with his conclusions, I do think G.W. Bernard's book is well argued. Gregory's book - or rather character assassination - of Anne Boleyn is my least favourite of the bunch. I would add Sandra Vasoli's book, Anne Boleyn's Letter from the Tower to the list and would be interested to hear your take on it. I'm also interested in the much-maligned Lady Rochford, so any recommendations there would be awesome. And as an aside, I love your voice. My mother was from County Armagh :)
There was no man in that kingdom that was going to go after Anne, once it was known that the king was in love with her. Excellent podcast, Gareth. I do think Anne was a bit more cruel and ruthless though, although you have to admire her wit, intelligence, and courage at her death. I have read that she was almost entirely responsible for Wolsey's fall. Cromwell ADORED Wolsey, so she made Cromwell her enemy right off the bat, according to many other historians. It's hard to know what to think, though. Great job!!!
Hi, Elizabeth - Anne's biographer, Ives, does think she was instrumental in Wolsey's downfall and has a very interesting chapter on why he thinks that, but Wolsey's (Peter Gwyn) and two more of Anne's (Bernard and Warnicke) don't think she played any real role in his downfall, whatsoever. So it remains an area of really interesting historical debate, like you say!
Thanks Gareth I will be watching. We are leading up to to astonishingly fast fall of Anne. I just finished Claire Ridgeway's book The Fall of Anne Boleyn. It was awesome! Such a sad end!
If we see Henry as a full blown, malignant narcissist, would that not explain his initial "love bombing, devaluation and discard" behavior? He always played the victim, and completely lacked empathy, guilt or remorse.
I think it does explain a lot and that in a novel it would be a brilliant motivation for a fictional version of Henry, one which made sense. With non-fiction, there's a bit of an unofficial Goldwater Rule for a lot of biographers, where they are hesitant analysing the dead, which I share. However, I think discussions about it, like you've said, are fascinating.
This is an excellent summing up. Thank you so much Gareth Russell. If, as you state, it is quite likely that Cromwell acted with Henry's encouragement, it is really surprising that Henry would expose himself as the biggest (and fast becoming the fattest) cuckold in Europe. It always makes me pause to reflect on that bash on the bonk he got in the jousting accident. I wonder if you give much credence to the notion that he was deranged from then on? It would have been more commonsensical to just accuse her of witchcraft and bang her up in a Nunnery but it seems he must have wanted something far more brutal.
I have a general question about the nobility in the 16 century. Why was it so common for nobles to foster relatives? Or for someone to grow up in another person’s household if they still have parents living? I am thinking specifically about situations like Kat Howard had in the care of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. Did wealthy relatives run like orphanages for their poor relations or how did it all work?
I loved your documentary and I'm a big fan and Anne was my favorite queen. However, I have always been confused by the rise of the Seymours after Anne's execution. Weren't they a devout Catholic family? Didn't Henry require all subjects to convert to the Church of England when he and Anne were married. When young Edward was born and became king, he was also strict Protestant and tight with the Seymour family. Did they all just over look the Seymour's Catholic faith?
Thank you, and great question. I don’t know where the theory that the Seymours were devout Catholics - it’s certainly popular, but it doesn’t seem to ever be matched by their behaviour. They never objected to the break with Rome, and although Queen Jane once objected to the closure of the monasteries, but that’s about it. Her brothers were prominent leaders of the reformist-‘Protestant’ faction at Henry’s court by the late 1530s. By the time Edward became king, the Seymours were one of the most prominent Protestant families in the English aristocracy. So I think their faith ran from towing the line in the early 1530s to being sincere Protestants by the late 1530s and from then on.
@@garethrussell8333 thank you for responding. I am not sure where I heard that Jane was Catholic. I have been fascinated with the Tudors since elementary school, but Anne has always been my favorite and hope to make it to Hever Castle and Hampton Court some day.
Re: was JaneSeymour Catholic? I did see a scene in an early TV Drama of the Six Wives …King Henry was visiting the Seymour country estate,, He was pursuing Jane. He found her in the garden She was veiled in white because she was tending bees or something similar ., Anyway Henry was charmed when she mentioned that she had “.a Vial of fOur Lord’s Tears” from a Shrine somewhere. Henry was attracted by her Piety. and Purity. . He called her his “Little Nun”. I have always wondered if Jane was really innocent and clueless about the Kings Great Matter. Her brothers were ambitious and coached her to resist Henry’s advances and refuse to be his mistress. I think her Catholic Faith was devout and according to historians Henry remained Catholic in private even though he had broken with the Pope. 500+ years ago, everyone in England was Roman Catholic. and had been for 1500 years. The protestant reformation had not happened in England , before Henry broke with Rome.
The Boleyns are my ancesstors from my mums side of the family, my grandads second name is Bloy and they were originally from france and migrated , im very mixed race and have 7 different backgrounds but i was always taught about her growing up by my Grandad.. could you tell us more about the Boleyns . When generations later some Boleyns migrated to the Uk and in scotland the name was miss spelt to Bloy. Or maybe it was pronounced Bolye and spelt bloy and the letter "n " was removed. Is Bloy a common french name?
Wolf Hall and the other Boleyn girl do not speak true of Anne, she was charitable and very forward thinking. She was innocent of all the charges against her, and I think it despicable for any author to defile her in such a manner.
I have listened more that once to this video and enjoyed it every time. I also am infatuated with the life and death of Anne Boleyn This has led me to read many of the Books you have listed, and still long for more. I joined the Tudor Society to immerse myself in the 16th century. I am sure she was innocent of the slanderous charges made to destroy her. It is still true today that this kind of obsessive attention is not love. It can be dangerous.
It was nice to hear new information on this situation. Everything else out there explaining it is like a copy/paste of the one before. However this version makes slows it down a bit and dives deeper. He was most likely played with narcissistic personality disorder so this explains the draw. I never understood why anyone would be interested in him given this was so prevalent but it’s 20/20 on that matter.
Ann boleyn was a beautiful dark head women who had a strong veiws at her time she was born ahead of her time she was strong and had her own mind if she was born now in this time she would of been s cco of a big company she would of been a strong success women now she was born ahead of her time she is a dark head beauty ❤❤😢😢😢😔😔ann was a beautiful and appreciated person she was talked by. the French court to do.what she done she was she was strong women born way head of her time ❤😢😢😔😔😔🤔
The birth of a healthy son would have saved her. Another theory is that once Katherine of Aragon was dead if Henry married a third time that marriage would be unassailable. Coupled with Anne’s recent miscarriage all this came together to bring about her end. Maybe she would have gone quietly into exile or similar? Her end was brutal and tragic.
People back then really actually believed that god was real and intervened actively in their lives. Imagine if Henry had actually known at the time about chromosomes, and that the sex of the child is determined solely by the father not the mother.
God is real. For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believed in him would no perish but have everlasting life. Study Bible prophecy and you will see that it is real. We are about to enter the great tribulation spoken about in the Bible. Please get saved now your time is short!
@@carolabbott2538 Just because it was written in some ancient texts does not make it true. I'll bet you don't believe in the Hindu god Vishnu, and why should that be any less true than your beliefs? For your information, that whole line about "only begotten son" has got to be the WORST possible selling point for christianity. First of all, isn't he god? What, he couldn't have another kid? Then he's not exactly all powerful, is he? Besides, aren't all humans supposed to be his children? Secondly, that "died on the cross" thing is NO sacrifice. He had a bad weekend and got to come back after 3 days and be king of the world. Sounds like a hell of a deal to me. Third, there are plenty of parents who would willingly sacrifice themselves for their children, and they don't get to play the "come back from the dead" card, either. They KNOW it's permanent, but they do it anyway, and that is the kind of sacrifice that actually deserves respect. Last. there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that there even is a god. It seems highly implausible that an immortal, invisible wizard "wished" an entire universe into existence.
@@carolabbott2538 Did it ever occur to you that it is you who are deluded? You've been heavily brainwashed all your life, that is very hard to shake off, I was the only one in my family who was lucky enough to be able to do so and see the truth. There are literally millions of people in the world who also believe that THEIIR belief is the right one, and who are you to say it is not? You have no more proof than anyone else.
Yeah I'm in favor of the 1501 theory- 1507 sounds a bit late. She would be like 6 when her family sent her to Margaret's court oveeseas: sounds a bit young even for the Tudors !
Interesting timing, our lady of guadalupe appears in 1532. That is another queen. I wonder if the stories about Anne being a witch started aroubd the same time. Certainly people in England must have heard the story of the alleged appiritions.
Guilty! Though I think I've read all your books which are great, I look at historical figures through the lens of contemporary views. Anne was very unpopular with not only her ladies, but her family as well. She was universally disliked. Her treatment of Mary was abhorrent. The original evil stepmother. Her narcissistic personality is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette, as shown by the motto Anne wanted as her own to tell the world “Aisi sera groigne qui groigne” “Let them grumble; that is how it is going to be" If not for her grating, overbearing, sometimes hateful personality, Anne might've made a great queen. But she was not queenly material she didn't or wouldn't fit the mold as Henry supposedly told her "Shut your eyes and endure as your betters have done" Royalty doesn't preclude affairs and if she was angry about Henry's affairs? "Aisi sera" You have to wonder about how much evidence there was that we don't have but an intriguing example of what might've existed came from Anne's #1 protector Thomas Cranmer, who completely changed his stance that she was innocent to one of her "guilt can be proven". Within the politics of that time of changing history Anne Boleyn was her own worst enemy and I think she realized it all too late. Maybe that's why she sticks out like an anomaly in royal history, a pre-Diana rebel. Sadly both victims of the same strict royal system that neither could survive.
Thank you for the comment on my books, though, I do base my conclusions on contemporary comments. Simply because we reach different conclusions does not mean one bases our assessments on contemporary comments, whereas the other does not. For instance, you can't say Anne was 'universally' disliked - there are almost as many favourable comments on her in the contemporary sources as there are negative. Contemporary comments in her favour like those made by Margaret of Austria, the Duchess of Ferrara, William Latymer, George Wyatt the chronicler, Giles de la Pommeraye, Richard Page, Thomas Cranmer, James Butler, the episcopal courts at the Ossory dispute, and even Thomas Wolsey would indicate that she wasn't universally disliked. Secondly, historians don't usually perform diagnoses like NPD off contemporary evidence. I'd also strongly disagree that Marie-Antoinette bore any traits similar to that, though that's a different discussion. Anne's unpopularity is also wildly overstated by cherry picking the sources - there certainly were people who loathed her, perhaps fairly, but it's not true to say that this is a conclusion you can reach by looking through the totality of the contemporary sources - it's only the most frequently cited that back up that conclusion.
@@garethrussell8333 But the expectation that she could marry the king and become queen seems unrealistic. Of course it happened but who could have thought it would come about? Just look who his first wife was. A Boleyn, though from a family of rank, was on an entirely different level.
@@sandraobrien8705 I completely agree with that. Sorry, what meant was that I don’t think she saw it initially saw it as a choice between mistress and wife. I think she didn’t want to be his mistress and assumed she couldn’t be his wife. If you think of the fact of how difficult travel was in those days, leaving court to move home to Hever wasn’t enticing Henry, it looks like deliberately getting out of his way. So absolutely, I think she knew that she came from a family of rank and wanted to make a good marriage - if you look at any of Henry’s other mistresses, none of them ever made a great marriage. They were married to minor country landowners or, at best, a baron, because it’s not true the high nobility were happy to accept ex-royal mistresses as wives.
Anne Boleyn had every right to protect her dignity and say no to becoming the King’s mistress. The question people never ask is why couldn’t Henry VIII take NO for an answer ?
Wow! I can’t believe this question….? I think that was extremely smart for Anne to feel that way about what she wanted for herself…. also she saw and knew how Henry tired of her own sister as his mistress, she did not want to share the same fate.
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I never tire of the story of Anne Boleyn and have read some of the books you mention, as well as your thorough account of Catherine Howard's life. The fact that Henry with his giant ego didn't demonstrate rage or humiliation at the accusations levelled at Anne speaks volumes. Thank you so much for this thorough and enthralling exploration of her life.
Thank you, that’s very kind!
Please make more videos! This was absolutely excellent, one of the best Anne Boleyn documentaries I’ve heard!
One thing I've often thought about Anne's downfall is the idea that Anne didn't consider that her interactions with Henry would need to change once they were married. As his "mistress", Anne seemed to be able to say what she thought, offer advice, read banned books, etc. As Queen, that behaviour was suddenly unacceptable and I think Anne would have a difficult time making that transition. That's without mentioning the fact that Anne had years of Henry's complete devotion but, once he had her wedded and bedded, his eyes immediately started wandering to other ladies of the court.
It was believed that you shouldn't have sex while the woman was pregnant, and Anne had at least three pregnancies (IIRC) during her 3 short years as queen. Nobody expected the king to go without, him having relationships with ladies in waiting was pretty par for the course and had Anne given him a healthy son I think she would have been OK.
Thank you Gareth for taking me back in time, at least for a little while to take my mind off things. It was also a well thought out formative account of Anne Boleyn’s life. I very much enjoyed this & can’t wait for the other videos.
I cannot thank you enough for this thorough review of Anne Boleyn. Empressive, scholastic and your oratory kept me riveted to this video. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you very much! That's very kind of you, Shawn.
She was remarkable and will forever be somewhat of a mystery. Thank you for your devotion to history.
"The story’s hero - Thomas Cromwell"
My brain actually stuttered lol.
Very well done. Thank you.
I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate this video. On lockdown since March as I am "at risk", watching my country turn in a hate-filled, anti-science war zone I have regressed to a childhood favorite, weirdly, Anne Boleyn. I live in Atlanta, Ga and as a child many years ago in the early 70's, my mother took me to London. When we toured the Tower and got to the little stone marker which was enclosed with velvet ropes or chains or something, the tour guide mentioned her beheading, I completely lost it, breaking away from Mama's hand and going under the barrier to kneel and touch the marker. I couldn't stop crying and had to be pulled away. I was a shy little girl, but the story affected me and still does to this day. I've read and re-read books and watched anything I can find about her. Your narration is by far, the most sensible and enjoyable. I've always considered her death a murder. Even now she's mesmerizing to me, she's not a Madonna or a whore as we women are so often portrayed. Thank you for your interpretation of a complicated, courageous woman. Love her or hate her, she never deserved to be deprived of her life and even now, her dignity.
That means so much to hear, or read!, thank you very much. I'm delighted.
@@garethrussell8333 Wow! Saw you on the recent television show, The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family! You absolutely know your stuff and did a wonderful job, just as you do in these videos. Congrats and hope to see more of you and your work in the future.
Wonderful - one of the best appraisals I have ever heard. Thank you for the book list.
That is very flattering, thank you.
The last paragraph was beautiful. I am thankful that you are able to bring such light to a beautiful and mistreated woman
Thank you! I'm very glad you enjoyed it.
I love any information about Anne Boleyn. Poor young girl, beheaded by her husband. 😢
Thanks a lot Gareth, please keep going, I love hearing well informed channels on this subject. PS your voice is very easy on the ear.
So glad I have stumbled across this channel. Thank you for doing this in these unprecedented times.
Thank you very much, Dana, and you're welcome!
Right? It’s like a light in the darkness of covid and we get to learn something that we’re all interested in! 🥰
Lovely, thank you Gareth. What a treat.
FASCINATING!! We're still enjoying your analysis through subsequent lockdowns, with yet another looming on the horizon.
Quite a fine telling of the life of Anne, and it seems more impartial than most historians allow themselves to become. Your telling of the story seems logical and truthful as far as can be known.
Love all the details you gave as a narrator and at a slow enough rate to fully absorb it. Henry's hatred of her must have been of great significance. To have been a part of such a heartbreaking public humiliation of Anne was beyond cruel...
Thank you, Sherry! I try to keep my tone easy to follow and not rush - I'm a bit of a fast speaker in everyday!
Just discovered your channel and I’m so excited Tysm for all of the work you’ve put into this for us! 🥰
This was brilliant, and so well told!! Truly it brought to mind the idea that historians are not as boring as I originally thought(in my college days), but may be storytellers in disguise 💕
You have A GIFT of storytelling, and a good cadence indeed, I do hope you'll do many more historical documentaries, I will be following you. Yours truly,
A Quarantined Soul, in Cleveland, OH, ruled over by an oppressive orange tyrant whose efforts to take us back into the Dark Ages are relentless 😂
That is very kind of you to say, thank you. I'm very glad and what you said is very much appreciated!
Thank you for this! I just finished Young, Damned and Fair! Excellent work!
Thank you, Laura, I'm very glad that you enjoyed it and the book! I do miss writing about Catherine!
I have read Young, Damned and Fair twice over. Anne Boleyn will always be my favourite but I found the life of Catherine very interesting and sad too
Fantastic stuff really interesting you've done some really good research
Thank you, that was wonderful to simply listen to the remarkable life and tragic death of Queen Anne Boleyn.
Thank you!
Absolutely brilliant just lived listening to this no stupid background music noises just plain really interesting facts . Thankyou
Janet Hughes lol I don’t mind it long as I can hear the words clearly
This presentation is very riveting to a Tudor junkie like me. I love to hear you speak..
Thank you!
Fascinating. She’ll always be my favourite historical figure.
You can’t be more of a looser than to lose your head
What a wonderful documentary! I learned alot. Thank you.
Thank you!
Absolutely beautiful. Articulate and on point your voice in narrative is perfect. Thank you so much for this informative piece about Anne Boylen ❤
Thank you, Gareth, for your unique view on this fantastic woman. Thought provoking, and can never get enough of learning about Queen Anne. Great job!
Gareth, thank you for a very enjoyable, a beautiful and thoroughly researched presentation. Just came upon your work and very much looking forward to more. I liked that you meticulously showed the different facets of what had been put forth re what happened. It gives it many more dimensions also reflecting a society's complexity. It worked!
If I may, would you mind describing your accent's origin. Yours is a pronunciation I have never heard before, but I am in the USA. You are my celebration today to a new freedom from an abusive and corrupt abominable ruler. We are still in lockdown after the loss of 230,000 lives in only eight or so months. It puts former pandemics in perspective and winter is coming ...Keep up the good work, and stay well.
Incredibly kind of you to say, thank you!
I have read many books about Anne and have enjoyed your narration very much. I feel it sums up Anne perfectly. I loved your book about Catherine Howard. More please xx
Love your Podcasts. Also, I catch you as a guest. Please continue and Thank you.
Excellent documentary!! Perhaps we could get one about Mary Stuart soon? ❤️
Thank you Garett! A welcome distraction today.
Beautiful presentation🌹🍃Interesting, your comment at the very end, "Wishing you a safe few weeks" Longest weeks of our loves!🌹🍃
Thanks Garett! I love that you gave a lot of references to read about Anne.
You did a good job and of course, what better to do in this quarantine than make a video you’re familiar with. Did you say your British? I sense a slight Scottish accent too. (I hope that’s not taken as an insult.)
I’m glad your exploring whether or not she’s a vixen, politician, or a cunning Queen.
I loved Anne of a Thousand Days. The scene where she takes sticks and says with each stick represented 100 days of different stages of their lives. I’ve seen every movie including the Tudors, and The Other Boleyn Girl. Loved them all! I also loved Reign and Mary, Queen of Scots, another controversial woman of her day and could easily be said a Catholic martyr, a highly educated woman speaking 6 languages, or a demure, but insecure, immature in the ways of the world. I’d love to hear any knowledge you have or any video like this one about Mary.
Great job, Garett!
Great job!!
No, that wouldn't be an insult, at all, but I'm Northern Irish, so that's the accent you hear. British can cover English, Welsh, Northern Irish, and Scottish, so I think that's it. I'd happily use British, Northern Irish, or Irish, as and when! And thank you so much for your comment; I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Anne has such a wonderfully interesting story, that it's a pleasure to narrate it!
Gareth Russell and you should be proud! I do love the accent. Glad to know that your specific accent covers several countries for lack of a better word. Yes, I hear Irish too.
Please consider doing more “quarantine vids”. You did so well that it would be my pleasure to follow you/sub and listen to your historical perspective on.ANYONE.
Thank you for you taking time out to comment back. Stay well, and safe. See you in your next video!
Ohh I thought I heard Gareth rather than Garett, then I saw others spell it that way plus spellcheck autocorrects it regardless. Nice to meet you, Gareth. New sub for sure! Greeting from Texas, USA!
It's amazing how polarizing she was back then and even now, I think she was a lady born centuries before her time.
Hi Gareth, Thanks for this video. I've just finished watching this from Australia during our current lock down. I'm certainly no historian, but have read a lot about the Tudors over many years. Where Anne is concerned, and I'll state up front, I'm not a fan. I think she came to believe that Henry would do anything for her and he had, but she became too big for her boots. From what I've read she also at some stage questioned his manliness - big mistake!! If she had managed to give him a son, all would have been rosy in the world for her. She didn't learn from Henry's treatment of Catherine of Aragon and Princess Mary how quickly his affections could change. I don't believe the charges brought against her were true, but as you said Henry's obsession and her failings caused her destruction.
Hi, Glenda, thank you so much your comment and expressing it so well. In that spirit, I don't think I would agree she got too big for her boots. I think she had big boots but Henry wasn't a fan of anybody walking except him! Thank you so much for the comment - I hope you and yours are safe and well in these strange times!
It was certainly Henry's obsession that caused her destruction, but not her "failings",which were no more than any other human being might have. Even if she had been absolutely subservient to Henry, the fact remains that she did not give Henry a living male child, so Henry would have found a way to get rid of her.
@@8698gil yes we all have 'failings' of which I have many. However, if I were Anne Boleyn dealing with Henry I would have been aware of my sharp tongue. I would have kept my own counsel, cultivated my enemies and not believed in my own magic too much. Mind you hindsight is a wonderful thing. End of subject for me!
@@glendabrickley8171 Agreed “believe in my own magic” is perfect summation.
I feel deeply that something completely lost to history went down between the two of them - words that broke the bond beyond repair.
If Henry took on mistresses during her confinements, as he did with K Aragon, there may have been a natural deep hurt and a sense of betrayal for Anne. Her sharp tongue may not have been held back. God knows what she said to him in retaliation. Who knows if even a small part guilt about Katherine of Aragon as well adding tension - and now she was being treated the same as Henry treated the previous queen. Full circle came around quick there.
Her insecurity and maybe lack of maturity is obvious by the way she handled Mary 1.
He wasn’t going to live with someone who called his ego out as an equal. Little did anyone know what was to come.
Thanks so much Mr Russell. May I ask : when Anne's uncle described her as "a great night crow" precisely what did he mean? Was that what it sounds like? An insult denoting a loud, ostentatious, pain in the behind; particularly a 16th century woman who didn't "know her place"? Or could the Duke have been showing Anne a glimmer of respect and empathy here? Could he have meant Anne was like a fish out of water, an outsider; out of place ? it's such a striking description Would love to know your thoughts.
Thank you so much great watching
Fantastic video and narration. Appreciate the mention that one should consider more critical appraisals of Anne.
Wonderful new channel. I enjoyed this very much and thank you.
I am so impressed with your Podcast. Thank you.
It's only my opinion, but I have always thought Henry getting the French swordsman for the execution wasn't a last act of kindness but a last mocking of how french Anne liked to behave. I think that because people like Henry was incapable of a last minute kindness. Seems a little uncharacteristic of him.
Really enjoyed this and your talk on the book on Catherine Howard. Hope you do more
Splendid lecture - highly entertaining. Thank you.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Love Tudor History. Excellent historical video, easy to listen to. Anne is my favorite Queen and historical figure
I just watched your video and it is undoubtedly the very best essay of Anne Boleyn. Excellent! outstanding! I recently purchased your book on Catherine Howard and can't wait to begin reading! To thank you! I hope you produce more videos about the early modern and medieval English monarchy.
Thank you, I hope you enjoy it!
Fabulous account, Gareth - really enjoyed it... even if you have given me even MORE books to read! :)
Hahaha! I know, it's always my fear when I end up watching something and coming away with more for the to-read mountain!
I am convinced that spoken truth is effective, even if only a few hear it in the physical sense.
Thank you so much for this thorough and enthralling exploration of her life.
Excellent presentation.
Does anyone know the name of the painting at @7:03 ?
Mesmerizing video. I love your telling of this tragedy.
thank you!
I have been to Kilkenny Castle in Ireland. It’s very beautiful!! I had no idea Anne’s father’s family were the Butlers! Wonderful presentation, thank you!!
Isn't it wonderful?
Thank you for a fascinating video! A welcome distraction to what’s going on at the moment! I look forward to seeing more of your videos! 😀👍🏼
Thank you for the very interesting story of Anne Boleyn and a super THANK YOU for no obnoxious music which everyone seems to place under their videos now and is 99.9% completely unnecessary. (Rant over) 😁😁
Bravo, this was a very educational and entertaining video on the life of a fascinating and stoic English Queen. 👏🏻 Thank you!
Very enjoyable podcast. Question. I have heard about this poem you mentioned in this podcast but can't find it anywhere on line. Also, I could listen to you for hours.lecturing on history. Thank you.
Thank you so much!
@@garethrussell8333 Your welcome. Stay safe.
Brilliant Gareth really enjoyable and knowledgeable well explained.
I think I just ordered your book!
I hope you enjoy it, thank you!
Hi Gareth! I just found this video, and I really enjoyed it. Your presentation was easy to understand and thoughtful.
Who brought Anne down? It had to have been Henry ... I don't think Cromwell would have taken the chance that he was acting against Henry's wishes. People were executed after making that mistake.
Why was Anne executed? This question reminds me of another execution, of the Romanov family in July 1918. It's been said the Romanovs were executed to show the people of Russia there was no going back from Lenin and the new government. I think Henry knew Anne was innocent of the charges against her, but I also think Henry needed to move forward without impediment from a living, disgruntled wife.
Thanks again for your informative video!
Thank you so much for recording this, and the list of Tudor books. The current lockdown has given me the opportunity to feed my Tudor obsession, including your book on Queen Catherine Howard, Young and Damned and Fair which I highly recommend. I am currently reading Alison Weir's historical fiction novel on her, Katheryn (sic) Howard: The Scandalous Queen, and have your book near to hand for fact-checking! I've read and seen some of the Anne Boleyn books and dramatic interpretations of her life that you've mentioned, and although I disagree with his conclusions, I do think G.W. Bernard's book is well argued. Gregory's book - or rather character assassination - of Anne Boleyn is my least favourite of the bunch. I would add Sandra Vasoli's book, Anne Boleyn's Letter from the Tower to the list and would be interested to hear your take on it. I'm also interested in the much-maligned Lady Rochford, so any recommendations there would be awesome. And as an aside, I love your voice. My mother was from County Armagh :)
I've a lot of friends from County Armagh, it's such a beautiful part of the world, and thank you for your very kind words.
There was no man in that kingdom that was going to go after Anne, once it was known that the king was in love with her. Excellent podcast, Gareth. I do think Anne was a bit more cruel and ruthless though, although you have to admire her wit, intelligence, and courage at her death. I have read that she was almost entirely responsible for Wolsey's fall. Cromwell ADORED Wolsey, so she made Cromwell her enemy right off the bat, according to many other historians. It's hard to know what to think, though. Great job!!!
Hi, Elizabeth - Anne's biographer, Ives, does think she was instrumental in Wolsey's downfall and has a very interesting chapter on why he thinks that, but Wolsey's (Peter Gwyn) and two more of Anne's (Bernard and Warnicke) don't think she played any real role in his downfall, whatsoever. So it remains an area of really interesting historical debate, like you say!
I am a huge Tudor fan and I do Dr David Starkey's hair. I thought this was a great presentation and shall ask him if he’s heard when i see him next.
Thanks Gareth I will be watching. We are leading up to to astonishingly fast fall of Anne. I just finished Claire Ridgeway's book The Fall of Anne Boleyn. It was awesome! Such a sad end!
I love Claire's books! Do you watch her RUclips channel? It's great too!
Agree. Excellent book! Have you read Sandra Vasoli's book, Anne Boleyn's Letter from the Tower?
This was wonderfully informative, thank you so much.
If we see Henry as a full blown, malignant narcissist, would that not explain his initial "love bombing, devaluation and discard" behavior? He always played the victim, and completely lacked empathy, guilt or remorse.
I think it does explain a lot and that in a novel it would be a brilliant motivation for a fictional version of Henry, one which made sense. With non-fiction, there's a bit of an unofficial Goldwater Rule for a lot of biographers, where they are hesitant analysing the dead, which I share. However, I think discussions about it, like you've said, are fascinating.
Wasn't her uncle at her trial what part did he play for or against her
Against but he can't have been completely heartless. He burst into tears while reading her the death sentence.
This is an excellent summing up. Thank you so much Gareth Russell. If, as you state, it is quite likely that Cromwell acted with Henry's encouragement, it is really surprising that Henry would expose himself as the biggest (and fast becoming the fattest) cuckold in Europe. It always makes me pause to reflect on that bash on the bonk he got in the jousting accident. I wonder if you give much credence to the notion that he was deranged from then on? It would have been more commonsensical to just accuse her of witchcraft and bang her up in a Nunnery but it seems he must have wanted something far more brutal.
I have a general question about the nobility in the 16 century. Why was it so common for nobles to foster relatives? Or for someone to grow up in another person’s household if they still have parents living? I am thinking specifically about situations like Kat Howard had in the care of the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. Did wealthy relatives run like orphanages for their poor relations or how did it all work?
I loved your documentary and I'm a big fan and Anne was my favorite queen. However, I have always been confused by the rise of the Seymours after Anne's execution. Weren't they a devout Catholic family? Didn't Henry require all subjects to convert to the Church of England when he and Anne were married. When young Edward was born and became king, he was also strict Protestant and tight with the Seymour family. Did they all just over look the Seymour's Catholic faith?
Thank you, and great question. I don’t know where the theory that the Seymours were devout Catholics - it’s certainly popular, but it doesn’t seem to ever be matched by their behaviour. They never objected to the break with Rome, and although Queen Jane once objected to the closure of the monasteries, but that’s about it. Her brothers were prominent leaders of the reformist-‘Protestant’ faction at Henry’s court by the late 1530s. By the time Edward became king, the Seymours were one of the most prominent Protestant families in the English aristocracy. So I think their faith ran from towing the line in the early 1530s to being sincere Protestants by the late 1530s and from then on.
@@garethrussell8333 thank you for responding. I am not sure where I heard that Jane was Catholic. I have been fascinated with the Tudors since elementary school, but Anne has always been my favorite and hope to make it to Hever Castle and Hampton Court some day.
Re: was JaneSeymour Catholic? I did see a scene in an early TV Drama of the Six Wives …King Henry was visiting the Seymour country estate,, He was pursuing Jane. He found her in the garden She was veiled in white because she was tending bees or something similar ., Anyway Henry was charmed when she mentioned that she had “.a Vial of fOur Lord’s Tears” from a Shrine somewhere. Henry was attracted by her Piety. and Purity. . He called her his “Little Nun”. I have always wondered if Jane was really innocent and clueless about the Kings Great Matter. Her brothers were ambitious and coached her to resist Henry’s advances and refuse to be his mistress. I think her Catholic Faith was devout and according to historians Henry remained Catholic in private even though he had broken with the Pope. 500+ years ago, everyone in England was Roman Catholic. and had been for 1500 years. The protestant reformation had not happened in England , before Henry broke with Rome.
Absolutely love this story, I watched the film and have literally become really intrigued with this story
Ty so much ❤
Brilliant! Thank you, I just listened to it twice in a row.
The Boleyns are my ancesstors from my mums side of the family, my grandads second name is Bloy and they were originally from france and migrated , im very mixed race and have 7 different backgrounds but i was always taught about her growing up by my Grandad.. could you tell us more about the Boleyns . When generations later some Boleyns migrated to the Uk and in scotland the name was miss spelt to Bloy. Or maybe it was pronounced Bolye and spelt bloy and the letter "n " was removed. Is Bloy a common french name?
Wolf Hall and the other Boleyn girl do not speak true of Anne, she was charitable and very forward thinking. She was innocent of all the charges against her, and I think it despicable for any author to defile her in such a manner.
Can u do Marget Pole story sad horrible ended
I have listened more that once to this video and enjoyed it every time. I also am infatuated with the life and death of Anne Boleyn This has led me to read many of the Books you have listed, and still long for more. I joined the Tudor Society to immerse myself in the 16th century. I am sure she was innocent of the slanderous charges made to destroy her. It is still true today that this kind of obsessive attention is not love. It can be dangerous.
It was nice to hear new information on this situation. Everything else out there explaining it is like a copy/paste of the one before. However this version makes slows it down a bit and dives deeper. He was most likely played with narcissistic personality disorder so this explains the draw. I never understood why anyone would be interested in him given this was so prevalent but it’s 20/20 on that matter.
Thank you!
Do you still go with the 1507 date?
This was brilliant!
Thank you 🙏🏻
Do we know when Queen Katherine last met the princess Mary?
Most enjoyable- thank you!
Very good indeed. Thank you.
👏👏👏 thank you.
Ann boleyn was a beautiful dark head women who had a strong veiws at her time she was born ahead of her time she was strong and had her own mind if she was born now in this time she would of been s cco of a big company she would of been a strong success women now she was born ahead of her time she is a dark head beauty ❤❤😢😢😢😔😔ann was a beautiful and appreciated person she was talked by. the French court to do.what she done she was she was strong women born way head of her time ❤😢😢😔😔😔🤔
Most enjoyable. Many thanks.
The birth of a healthy son would have saved her. Another theory is that once Katherine of Aragon was dead if Henry married a third time that marriage would be unassailable. Coupled with Anne’s recent miscarriage all this came together to bring about her end. Maybe she would have gone quietly into exile or similar? Her end was brutal and tragic.
Very detailed
Thank you very much
People back then really actually believed that god was real and intervened actively in their lives. Imagine if Henry had actually known at the time about chromosomes, and that the sex of the child is determined solely by the father not the mother.
God is real. For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believed in him would no perish but have everlasting life. Study Bible prophecy and you will see that it is real. We are about to enter the great tribulation spoken about in the Bible. Please get saved now your time is short!
@@carolabbott2538 Just because it was written in some ancient texts does not make it true. I'll bet you don't believe in the Hindu god Vishnu, and why should that be any less true than your beliefs?
For your information, that whole line about "only begotten son" has got to be the WORST possible selling point for christianity.
First of all, isn't he god? What, he couldn't have another kid? Then he's not exactly all powerful, is he? Besides, aren't all humans supposed to be his children?
Secondly, that "died on the cross" thing is NO sacrifice. He had a bad weekend and got to come back after 3 days and be king of the world. Sounds like a hell of a deal to me.
Third, there are plenty of parents who would willingly sacrifice themselves for their children, and they don't get to play the "come back from the dead" card, either. They KNOW it's permanent, but they do it anyway, and that is the kind of sacrifice that actually deserves respect.
Last. there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that there even is a god. It seems highly implausible that an immortal, invisible wizard "wished" an entire universe into existence.
@@8698gil by faith and faith alone you are saved. Jesus is my savior and always will be.
@@carolabbott2538 Well, that is your problem, then. I have no intention of wasting my life that way.
@@carolabbott2538 Did it ever occur to you that it is you who are deluded? You've been heavily brainwashed all your life, that is very hard to shake off, I was the only one in my family who was lucky enough to be able to do so and see the truth. There are literally millions of people in the world who also believe that THEIIR belief is the right one, and who are you to say it is not? You have no more proof than anyone else.
Oooooh I'd love to hear a good debate regarding Anne's birth year. The money I'd pay 😂
I think it was early 1500-01.
Same
Hannah thegotdamnbanana it May have been but it also may have Been about 6 years later and they truly don’t know.
Yeah I'm in favor of the 1501 theory- 1507 sounds a bit late. She would be like 6 when her family sent her to Margaret's court oveeseas: sounds a bit young even for the Tudors !
R i p musa haruna yakasai
thank you
Thank you this is great!
a bit diificult for me to understand in Englisch , but interesting kisses from Switzerland ( Gstaad)
She was SO CLOSE to giving Henry a son.
We miss you Gareth Russell!
New one very soon, thank you!
Enjoyed, TYVM!
Interesting timing, our lady of guadalupe appears in 1532. That is another queen. I wonder if the stories about Anne being a witch started aroubd the same time. Certainly people in England must have heard the story of the alleged appiritions.
HE THE KING REMINDS ME OF KING CON IN AMERICA TODAY.
Guilty!
Though I think I've read all your books which are great, I look at historical figures through the lens of contemporary views. Anne was very unpopular with not only her ladies, but her family as well. She was universally disliked. Her treatment of Mary was abhorrent. The original evil stepmother.
Her narcissistic personality is reminiscent of Marie Antoinette, as shown by the motto Anne wanted as her own to tell the world
“Aisi sera groigne qui groigne” “Let them grumble; that is how it is going to be"
If not for her grating, overbearing, sometimes hateful personality, Anne might've made a great queen. But she was not queenly material she didn't or wouldn't fit the mold as Henry supposedly told her
"Shut your eyes and endure as your betters have done"
Royalty doesn't preclude affairs and if she was angry about Henry's affairs? "Aisi sera"
You have to wonder about how much evidence there was that we don't have but an intriguing example of what might've existed came from Anne's #1 protector Thomas Cranmer, who completely changed his stance that she was innocent to one of her "guilt can be proven".
Within the politics of that time of changing history Anne Boleyn was her own worst enemy and I think she realized it all too late.
Maybe that's why she sticks out like an anomaly in royal history, a pre-Diana rebel. Sadly both victims of the same strict royal system that neither could survive.
Thank you for the comment on my books, though, I do base my conclusions on contemporary comments. Simply because we reach different conclusions does not mean one bases our assessments on contemporary comments, whereas the other does not. For instance, you can't say Anne was 'universally' disliked - there are almost as many favourable comments on her in the contemporary sources as there are negative. Contemporary comments in her favour like those made by Margaret of Austria, the Duchess of Ferrara, William Latymer, George Wyatt the chronicler, Giles de la Pommeraye, Richard Page, Thomas Cranmer, James Butler, the episcopal courts at the Ossory dispute, and even Thomas Wolsey would indicate that she wasn't universally disliked. Secondly, historians don't usually perform diagnoses like NPD off contemporary evidence. I'd also strongly disagree that Marie-Antoinette bore any traits similar to that, though that's a different discussion. Anne's unpopularity is also wildly overstated by cherry picking the sources - there certainly were people who loathed her, perhaps fairly, but it's not true to say that this is a conclusion you can reach by looking through the totality of the contemporary sources - it's only the most frequently cited that back up that conclusion.
I never understood why she could not simply have become the king's mistress, after all her own sister Mary did just that.
Maybe she wanted more for herself and valued herself more?
@@garethrussell8333 But the expectation that she could marry the king and become queen seems unrealistic. Of course it happened but who could have thought it would come about? Just look who his first wife was. A Boleyn, though from a family of rank, was on an entirely different level.
@@sandraobrien8705 I completely agree with that. Sorry, what meant was that I don’t think she saw it initially saw it as a choice between mistress and wife. I think she didn’t want to be his mistress and assumed she couldn’t be his wife. If you think of the fact of how difficult travel was in those days, leaving court to move home to Hever wasn’t enticing Henry, it looks like deliberately getting out of his way. So absolutely, I think she knew that she came from a family of rank and wanted to make a good marriage - if you look at any of Henry’s other mistresses, none of them ever made a great marriage. They were married to minor country landowners or, at best, a baron, because it’s not true the high nobility were happy to accept ex-royal mistresses as wives.
Anne Boleyn had every right to protect her dignity and say no to becoming the King’s mistress. The question people never ask is why couldn’t Henry VIII take NO for an answer ?
Wow! I can’t believe this question….? I think that was extremely smart for Anne to feel that way about what she wanted for herself…. also she saw and knew how Henry tired of her own sister as his mistress, she did not want to share the same fate.