On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII, was beheaded after being tried for and convicted of adultery and witchcraft. Lady Boleyn had an exta finger on one hand and a large mole on her neck–proof positive that she practiced sorcery. She was also accused of having an incestuous relationship with her brother and of committing adultery with several other men. And she had miscarried a deformed baby in a day and age when such defects were thought to be the result of witchcraft or gross sin on the part of the parent(s). Of course, neither the miscarriage nor the deformity could have been Henry’s fault, nor could he be blamed for Anne’s real crime, the failure to produce a male heir to the throne.
She only left behind a red- headed daughter, who became Elizabeth I, arguably England’s most famous and powerful monarch ever.
If you would like to learn more about the six wives of Henry VIII, I recommend:
These movies were originally produced for the BBC in 1970, and I first saw them when I was a teenager. I thought they were great then, and I still think they are very well acted and quite informative. They’re not documentaries, but rather dramatizations of the lives, and of course deaths, of each of Henry’s six wives. You can probably get them either on video or DVd from the library. Enjoy.
I loved this series. The one that was on this year did not hold a candle to this original series even if it did feature Sean Bean. (He got shot with arrows again.)
Wow – to have been a queen to that king was deadly indeed. I have often felt badly for those poor women when in reality it was the king’s fault that he didn’t produce a male heir! What a time to live – yikes!
I appreciate your suggestion for Genevieve Foster’s George Washington’s World. I have had that recommended to me by another friend to so now I must purchase it! Grin! It is always marvelous to have an excuse to purchase a book.
Warmly,
Kate
Did Anne Boleyn really have 6 fingers and the mole? Perhaps. Would King Henry have loved a woman that practiced sorcery or witchcraft or been the child of parents who did?
Just something to think about.