The Life of Anne Boleyn

Birth of Henry Tudor

Jun 28, 1491

Born at the Palace of Placentia on June 28, 1491, Henry Tudor was the second son of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth of York. He was second in line to the English throne behind his older brother Arthur.

Birth of Anne Boleyn

1501

There is uncertainty about Anne Boleyn's birth, but her parents were Thomas Boleyn, son of a Norfolk landowner, and Elizabeth Howard, daughter of the second duke of Norfolk. Historical sources point toward her being born around 1501, likely in Norfolk. Source:
Bernard, G.W. 2010. "Who was Anne Boleyn?" Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions. Yale University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npjv0.7

Henry Tudor Becomes King Henry VIII of England

Apr 21, 1509

King Henry VII died on April 21, 1509, and was succeeded by Henry VIII. Henry VIII's brother Arthur, the initial heir to the English throne, died seven years earlier, making Henry VIII the first in line to succeed his father.

Henry VIII Marries Catherine of Aragon

Jun 11, 1509

Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon, his brother Arthur's widow, on June 11, 1509. She would be the first of Henry VIII's six wives.

Birth of Prince Henry

Jan 1, 1511

On January 1, 1511, Catherine of Aragon gave birth to Henry VIII's first son and heir apparent, whom they also named Henry. Catherine previously gave birth to a daughter, but the child was stillborn.

Prince Henry Dies

Feb 22, 1511

Prince Henry died only weeks after his birth on February 22, 1511. Catherine of Aragon failed to provide Henry VIII with another male heir during their marriage much to his dismay, though their daughter Mary would eventually be Queen of England. Source:
Shore, Miles F. “Henry and the Crisis of Generativity.” The Journal of Interdisciplinary History Vol. 2, No. 4. Psychoanalysis and History (Spring, 1972). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/202310

Anne Boleyn Joins English Court

1522

Anne Boleyn joined Henry VIII's court in 1522, possibly participating in pageants and serving in Catherine of Aragon's household. Source:
Bernard, G.W. 2010. "Who was Anne Boleyn?" Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions. Yale University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npjv0.7

Henry VIII's "Great Matter"

1527

In 1527, Henry VIII, wishing to marry Anne Boleyn, decided to divorce Catherine of Aragon. He justified this decision by claiming that it was against divine law to be married to the widow of his brother and that the pope had exceeded his authority in approving their marriage. Source:
Rex, Richard. 2007. "Henry VIII and the Break with Rome." State Papers Online 1509-1714. Cengage Learning EMEA Ltd.

Cardinal Wolsey is Dismissed

1529

Henry VIII dismissed Cardinal Thomas Wolsey for failing to obtain his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, potentially at the urging of several people close to Anne Boleyn. Source:
Gairdner, James. 1899. "The Fall of Cardinal Wolsey." Transactions of the Royal Historical Society New Series, Vol. 13: 75. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/3678127

Anne Boleyn's Marriage and Pregnancy

Nov 14, 1532

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII married secretly in London on November 14, 1532. Boleyn would soon become pregnant with their daughter Elizabeth.

Anne Boleyn Publicly Marries Henry VIII

Jan 25, 1533

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII married publicly on January 25, 1533.

Henry VIII Annuls Marriage with Catherine of Aragon

May 23, 1533

On May 23, 1533, Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, annulled Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon and declared him legally married to Anne Boleyn five days later. This marked the separation of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

Birth of Elizabeth

Sep 7, 1533

Anne Boleyn gave birth to her and Henry VIII's daughter Elizabeth on September 7, 1533, leaving Henry VIII still without a male heir. Elizabeth would eventually become the Queen of England.

Anne Boleyn Gives Birth to Stillborn Son

1534

Anne Boleyn gave birth to a stillborn son sometime in 1534, adding to Henry VIII's distress over his inability to gain a male heir.

Anne Boleyn Miscarries Pregnancy

1536

Anne Boleyn miscarried a pregnancy in January 1536, days after Catherine of Aragon's death. This would cause strife between Boleyn and Henry VIII, as Henry VIII was made certain he would not have a male heir through Boleyn. Source:
Bernard, G.W. 2010. "Anne's miscarriage." Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions. Yale University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npjv0.13

Anne Boleyn is Arrested

May 2, 1536

On May 2, 1536, Anne Boleyn was arrested on charges including adultery and treason. It is likely that Henry VIII grew tired of waiting for Boleyn to provide him with a male heir and levied charges against her that may have been false. Source:
Bernard, G.W. 2010. "'A much higher fault': the countess of Worcester's charge against Anne." Anne Boleyn: Fatal Attractions. Yale University Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt1npjv0.15

Anne Boleyn's Trial

May 15, 1536

Anne Bolyn was found guilty of the charges against her on May 15, 1536.

Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII's Marriage Annulled

May 17, 1536

Anne Boleyn's marriage to Henry VIII was annulled by Thomas Cranmer on May 17, 1536.

Anne Boleyn is Executed

May 19, 1536

Anne Boleyn was executed at the Tower of London on May 19, 1536. The execution was performed privately, with an expert French swordsman carrying out her Boleyn's beheading.

Henry VIII Betrothed to Jane Seymour

May 20, 1536

Henry VIII was betrothed to Jane Seymour on May 20, 1536, the day after Anne Boleyn's execution. The pair would marry ten days later. Seymour would eventually provide Henry VIII with a male heir - the future King Edward VI.