The Woman Who Ruled a King: Anne Boleyn

            King Henry VIII married his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in 1509. Catherine can be seen in the print to the left. She was originally married to Arthur, Henry VIII’s brother, but he died shortly after they married in 1502. Henry VII still wanted the power marriage to the widow could grant England, so he brought her together with his other son, Henry VIII. Marriage between brother and sister-in-law was seen as illegal in canon law, yet with certain persuasions the pope granted their union. At the start of their marriage, Henry was extremely different from who he would eventually become. It seemed he truly cared for Catherine, however concerns for the future clouded their relationship quickly. In 1511, they had a son together, who unfortunately passed two months later. They did eventually have a daughter together, but Henry truly desired a son. This fact started to drive a wedge between them as Henry started seeking out other women and Catherine was left feeling like a failure. Instead of being there when his wife needed him, Henry found his way into many different beds and had an abundance of mistresses.

            Due to the strains in the royal couple’s marriage, it wasn’t long until Anne Boleyn caught Henry VIII’s eye. As Anne was one of Catherine’s lady maids and Henry was having an affair with Anne’s sister, the two saw each other frequently in English court. In the painting The Courtship of Anne Boleyn, one can see how easily Henry dismissed his own wife’s feelings and the judgement of others. The painting shows Henry VIII clearly trying to court Anne whilst his wife is present. Anne is painted in soft purples and pinks and Catherine is wearing black, which adds to the contrast between the two women. It is representative of how at this point in their marriage Henry saw Catherine as old and sad, yet here was Anne a bright, new, and beautiful young lady for him. Henry and Anne begun to exchange personal and intimate “love” letters. In the letters, it is clear Anne expressed she wouldn’t have sex with Henry unless they were to wed. Henry was persistent and as he was king there wasn’t much Anne could do to dissuade his advances.

            There was a way, though, for Anne to make this situation more beneficial for herself. Talk had started going around that Henry was looking for a way to annule his marriage with Catherine. According to Lindsey Karen, “it was not because of Anne Boleyn that Henry VIII decided his marriage to Catherine of Aragon was invalid, though his infatuation with Anne certainly determined the timing. He had wanted a son and his sexual life with Catherine was over.” Anne figured out if the marriage between Henry and Catherine ended, she could persuade Henry to pick her as his second wife. It is difficult to pin down Anne’s specific desires and there has been much speculation on the topic. Some theorize she was in for the power or that she was in love with Henry, but it is also possible she was just a young girl making the best out of an impossible situation. The print to the left captures how awkward Henry courting Anne was. In the print, it is clear in the way Henry is looking at Anne that he desires her much more than she wanted him. Also, the rest of court in attendance in the print either is gazing away from the couple or, like the man resting on the chair in the foreground, is looking at them with what appears to be disgust. 

            Catherine and Henry’s annulment was long and messy, especially because Pope Clement VII refused to do so. Throughout the process, Henry continued to visit both Catherine and Anne expressing false sympathies and loving words. Anne quickly became hated amongst the English as many adored Catherine and believed Anne was using trickery and seduction to lure Henry away. Nonetheless, Anne and Henry secretly married on January 25^th, 1533. Anne was also pregnant with his child. Desipte the new marriage, Catherine and Henry's annulment didn’t go through until May 23^rd, 1533.  

            The painting to the left is a favorite of mine in this exhibit. The vibrant colors and style capture the beauty of a moment. However, the scene painted is slightly uncomfortable. In the painting, a young Anne dressed in white can be seen holding hands with King Henry VIII. Henry is ornately dressed in lavish gold clothes and gazing at Anne, while she avoids his eyes. As the painting is supposed to be capturing one of their first interactions, it is interesting to see how their relationship eventually evolved to them becoming married. Similar to previous pieces, onlookers look at the pair with a mixture of shock and feigned indifference.