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What made Anne Boleyn so fascinating and in turn England's most influential Queen consort is consequently what helped bring her to her untimely end. The very fire and vibrancy that drew Henry VIII to his second wife became her liability. Her quick rise to the top brought with it a hard and fast fall to the very bottom. The lure of Anne's ability to provide Henry with a male heir, and of course pure lust, was the impetus that brought these two together. The failure to do so would ultimately prove to be Anne's undoing.

Anne Boleyn was born to English courtier Sir Thomas Boleyn and his wife Lady Elizabeth Howard. Being among the upper class, Anne was given a proper education and sent away to the Netherlands and then to France. She returned to England to live the life of a Lady-in-Waiting to Henry VIII's wife, Catherine of Aragon. Anne made her debut at a masquerade ball in 1522 and quickly became known as a lady of great fashion and accomplishment. She became famous at court for being able to keep young men around her at all times. Shortly thereafter she caught Henry's eye and he began his famous pursuit.

When Anne had come to court her older sister Mary was the king's mistress. Unwilling to become a tossed aside mistress like her sister, Anne refused the king's advances, which only made Henry want her all the more. Henry continued his pursuit with wild abandon. Henry's ultimate desire was that of a male heir for the throne. Queen Catherine was only five years older than Henry, however nearing 40 years of age she was at the end of her childbearing days. In her six attempts to provide Henry with a son during their 14 year marriage she tragically left a legacy of stillbirths and babies that died in early infancy, save one daughter - Mary, who would later become Mary I.

It was the desire for a male heir, and the lustful desire for Anne herself, that spurned Henry on. Anne wasn't stupid either. She continued to refuse Henry unless he made her his rightful queen. Henry began his quest to annul his marriage to Catherine and it would be over five years until he got what he wanted. Henry claimed his marriage to Catherine was done so under false pretenses. As Catherine was married to Henry's older brother, Arthur, for a short time before his untimely death, Henry believed that he was being punished by God for sleeping with his brother's wife. He expressed to the Pope that God would refuse him a male heir so long as he was in this unholy union.

The Pope refused. It's important

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