Facts about Anne Boleyn

Biography Summary: Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII and Queen of England from 1533 until her death in 1536.

Following charges of high treason, she became the first wife of King Henry VIII to be executed by beheading. Anne Boleyn was mother to her only surviving child, the future Queen Elizabeth I of England.

She played a key role in Henry's establishment of the Church of England and his independence from Rome. Anne Boleyn is considered one of the most influential Queens of England.

Anne Boleyn Fact Sheet: Who was Anne Boleyn? The following short biography and fact sheet provides interesting facts about the life, times and history of Anne Boleyn, the famous Queen of England and wife of King Henry VIII.

Lifespan: c. 1501/07 – 1536 *** Full Name: Anne Boleyn was also known as Queen Anne Boleyn of England *** Date of Birth (Birthday): Birth date unknown *** Place of Birth: Anne Boleyn was born in either Blickling Hall in Norfolk or at Hever Castle in Kent, England *** Family background: Her father was Thomas Boleyn, Earl of Wiltshire and Earl of Ormond *** Early life and childhood: Anne Boleyn grew up and spent the majority of her life in England *** Anne Boleyn was beheaded on May 19, 1536 ***

Anne Boleyn Fact 1: The exact birth date of Anne Boleyn remains uncertain. She's believed to have been born during 1501 or 1507 in either Blickling Hall in Norfolk or at Hever Castle in Kent, England.

Anne Boleyn Fact 2: She was the second wife of King Henry VIII and the Queen of England from 1533 until her death by execution in 1536.

Anne Boleyn Fact 3: Her parents were Thomas Boleyn and Lady Elizabeth Howard. Thomas Boleyn was the Earl of Wiltshire and Earl of Ormond, and her mother was the daughter of the 2nd Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard. Her father was a diplomat who was favored by Henry VII. A diplomat can be described as an official who represents his country abroad.

Anne Boleyn Fact 4: She was raised at Hever Castle in Kent, England with her two siblings, Mary Boleyn (c. 1499/1500-1543) and George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford (c. 1503/04-1536).

Anne Boleyn Fact 5: She was educated at Mechelen in the Burgundian Netherlands. She became maid of honor to Margaret of Austria, the daughter of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, in 1513. Margaret of Austria was very impressed by Anne Boleyn, she described her as 'presentable and pleasant'.

Anne Boleyn Fact 6: In 1514, she was sent to France where she became maid of honor to Queen Mary, the sister of King Henry VIII. She then became maid of honor to Queen Claude, Mary's stepdaughter. Anne Boleyn was a maid at the Queen's household for almost 7 years.

Anne Boleyn Fact 7: She studied a variety of subjects at the Queen's household including French, fashion, art, music, poetry, literature and religion. Life in France taught Anne Boleyn about culture, dance and traditions associated with the country.

Anne Boleyn Fact 8: She was often described as being beautiful and charming. Of average height, she had a slim figure, olive skin, long, straight dark hair and brown eyes. She was known for being bright and enthusiastic, lively and strong-minded. She was also known for being direct and having an awful temper at times.

Anne Boleyn Fact 9: In 1522, she returned to England to marry James Butler who was her cousin and the 9th Earl of Osmond. However, the marriage didn't go ahead as planned and instead, Anne Boleyn became maid of honor to Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIII's first wife.

Anne Boleyn Fact 10: Her sister, Mary Boleyn, was one of her future husband's, Henry VIII's, mistresses during the early 1520s. Although never acknowledged by Henry VIII, it is thought that he may have fathered two of Mary's children. In 1534, Mary married a man called William Stafford in secret. Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn felt angry about the marriage to this man who was said to be beneath their family. As a consequence of her marriage to William Stafford, Mary was banished from the royal court.

Anne Boleyn Fact 11: Anne Boleyn, unlike her sister Mary, refused to become one of King Henry VIII's mistresses. Pope Clement VII refused to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon upon his request so that he may become married to Anne Boleyn. This marked an important time in history as Henry broke away from the Catholic Church.

Anne Boleyn Fact 12: She became the first holder of the title 'Marquess of Pembroke'. King Henry VIII created the title especially for Anne Boleyn who became the Marquess of Pembroke on September 1, 1532. Henry VIII held a grand ceremony at Windsor Castle which was attended by the highest clergymen in England and the French ambassador.

Anne Boleyn Fact 13: On January 25, 1533, Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII of England were married. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, declared the marriage null and void on May 23, 1533 and then validated it again five days later.

Anne Boleyn Fact 14: Following her marriage to King Henry VIII, the Church of England came under Henry's control as he broke away from Rome following the Pope's decreed sentences of excommunication against Henry VIII and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer.

Anne Boleyn Fact 15: On June 1, 1533, Anne Boleyn was crowned Queen on England. She gave birth to their first child on September 7, 1533, a daughter who became the future Queen Elizabeth I of England. Following three miscarriage, Elizabeth was the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Anne Boleyn Fact 16: King Henry VIII of England was desperate for a son and heir. He was very disappointed that Anne Boleyn was unable to bear him with a son. He began a relationship with Jane Seymour in March 1536.

Anne Boleyn Fact 17: In April 1536, Henry VIII had Anne Boleyn investigated for high treason. She was arrested on May 2, 1536 and sent to the Tower of London to appear before a jury of peers. She was accused of many things including incest, adultery and plotting to kill the King. Anne Boleyn was found guilty on May 15, 1536.

Anne Boleyn Fact 18: She was beheaded on May 19, 1536 at the Tower of London in England. Henry VIII arranged for an expert swordsman from France to behead Anne Boleyn. Beheading were usually carried out with an axe. She was the first of Henry VIII's wives to be executed.

Anne Boleyn Fact 19: Her brother, George Boleyn, was the 2nd Viscount Rochford. He was a noble man who became a prominent political figure. He was convicted of incest with his sister, Anne Boleyn, and as a result he was executed at Tower Hill, London on May 17, 1536.

Anne Boleyn Fact 20: Following her death by execution on May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn was buried at the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula in an unmarked grave. The chapel was renovated in 1876 and her remains were identified.

Influence & Legacy: Anne Boleyn was the second wife of King Henry VIII and the Queen of England from 1533 until her death in 1536. She was the first of King Henry VIII's wives to face execution by beheading.