by Maria C Collins

Created on: August 14, 2008   Last Updated: January 05, 2011

Anne Boleyn was born in 1501. She was the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Elizabeth Howard and her maternal grandfather was the Duke of Norfolk. The Norfolks were always close to the crown and aimed to continue to be so. Thomas Boleyn, having climbed high in society from a mere mercer, was very ambitious for all his children and wished to raise the family status higher through marrying his children into influential and rich families.

Anne's parents had sent her at seven years old, to be educated at the French court. At thirteen, she became a maid of Honour to the French queen, giving her the opportunity meet the nobility and make a good marriage. In 1521, Anne's father ordered her home because Britain and France were on the verge of war. Thomas Boleyn wanted to get her to The English court as a maid of honour to queen Katherine of Aragon but she had to wait five years for her post.

When Anne finally arrived at court Henry viii was much taken with her dancing, demeanour and her dark good looks, unusual at a time when fair, pink and delicate were the ideal of feminine beauty. Anne was a good musician and was very intelligent and had been well-educated at the most cultured court in Europe. She had lots of lively conversation and a ready wit.

Henry's Queen, Katherine, had borne Henry six babies five of whom had died within days or months, their daughter, Mary, was the only one who survived to adulthood. Henry was obsessed with getting a male heir. Katherine, always a dutiful wife and a devout catholic, had become very religious and she was getting too old to bear another child. Henry had already been looking for light relief. Anne's sister Mary Boleyn had been the King's mistress, and she had borne him a child, but the affair had not brought The Howard and Boleyn families the expected advancement and power. The lively, vivacious, and younger, Anne must have been a breath of fresh air to Henry.

Henry fell deeply in love with Anne, but she would not consent to be his mistress. Anne did not intend to be yet another discarded mistress and her Father and Grandfather sought the prestige and power that Anne's marriage to the King would bring them. Henry needed to divorce Katherine. Henry appealed to The Pope who refused to consent to an annulment, on the grounds of affinity; Katherine had been previously married to Henry's elder brother who had died a short time after the wedding.

Henry broke with Rome, and declared himself head of the Church of England. Speed

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