Anna heroine of the reformation 5 letters. Love Story: Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

Ann Bolein. Queen for 1000 days.

10 Interesting facts about Anne Boleyn.

The queen who changed the course of English history, the woman who was able to charm a king who had been married for almost 20 years... and who dared to set her own rules for religion.

1) Even the exact age of Anna’s birth is unknown. Some historians indicate the date 1499, which refers to the 15th century, while others... tend to believe that this was the period from 1502-1507. (16th century). Anna was born in England (Hever)
One can only guess about the real date of birth of the queen.

2) Anne Boleyn - the woman who changed history the whole country. Anna was a staunch Protestant. At that time, the bulk of Europe was under the rule of the Roman Catholic Church.

3) Anne was the second and most famous of Henry VIII's wives
The first meeting between Anna and the English king was a reception in honor of the Spanish ambassadors in 1522. At that time, Anna was about 14 years old.

By this time, the king’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon had already lasted 13 years (since 1509). Mutual complaints and fatigue accumulated. Henry VIII constantly blamed his wife for her inability to bear him an heir.
Anna's next return to court dates back to 1525-1526. The king renewed his courtship. But the girl was in no hurry to respond to his attempts at rapprochement. She did not want the fate of her mistress.
And Henry, increasingly tormented by the desire to get an heir (by this time he had a daughter, Maria, who later received the nickname bloody), decided to offer Anna not the status of a favorite, but the status of a wife and queen.

4) Many women gossiped about the amazing girl who managed to melt the king’s heart, a girl who, although not possessing dazzling beauty, knew how to seduce and lead men.
She was even credited with having 6 fingers on her hand and a third breast.

5) The seven-year battle for marriage.
After officially proposing to Anna, Henry needed to get a divorce from Catherine of Aragon. The Catholic Church, led by the Pope, was categorically against this.
Then the king created the Church of England, independent of Catholicism.

6) In 1533, Anna pleased the king with the long-awaited news of pregnancy. And on January 25, 1533... in the strictest confidence... the king of England Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn got married.
But new wife The king turned out to be not as flexible as Catherine. The wayward Anna began to establish her own rules, promoting and introducing Protestantism everywhere.

7) Dreams about the birth of an heir soon dissipated when Anna gave birth to a girl. The girl was named Elizabeth.
(The age of Elizabeth's reign is called the "Golden Age of England").
The relationship between the king and Anne Boleyn cooled. Henry VIII began to actively court one of his ladies-in-waiting, Jane Seymour. Despite this, Anna becomes pregnant for the second time. But the situation is aggravated by the fact that the child is stillborn.

8) Then the king finally decides to get rid of Anna, accuses her of treason... and takes her into custody in the Tower.

9) The show trial of Anna took place on May 19, 1536. Anna was beheaded with a sword. The king considered this a more humane execution... since... an ax would cause more pain. And the executioner was specially discharged from France.
Anna spoke about it this way: “I heard that the executioner is a skilled person, and my neck is thin.” Until her last breath, Anna behaved with dignity.

10) Anna’s last words before her execution were: “I will die according to the law. I am not here to accuse anyone or talk about what I am accused of. But I pray to God that he will save the king and his reign, for there never was a kinder prince, and to me he has always been a most gentle and worthy lord and sovereign. I say goodbye to the world and from the bottom of my heart I ask you to pray for me.”
After which, the former queen fell to her knees... and said: “Jesus, accept my soul. O almighty God, sorrow for my soul,” and was beheaded to the amusement of the crowd.

P.S Just 10 days after the execution of Anne Boleyn, Henry marries Jane Seymour.

Queen Consort Anne Boleyn was born in 1501 (some sources give the year 1507). Born during her marriage to the reigning King of England future queen– . Thanks to this union, Boleyn became key figure at the beginning of the reform movements in England.

Childhood and youth

Anne Boleyn comes from a noble family. The father of the future Queen Consort was Sir Thomas Boleyn, who was later given the title of Earl of Wiltshire and Ormonde. Anna's mother, Lady Elizabeth Howard, belongs to an old aristocratic family. All their lives the Boleyn family was at the English court. Thus, Thomas regularly traveled abroad on diplomatic missions from King Henry VIII. The ruler appreciated his skills and knowledge of several foreign languages. Mother worked as a maid of honor under Elizabeth of York and Catherine of Aragon.

The Boleyn family had their own estate, which was located in Blickling, Norfolk. In England, the family was among the most respected among the aristocracy. The noble origins in the future did not go unnoticed. Anna grew up with her brothers and sister Maria. The children spent their childhood at Hever Castle, Kent. I wonder what elementary education the future queen consort received money differently from what was customary in her class. My father went to Brussels on a diplomatic mission. A year later, the sisters were invited to the school taught by Margarita of Austria.

Anne Boleyn studied reading, grammar, arithmetic, spelling, family genealogy, household management, foreign languages, needlework, singing, dancing, good manners and music. It was normal for a girl from a noble family to learn the basics of horse riding, playing chess or cards, and archery. Young Anna charmed Margaret of Austria. The ruler soon invites the girl to the court, calling 12-year-old Boleyn “la petite Boulin” (little Boleyn).

Anne's parents plan to move to Paris, so Anne and Mary end up in the retinue of Princess Mary Tudor. It was planned that the sister of King Henry VIII would marry the French King Louis XII, but due to his venerable age, the ruler dies. The widow Mary Tudor returned to England, and Anne Boleyn continues to live at the court of King Francis I. For 7 years, the girl acted as maid of honor to Queen Claude of France. This helped Boleyn complete her education.

Life at court

In 1522, Anne had to return to England due to growing tensions with France. The first appearance at the court of Henry VIII happened in the same year. Spanish ambassadors were received in York. For this purpose, they organized a unique performance “Chateau Vert” (in the lane “Green Castle”). Anna played the role of Perseverance in this performance. In company with other ladies, including Mary Boleyn, as well as the king's younger sister Mary, Anne performed an aerial dance.

Day by day, the girl's popularity increased. People who met Anna were impressed by her sophistication, pleasant voice, lightness, energy and cheerfulness. The girl liked the attention of fans, but did not show it. Anna did not want rumors about extramarital affairs to circulate around her name, as was the case with Maria. The girl was credited with an affair with King Francis I and some courtiers of the French court. Already in England, Boleyn's sister was Henry Tudor's concubine.

Queen Consort

The story of the relationship between Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is like a fascinating love story. For the first time, the king and the future queen consort met at one of the ceremonial events in 1522. The ruler did not show feelings and emotions until 1526. Henry Tudor had been married to Catherine of Aragon for 17 years, but her wife never produced an heir.

From the moment of her appearance at the English court, Anna managed to become engaged to Count Henry Percy. The wedding did not take place due to the reluctance of the lovers' parents. There is an opinion that the King of England had a hand in canceling the marriage: he really liked Anne Boleyn. For several years the girl lived on the family estate. It was only in 1526 that she became a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon and returned to the royal court.

From that time on, Anne Boleyn became the object of Henry's passion, who sent her expensive gifts, love letters with offers to become his mistress. The girl was categorical and gave a negative answer. Anna did not want to be a mistress, she wanted to become a wife. The marriage to Catherine of Aragon was bursting at the seams. The king was dissatisfied with the lack of an heir and often cheated on her with his favorites. The wife knew about this, but turned a blind eye.

The love that flared up for Anna forced Henry VIII to turn to the Vatican with a demand to annul the union with Catherine. A special examination was required, since the king insisted on the illegality of the marriage due to family ties with his wife. Catherine was categorically against divorce. She did not like the future in the monastery. This meant that the woman would lose her title and other bonuses, and her daughter Mary Tudor would become a bastard. Catherine of Aragon persuaded her nephew to take the Pope hostage. Henry VIII had to postpone the issue of divorce.

Perhaps this situation pushed the King of England to break off relations with the Catholic Church. Now the country has ceased to depend on the decisions of the pope. Researchers believe literature may have exaggerated Anne Boleyn's influence on Henry VIII. By 1531, the king resettles Catherine. Anna appears in the palace instead. Secretly from everyone, the lovers get married a year later. Soon the couple has a child - daughter Elizabeth. Henry was disappointed in what had happened. Only Boleyn's spell helped preserve the union and keep the child safe.

The king strips his first daughter of her titles and privileges. The act of succession to the throne states that Mary is an illegitimate child, and therefore has no right to claim the throne. Newly crowned Queen Anne Boleyn plunges into the world of luxury. The king does not deny his beloved anything. For her sake, the staff of servants was increased to 250 people. The budget of England allocates money for expensive jewelry, new furniture, hats, dresses, even horses. Anna does not delight the English people with her extravagance.

Politics intrudes into Boleyn's life. The girl helps her husband with government affairs, meets with ambassadors and diplomats. Happiness does not last long: a year after the birth of her daughter, Anna has a miscarriage. This undermined the relationship between the spouses. Heinrich again begins to think about divorce, new favorites.

Boleyn does not intend to hide her emotions. The Queen Consort actively expresses her indignation. This led to the temporary separation of the spouses. The new pregnancy failed - there was a miscarriage. The desire to give birth to an heir does not leave Anna. But the king had already decided everything. The ruler now has a favorite - Jane Seymour. Previously, the girl was Anne Boleyn's maid of honor.

Personal life

Anne Boleyn attracted the attention of men with her eccentricity and energy. The girl's first admirer was Henry Percy. The man was the Earl of Northumberland. He was in the service of Cardinal Wolsey. Passion captured the lovers. At some point, young people decide to get married.

Opposed Wolsey's union. The cardinal treated the Boleyn family with disdain, and the king spoke categorically. Percy fought to the last for the happiness of being Anna's husband, but all attempts were in vain. Now Boleyn was already expressing dissatisfaction, whose independence they tried to challenge.

Anna's biography lists another suitor - the poet Thomas Wyatt. For a long time, young people enjoyed talking about creativity and other exciting things. Thomas was struck by Boleyn's sensuality and passion. Wyatt was married at that moment, so Anna did not experience any special feelings towards the man in love. The role of a mistress was disgusting to the girl.

Death

The inability to give birth to an heir put Anna's life at risk. Accusations of treason, including state treason, rained down on the girl. Crimes were punished strictly - the perpetrators were executed. Boleyn's lovers included friends - Henry Norris, William Brerton, Francis Weston, Mark Smeaton, even George's brother. All the men interrogated unanimously insisted that they were trying to slander Anna. But those who wanted to get Boleyn out of the way had a different opinion on this matter.

In 1536, Anna was arrested and taken to the Tower, where the girl was held last days life. On May 12, 1536, Boleyn's four "lovers" were convicted. Only one of them admitted guilt. And on May 15, Anna and George appeared in court. Despite the fact that Boleyn denied all the affairs attributed to her, the peers considered the girl guilty of incest, infidelity and high treason. In accordance with official documents, Anna was supposed to burn at the stake, but the ex-queen was sentenced to death by beheading.

An executioner is called from France. On May 19, 1536, a girl climbs to the scaffold. The mantle with the ermine is taken from Anna, and the moment of farewell comes. One of the ladies-in-waiting blindfolded Boleyn. The executioner takes the life of Anne Boleyn with one stroke of his sword. An unmarked grave was used for the burial of the king's ex-wife. It was only in 1876 that a memorial plaque appeared on St. Peter's Chapel.

Ghost story

There are legends that in England you can meet the ghost of Queen Anne Boleyn. Some consider this a unique opportunity to experience a pristine country. Anna is seen now in one building, now in another - the girl does not have a specific habitat.

During her lifetime, Boleyn was energetic and cheerful. This is called the main reason that even after 5 centuries the Queen remains a presence in the lives of the British and tourists. Some managed to capture the ghost of Boleyn in the photo.

Memory

• 1948 - play “The Thousand Days of Anne Boleyn”
• 1995 - opera “Royal Games”
• 2003 - film “Henry VIII”. The role of Anne Boleyn went to.
• 2007 - TV series “The Tudors”, dedicated to Henry VIII. Played Anna.
• 2008 - new film adaptation of the film “The Other Boleyn Girl.” Two actresses were invited to play the roles of the Boleyn sisters - and.
• 2010 - play “Anne Boleyn”.

The execution of Anne Boleyn has been interpreted differently by biographers and historians. Some say that the English king Henry VIII sent Queen Anne to the scaffold because she, at that time, fully deserved it: she was an intriguer, a hysterical woman, an arrogant and arrogant “plebeian,” as Henry himself called her after the passion. And she also tried to conduct her own politics right under the king’s nose, and this was more than palace intrigue. Others present her as a victim of the morally flawed Henry VIII, a usurper and tyrant. But, probably, the truth is somewhere in the middle. And most likely, Anna and Henry were worth each other. Thomas Boleyn, Anne's father, was a noble courtier, while her mother Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, belonged to one of the oldest English families. In terms of her origin, Anna, born at the end of 1501 (or 1507 - the exact date is unknown), stood at a higher level than the three subsequent English wives of the king. But this fact will not prevent Henry VIII from subsequently calling her a plebeian, unworthy to take the royal throne. Thomas Boleyn knew French and Latin better than all the courtiers and corresponded with Erasmus of Rotterdam, from whom he even bought several excerpts from his works. Henry once said that he had never met a more dexterous and cunning negotiator. His son George, an Oxford graduate, inherited his father's diplomatic talents and was a good poet, having begun his court career as a page. In 1513, Anna was sent abroad - and she lived in Europe for nine years. First at the Habsburg court in Brabant as one of the 18 ladies-in-waiting of Margaret of Austria (she was regent for her nephew Charles of Burgundy). This courtyard was considered the center for the education of future princes and princesses. The European elite sent their offspring to special trainings with Margarita, famous for her education. It was difficult to think of a better start for the beginning of a court career. Anna knew her father's demands - to learn not only manners, but also the ability in the future, when she became a maid of honor to Catherine of Aragon, daughter-in-law of the most powerful king in the world, Charles V, to put in a good word at court for members of the Boleyn family. She easily mastered the French language, the secrets of court social and political life and the art of intrigue, without which, as well as without knowledge of the language of courtly love, the courtyard would look like a withered garden. At the same time, her mentor Margarita was known not only as an adept at court games of love, but also strictly guarded the morality of her young ladies-in-waiting. Chastity and inaccessibility are excellent ways for a woman to achieve her goal, much more effective than promiscuity. Anna also learned other lessons from her mentor - kings do not marry for love, and women should not let love for men into their hearts too deeply. It was then that Anna decided that her motto would be “all or nothing”... Flanders at the beginning of the 16th century was considered the heart of the cultural life of Europe. The maid of honor learned to understand painting and the art of book design, music. Learned a lot about expensive fabrics and jewelry, Anna spent a total of seven years in France and returned to England only at the end of 1521. Beautiful black hair and bright eyes- the most attractive thing about Anne Boleyn's appearance. Her figure was not very impressive - short, with small breasts. High cheekbones, prominent nose, narrow mouth, strong chin. They often mention a large wen on a slender long neck and a very unpleasant defect - something like the sixth finger on the right hand, although in fact it was a small process similar to an ingrown nail. But for many in those days, and even now, such a detail is very eloquent: they say, this is all from the devil, normal people there cannot be extra, ugly and fused fingers, an eyesore, etc. That is why she was often considered a witch. However, in portraits she does not have a sixth finger, which does not mean anything, because before Cromwell portraits were painted without all the sores. Anna behaved more like a Frenchwoman: she knew how to be a witty conversationalist, her movements were distinguished by grace and liveliness, her outfits were elegant, which certainly made her stand out in the company of other ladies. Anne's first admirer at the English court was Henry Percy, heir to the Earl of Northumberland, who served under the powerful Cardinal Wolsey, the main and all-powerful minister of Henry VIII. Anna reciprocated the passion that Percy showed her, not at all within the framework of courtly worship. They secretly decided to get married. But then Wolsey, who did not like Thomas Boleyn, intervened. He considered his daughter an unworthy bride for one of the most noble aristocrats in England and convinced the king of this. Henry did not give permission for the marriage. The Earl of Northumberland, in turn, threatened to deprive his son of his title and inheritance. Percy held on steadfastly and even drew up a marriage contract, according to which he undertook to marry Anna. But lawyers found a way to cancel the document. Anna vowed to take revenge on the cardinal - he dared not only to hinder her passion by belittling her origin and dignity, but also dared to resist the independence that she put at the forefront of her life position. After all, only she herself will decide who she marries. There was another enemy against whom she swore revenge - the king himself. It must be said that Anna knew how to love and hate with all her soul - the future will show this - and there is a lot of evidence of this that Henry Percy remained her love almost for the rest of her life. And the king, for better or worse, prevented them from being together. And Anna played back as best she could. Well, at least in the heat of passion she could imagine her lover in the place of the king - and not be afraid that she would mix up the name. Anna's next admirer was Thomas Wyatt - the first great poet Tudor. At first, conversations with her simply brought delight to the poetic ear, but soon Thomas was captivated by the very sensuality that nature endowed Anna with in abundance. Although Anna was flattered by Wyatt's passion, it was more likely an episode than a separate chapter in her love book. He was married, and she was not ready to lose her head over a man who could only offer her the role of “mistress” of his heart, so common at court. Moreover, the king himself drew attention to her in 1527 (immediately after he lost interest in her older sister Mary). 26-year-old Anne Boleyn disappeared from the bride's fair, setting herself a seemingly impossible goal - to become Queen of England. And the king, hoping only to spend the night with the woman who arouses such interest among his courtiers, encountered unexpected resistance. The chronicle of the relationship between Anne and the king is best traced in the 17 love letters of Henry VIII - it is known that the king did not like the epistolary genre. One of the first is full of reproaches that Anna not only did not answer his love call, but also did not deign to write a letter. (How cunning and far-sighted Anna was - to resist the temptation to answer the king!) The message was accompanied by a gift - a duck killed the day before. In the third letter a year later, Heinrich insists on an answer: does she love him as much as he loves her? But he still doesn’t offer her his hand and heart. And this is exactly what Anna is now waiting for, more than confident in her feminine power. Without waiting for offers more serious than the status of “the only mistress to whom he will completely devote himself to service,” she disappears for a while, forcing him to experience a hitherto unfamiliar feeling of guilt and loss. For the first time, Henry was forced to build a relationship with a woman with his own hands. At this time, he was already trying to find a way to divorce Katerina, who, having lost her charm and gentle disposition by the age of 40, was unable to bear him an heir, and Henry had long since stopped visiting her bedroom. Then he came up with an undeniable, from his point of view, argument in favor of divorce - the Pope made an unacceptable mistake by allowing him to marry the widow of his brother Arthur (he died almost immediately after his wedding to Katerina). It is said in the Bible: a man who marries his brother’s wife will have no heirs. Katerina gave birth to his daughter, and she had 6 miscarriages. This means that now he must get married like the first time, for real. In response to the marriage proposal, Anna confessed her love back and sent the king a gift. A toy boat with a woman and a diamond carved on the bow. The ship is a symbol of protection, the diamond is a heart filled with the same strong intentions as a precious stone. Along with the gift, she promised to give him her innocence - but only when she became his wife. From then on, Anna would check and calculate her closeness with the king with the accuracy of a calculator. Henry wrote to his bride: “My heart will forever belong to you alone, seized by this desire so strongly that it will be able to subordinate to it the desires of my body.” Henry Is it worth commenting on this “novel” and can it be called love? Probably possible, but with one caveat: each participant in this story had their own plans. The king has an heir and, of course, the satisfaction of what is commonly called “lust.” And Anna has the fulfillment of her cherished desire: to become a queen. And on this path - all means are good. The divorce process began and lasted about seven years. While waiting for the decision of the Pope, Henry was exhausted from passion, and Catherine of Aragon hoped that Clement VII would not allow the marriage to be annulled, because Rome was under the influence of her nephew Emperor Charles V. For the time being, Catherine showed wisdom: as long as the wife is tolerant of the lady of her heart, threats seem to and does not exist, and even helped Anna repel the king’s love attacks. Anna allowed herself to create scenes for Henry: her youth was passing aimlessly, the wait was too long, she was in danger of becoming an old maid. And living under the same roof with the queen also infuriated her. In response, Henry broke loose - no one dares argue with him, much less reproach him for anything. He can return her to the place where he took her from, he has already done too much for her, others would be happy. But the anger subsided as quickly as it flared up. The king, like, in fact, anyone else in his place, was aroused by Boleyn’s inaccessibility, as well as by the fact that she was not afraid to challenge him, known for her indomitable and cruel temper, - a magnificent maneuver of a far-looking woman. Well, the courtiers expected a “reasonable step” from the king - marriage with French princess. France had always been England's ally against Spain and Charles V, and therefore this marriage would have strengthened international situation countries. But Henry seemed omnipotent even without this. Although, being a despot, he needed from time to time the decisions he made to be prompted by someone or approved. Until now it was Cardinal Wolsey, a man who had a magical (in the opinion of the courtiers) influence on the king, who knew how to solve both internal and international problems to the benefit of England and the king. Anna was too cunning and resourceful to limit herself to scenes and female hysterics. A skilled politician, she was able to create a faction (the most effective behind-the-scenes method of court warfare at that time) from a circle of people close to the king, but who supported her plans and bet on her future. Now access to the king's mind was completely blocked by his bride. She even opened the hunt, like the goddess Diana, not one step behind Henry, and during important backstage meetings her figure was visible in the shadow of the window opening. Therefore, neither Wolsey nor Thomas More managed to convince the king to abandon his decision to dissolve his marriage with Katherine. Thomas More was defeated. Anna used not only her feminine power over Henry, she in every possible way exploited his idea that the king, as the highest sovereign over people, has power not only over their bodies, but also over their souls. He, Henry VIII, is able to prove to Rome and the whole world that he can become higher than the Pope and lead the Anglican Church. This meant the realization that he was the only monarch in the world who dared to give himself such a status. Warming up Henry's mood, Boleyn delivered him anti-clerical literature. She even organized a kind of propaganda, ordering heretical manuscripts to be brought from abroad and distributed in England. Heinrich and Anna hunting At the end of 1528, Henry finally ordered Katerina to leave the court, although he left her with 200 servants and 30 ladies-in-waiting. But she continued, which especially angered Anna, out of a long-term habit of keeping an eye on Henry’s linen and clothes, giving orders to wash, clean or throw away his nightgowns or camisoles. “...I don’t care about her or her family members. Let all the Spaniards sink to the bottom of the sea!” - Boleyn raged at Katerina. At the same time, she was implementing her plan for revenge on Wolsey, who, in fact, not wanting to quarrel with Henry, had long been trying to turn the divorce case entrusted to him in favor of the king and his lady of the heart. But Anna convinced the king that Wolsey was sabotaging the divorce case and negotiations with the Pope. When the king, having dinner with Anna in her apartment, was informed, according to tradition, of the cardinal’s arrival, Anna said contemptuously: “Is it worth announcing this so solemnly? To whom else, if not to the king, should he come?” And Heinrich nodded his head in agreement. The Cardinal begged the King not to send the Pope a radical petition, provoked by Anne's faction, in which Rome, in essence, was accused of refusing to annul Henry's marriage to Katherine, depriving the English people of hope for the future. But she was sent. The king, under the influence of Boleyn, decided to secretly complete the matter in England, entrusting the relevant work with the parliament to Wolsey and the papal legate Campeggio. But the hearings failed. And in 1530, Henry received a decree from the Pope “to remove Anne Boleyn from the court.” Here is evidence of Wolsey's double game - Anna's rage mixed with triumph. Now the cardinal will not be able to use his famous “magic”. He was removed from business and deprived of all property in favor of the king, and soon the latter signed a decree on his arrest. Wolsey died on the way to his first interrogation. His overthrow is Boleyn's first serious victory. And Henry for the first time publicly declared himself “the sole protector and head of the Anglican Church and clergy.” And Boleyn received the title of Marchioness of Pembroke, a patent to belong to the highest English nobility, along with lands. For the first time in history, this title went to a woman, and Anna not only convinced the king that as a last resort wants her children to be legal heirs, but also had a hand in composing this ambiguous decree. ...A storm in the Strait of Dover turned ships into splinters. The wind did not allow passers-by to stick their noses out into the narrow streets of Calais. Recently, a meeting between Henry VIII and the French king ended here. In London, in St. Paul's Cathedral, they prayed for the monarch's safe return to his homeland, but he was in no hurry: while the bad weather was raging, Boleyn finally “gave herself” to Henry. The right moment has come. In November 1532, she realized that the king was ready to disobey the Pope. And then one day, in the company of courtiers, she said: “Somehow I fell in love with apples.” - “Darling, this is a sure sign of pregnancy.” On January 25, 1533, the lovers secretly got married. Henry simply dared to fool the priest who performed the sacrament of marriage. Does he really believe, the king said in response to a request to show the necessary papers with the Pope's permission for marriage, that he, Henry VIII, is a liar? The king acted quickly. The lawyer Thomas Cromwell and Archbishop Cranmer, armed with the necessary bills, managed to obtain permission from both houses of parliament to declare the previous royal marriage invalid.
Courting Anna But Henry’s victory could not be considered complete without the coronation procedure of the now official “most precious and beloved wife.” Boleyn was 6 months pregnant, and the king was in a hurry - in just two and a half weeks, unprecedented celebrations were prepared. On May 29, 1533, the coronation took place. 50 barges, accompanied by countless boats, set off from Billingate to the Tower. Flags, bells, gold foil and gold banners shimmered in the bright summer sun. And the number of guns probably exceeded safety on such a congested waterway. Leading the procession was a ship with an iron dragon on its prow spewing flames, and with Boleyn on board. It turned out symbolically... On September 23, 1534, Anna gave birth to a healthy girl, Elizabeth. The knightly tournament in honor of the birth of the heir had to be cancelled, but Henry took the news about the girl surprisingly calmly. Well, sons will certainly follow their daughter. The christening was organized by Cromwell with the same deliberate pomp as the coronation. The young mother, recovering from childbirth, participated in political affairs, strove for what would later be called humanitarian Christianity - she encouraged education and learned men, was the patroness of many students and educational institutions, especially Oxford and Cambridge. Anna understood that the correct creation of the image was the little that could help her win people's trust. After all, she was still considered a woman of easy virtue, a “thief” who stole the king from his wife. Katerina would never have dared to despise all laws and split the country into two parts - conformists and true believers, and sow confusion among the aristocrats and clergy. In vain Cromwell tried to control the situation, stopping all conspiracies and attempts to denigrate the queen. A special decree was even issued commanding all men, regardless of their origin, to take an oath of allegiance to Anna. And those who did not want to obey were poisoned on the chopping block. The situation became especially aggravated after the execution of Thomas More - she allowed innocent blood to be shed only because More refused to appear at her coronation. Moreover, he dared to declare that on that day the entire English nobility and all adherents of the true church were “publicly deflowered.” Boleyn tried to make friends with Mary, Henry's daughter from Katherine. But the princess refused to recognize the new queen. Boleyn, unlike Henry, who was enraged by his daughter’s disobedience and known for his attacks of cruelty towards her, wanted to see Mary at court. Of course, on the condition that she renounces all claims to the throne and becomes only the stepdaughter of the new queen, obedient as a lamb. ...The queen's new pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Anna blamed her husband for this, who dared not only to sleep with one of her court ladies, but also to show her courtly signs of respect. Soon she became pregnant again. And at the beginning of 1536, Catherine of Aragon died. There was even a ball held at court to mark the occasion. Well, Henry continued to wait for the heir, disappointed and amorous, he had already turned his attention to Jane Seymour, the former maid of honor of Catherine of Aragon, who only recently, thanks to her influential brothers, had the opportunity to return to the court. Boleyn saw with her own eyes how one day this unremarkable person sat on her husband’s lap and he played with a necklace around her neck. Then the queen tore off Jane's necklace. Then Henry made peace with his wife and she became pregnant again, instilling in him yet another hope of an heir. Anna during pregnancy...Usually Henry stayed with Anna if she could not accompany him on the hunt. But this time he did not give up his favorite entertainment. During the trip, the king stayed at the house of Jane's parents. And on January 24, 1536, Henry Norris burst into Anna’s apartment (he occupied one of the most prestigious and important positions of “groom at the king’s stool” and was his close friend) with terrible news - Henry fell from his horse and had been unconscious for several hours. Boleyn screamed, convinced that Henry was dead. The king recovered with difficulty, but his wife again gave birth prematurely - this time dead boy. Henry's anger was all the more terrible because what happened again returned his thoughts to humiliating suspicions about his own male inadequacy. Women who dealt with the Tudors often had problems with childbirth - miscarriages, difficulty getting pregnant and the rare birth of boys. These problems were associated with Henry’s illnesses - they suspected either syphilis, which was fully explained by the monarch’s love of love, or genetic abnormalities, but how could the all-powerful Henry VIII know about this? Therefore, he preferred to return to the already tested model - since God does not want to reward him with crown princes in this marriage, it means that it must be declared invalid and replaced by a woman who has not fulfilled her destiny. This is the will of the king. In the spring of 1536, Anne had a serious quarrel with her patron, Thomas Cromwell. This quarrel became the decisive moment in her fate. Cromwell, having already realized that the current queen had no future, enlisting the support of the Seymour family, supporters of Princess Mary, promised to overthrow her from the throne and help the king take Jane as his wife. To convince the king of this, Boleyn should be accused of treason - in the literal sense of the word, because the queen’s betrayal of her husband is tantamount by law to treason to the crown. It is no coincidence that soon after the loss of the child, rumors appeared - was the unfortunate 6-month-old “male fetus” the result of the queen’s adultery with one of her courtiers? Didn't her brother's wife boast that Anne complained to her about Henry's inability to make love? And on April 29, Anna loudly and furiously quarreled with Henry Norris. That same day, the entire court and the king were aware of a suspicious scandal. And Anna’s carelessly thrown phrase “Don’t count on being able to take the king’s place in the event of his death” became key in her indictment process. On this same sad day for Anna (and so lucky for Cromwell) Mark Smeaton, a young musician of “low” origin, expansive by nature, allowed himself to behave too freely in her chambers. Anna loved music and called Mark to calm down a little after her quarrel with Norris. Cromwell immediately ordered the musician to be taken into custody, he was brought to the house of the royal secretary, and at the 24th hour of torture he admitted to adultery with the queen, after which he was taken to the Tower. The next day, May 1, right during the knightly tournament, the king showed himself more than ever: he personally ordered Henry Norris and George Boleyn to confess their affair with his wife. Despite protestations of innocence, they were sent to the Tower after Smeaton. Boleyn was charged with incest - his wife had long argued that he spent too much time with his sister. Henry, known for his capacity for self-pity - one of the most repulsive traits of his personality - declared that Anne had cheated on him with more than a hundred men, and even immediately tried to compose a tragedy dedicated to his grief. After which he went for consolation to the Seymours' house. There, sobbing, he complained about the queen, assenting to his owners, who had long been trying, at Cromwell’s instigation, to feed him the version that she poisoned Katherine of Aragon and only an accident prevented her from sending him and Princess Mary to the next world. Jane, meanwhile, charmed Henry with her inaccessibility (a technique that Anne herself successfully used) and the fact that she was the complete opposite of his current wife. At dawn on May 2, Boleyn, accompanied by hostile guards, arrived at the Tower along the same waterway as three years earlier on the occasion of the coronation. Having passed through the gate, she lost courage and, falling on her knees, begged to be taken to the king. "Will you send me to prison?" - Without getting up from her knees, she asked Kingston, Const:) Tower in a trembling voice. “No, madam, you will go to the royal apartments.” The feeling of relief provoked a nervous release - Anna began to go into hysterics for many hours. Kingston, at Cromwell’s request, with the pedantry of an experienced jailer, conveyed all the words, phrases and even interjections that, along with screams, tears or laughter, came out of her mouth. A nervous breakdown of a woman who had lost control of herself turned Cromwell’s impromptu into a brilliant accusation that deprived Boleyn of her last hope of salvation. And at the same time he brought to the Tower two more hostages of the conspiracy from the Boleyn faction - the king’s courtiers and her friends Francis Weston and William Brereton... Henry compensated for the feeling of guilt and pity with a touching permission not to send his wife to the stake. He ordered a French executioner from Calais, who masterfully wielded a sword. Having learned about this, Boleyn burst out laughing and, clasping her throat with her hands, said: “I heard he is a good master, but I have such a small neck.” Anne Boleyn and her brother George were put on trial on 15 May 1536. In the Royal Hall of the Tower, special stands were built for 2,000 invited spectators and a separate bench with a high back for the judges - 26 peers led by the Duke of Norfolk, the queen's uncle. Anna, raising her right hand, declared her innocence. No, she did not cheat on the king and did not promise to marry Henry Norris if the king died, no, she did not poison Katherine of Aragon and did not try to poison her daughter Mary. Not to mention the fact that she could not have had so many lovers (according to the articles of the prosecution) during her three years on the throne. But the verdict, which, according to tradition, the peers passed on to each other, consisted of one single word - guilty, guilty, guilty... Count Norfork announced the verdict. He cried as he sent his niece (and then his nephew) to her death - but weren’t these tears of relief because the tip of the ax was not aimed at him? In her last word, Anna said that she was ready to die, but she regretted the loyal servants and friends of the king who would die because of her, and asked not to execute the innocent. Suddenly, a small incident attracted everyone's attention. Henry Percy, Duke of Northumberland, ex-lover Anna, after delivering his verdict, lost consciousness. Anna in the Tower Shortly before the queen was allowed to die, the king declared the marriage to her invalid. Elizabeth became illegitimate. The formal announcement was made by Archbishop Cranmer on June 17, the eve of the queen's execution. The basis for it was old story with the Earl of Northumberland, as well as the king’s relationship with Anne’s sister Mary (according to the law, this was also contrary to the marriage of both parties) and, finally, an argument drawn from the latest “evidence” - the king’s doubt that Elizabeth is his daughter, and not already executed Norris. The royal lawyers tried to ensure that the king got what he wanted - now neither Anna, nor her daughter, nor Maria, nor the first wife stood in the way of a new marriage and the appearance of heirs. Henry, in the event that his new wife did not give birth to the desired prince, had the right to name his successor in a special decree before his death.
Anna's execution The scaffold was covered with black cloth, and the sword was hidden between the boards. Spectators - about a thousand, only Londoners (no foreigners) - under the leadership of the mayor of the city came to witness the first execution of the queen in the history of England. She, in a dress of gray damask trimmed with fur, climbed to the first step of the scaffold and addressed the crowd: “I will die according to the law. I am not here to accuse anyone or talk about what I am accused of. But I pray to God that he will save the king and his reign, for there never was a kinder prince, and to me he has always been a most gentle and worthy lord and sovereign. I say goodbye to the world and from the bottom of my heart I ask you to pray for me.” ...Boleyn fell to her knees and repeated: “Jesus, accept my soul. O almighty God, sorrow for my soul." Her lips were still moving when it was all over. The ladies covered the queen's body with a simple, rough sheet and carried it to St. Peter's Chapel, passing along the way the fresh graves of her “lovers” executed a few days earlier. Then they stripped her and put her in a small, carelessly put together coffin, barely able to fit the severed head there. Henry, who received news of the execution, immediately ordered Jane Seymour to be brought to him. 11 days later, on May 30, 1536, they got married. Jane Seymour died, giving birth to the king's son, for whom he entered into a deal with the devil so many times. And in 1558, the unexpected happened, as often happens in history - fate smiled on Elizabeth, Boleyn’s daughter, who looked like her father and fully inherited from her mother her character and ability to influence people, manipulating their thoughts and feelings. The people called the princess to the throne, and to the cheers of Londoners and the roar of the Tower artillery, Elizabeth occupied the fortress as Queen of England and remained so for many years. Elizabeth. future queen

In light of International Women's Day, I dedicate a post to the baseness of the musketeers and honor the lively beauty Milady.
Few classics are as riddled with blunders as Dumas's The Three Musketeers. Not to mention the fact that the entire historical conjuncture of Richelieu’s era, to put it mildly, is pushed aside, and the facts are mercilessly shuffled; within the framework of the novel itself, the ends simply do not meet. The merry fellow Dumas clearly made fun of the simple-minded reader, lovingly describing the “nobility” of the villainous musketeers.

Let's take the beautiful D'Artagnan and his relationship with the vile intriguer Milady. Who is Milady anyway? That's right, a French spy in England. Where does the novel actually begin? From the fact that Rochefort conveys to the recently recruited Milady an order from the Prime Minister of France. (Note: it is in this scene that the vile intriguer unwittingly saves D’Artagnan’s health or even life, distracting the “stranger from Meng” from him).

Further, throughout the entire novel, Lady Winter regularly serves D’Artagnan’s homeland, and he and his comrades constantly try to mess with her. In particular, maintaining contact between the French queen (after all, a politically significant figure!) and the Prime Minister of England, relations with whom are more than tense. The cardinal is trying to break this connection, and, it should be noted, successfully. And he's a villain! (By the way, although I try not to touch on history outside of Dumas, Buckingham’s death prevented the English landing in France. Needless to say, an excellent reason to execute a murderer!).
Why, in fact, did this enmity between D’Artagnan and Milady begin? She had, she had personal reasons even before Constance was poisoned. And the poisoning was partly revenge for D’Artagnan’s bad deeds. But before we touch upon the hero’s misdeeds, let us remember how Milady came to live this way, that is, simply put, how her career as an intriguer, seductress and murderer began.
She began, according to Dumas, with monasticism, and one fine day, tired of singing psalms, she fled from the monastery along with a young priest (we will leave the motive for the insidious seduction of a poor virgin by a 15-year-old girl on the conscience of the Lille executioner - the narrator of this story). The lovers were caught, and they also found church jewelry taken from the priest on the road. After this, the Lille executioner - the brother of the fugitive - had to personally brand the thief and apostate. And at the same time, under the hot hand, and a failed daughter-in-law. It was, so to speak, a gesture of goodwill - no one asked him for it. And in general, while respecting his brotherly feelings, the branding was, frankly speaking, illegal, because the young nun was not caught red-handed.
After this, our lovers were able to leave the disgusted monastery and settle in the lands of the Count de la Fere. It is clear that the young girl, who had just escaped from the monastery, really liked everything around her. Especially the Count. She liked him so much that she set out to become a countess and became one. Let us note that, in general, there was nothing dishonest in either the desire or the act. Except perhaps for hiding the mark. On the other hand, how do we know how the countess reasoned? The count’s wife’s lack of virginity did not offend her - “maybe the stigma will roll over... later... when we finally become related...”
As for the first lover, soon after the marriage of the future Milady and Athos, he left and hanged himself. This is very sad, but it confirms the seriousness of the young countess’s intentions. Life “on two fronts” was clearly not included in them.
And what? They had just begun to live like human beings when the count discovered that same (illegal!) brand on his wife’s shoulder (everyone remembers the circumstances: “Hunting in the forest, horns blowing... the horse collapsed in the heat of the moment”). The wife was unconscious at that moment, but the count had no time to wait - without understanding who sealed his beloved wife and for what, he hung her, unconscious, on the nearest tree and rode away. After which he started drinking heavily.
It is clear that, having hung to her heart’s content in thoughts about male psychology, the former countess did not come up with anything good. After which she really behaved very badly. But I still believe that the root of evil lies in the deep decency of the musketeer Athos.
So, after her resurrection, the offended lady poisoned their husbands, seduced recklessly, obtained information through bed, and so on (by the way, she began to be called my lady after marrying Lord Winter. She really wanted to have titled children). All the more valuable for her was the opportunity to communicate with a man just like that - for the soul. And bodies. In short, none other than D’Artagnan showed up on a date with de Wardes, with whom she was infatuated at that moment. The cute mischief-maker spent the night with her on behalf of de Wardes. The next day, having come to see her on a date on his own behalf, our prankster could not resist and announced: yesterday, they say, it was me too! Surpriiiiiz! But this did not cause delight in the deceived mistress. Yes, she had intrigued against him before. But the desire to strangle the prankster, perhaps, arose only then. And when Milady rushed at the deceiver with her fists, that very mark was revealed. After which the hunt began for D’Artagnan as a dangerous witness. Which, in fact, is understandable.
And finally, what good did D’Artagnan and his friends do, besides drinking, partying, working at the whim of the dissolute queen, putting a spoke in the wheels of the clever Richelieu?
Perhaps the only thing worth admiring them for is the fact that they were faithful to each other, and did not change the “master” (whoever he was).

And now - I’ll go and watch the film))))))))) And for some reason, as in childhood, I will be happy with the cry “One for all and all for one!”