Portrayals of Anne Boleyn throughout history:
The common view of Anne in the 18th and 19th century was that she was a strong-willed
woman who was manipulated by Henry. This portrayal of Anne was very romanticized.
However in the 20th century Anne began to be seen as a strong woman. She was considered one
of the most ambitious, intelligent and important queens in European history.
Anne has often been described as unattractive according to conventions of the time
period. However she was considered exotic and slightly mysterious, with her dark hair, eyes,
and complexion. Some have reported that she had six fingers and a large mole on her face
although this is not proven as it was claimed by Nicholas Sanders.
Nicholas Sanders was a Catholic priest who wrote De origine et progressu schismatic
Anlicani which was reworked and published in 1585 after his death. In these writings he claimed
that Anne was a “nymphomaniac with an excess of lovers, had a projecting tooth, and six fingers
on one hand.” All of these features were associated with witchcraft and Sanders believed that
Anne used a love potion to make Henry fall in love with her. Sanders’ claims cannot be proven
as he never even saw Anne in his lifetime. However his views reflect those of the general
Catholic feeling, which considers Anne to have been evil and manipulative.
In contrast, the Protestant portrayal of Anne regarded her as a saint who was kind and just
but was manipulated by Henry. John Foxe was a highly educated Protestant writer in the 16th
century. He supported the Protestant view of Anne, calling her “The most beautiful of all in
character, learning and piety.” He also claimed that without Anne the Church of England would
not exist, as Henry created the Church of England in order to divorce Katharine of Aragon and
marry Anne.
Even historians have largely differing views as to Anne’s real personality and influence.
Karen Lindsey, feminist author of Divorced, Beheaded, Survived believed that “The traditional
image of Boleyn as an amoral, home wrecking social climber makes for great melodrama, all it
lacks is accuracy.” She considers Anne Boleyn’s story to be one of the great feminist parables of
all time. Dr. David Starkey believed that Anne was the most politically important of Henry’s
Queens, and said that she was “the most interesting, if not the most attractive” of Henry’s wives.
Eric Ives, author of The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn, a study on the era’s sexual morals. He
focuses on Anne’s charisma, intelligence, energy and vitality, and refuses to believe the portrayal
of her as a whore. Allison Weir portrayed Anne in the harshest light, calling her provocative,
and claiming that “Anne was entirely unsuitable as queen, since she was over flirtatious,
immoderate in her public behavior, and vengeful towards her enemies.” (Weir, 12)
There are many current or recent discussions of Anne, however none of these historians
were ever in Anne’s presence, so below are some quotes from those who were alive in Anne’s
time:
• 1530’s-Venetian ambassador Savorgano: Anne was ‘a young woman of noble birth,
though many say of bad character, whose will is law to him, and he is expected to marry
her should the divorce take place, which it is supposed will not be effected, as the peers
of the realm….and the people are opposed to it.’
•
1530-Abbot of Whitby on political situation: ‘The King’s Grace is ruled by one common
stewed whore, Anne Boleyn, who makes all the spirituality to be beggared, and the
temporality also.’
•
When Henry told Katharine to give jewels of the crown to Anne she replied: ‘I will not
give them up to a person who is the scandal of Christendom and a disgrace to you.’
•
1532-Venetian ambassador described Anne as: 'not one of the handsomest women in the
world. She is of middling stature, with a swarthy complexion, long neck, wide mouth,
bosom not much raised, and in fact has nothing but the King's great appetite, and her
eyes, which are black and beautiful - and take great effect on those who served the Queen
when she was on the throne. She lives like a queen, and the King accompanies her to
Mass - and everywhere.'
•
French ambassador contradicts Anne’s enemies: ‘….all that the Lady does is by the
king’s order.’
•
Eustace Chapuys (imperial ambassador) described circumstances in early 1533 to Charles
V: 'Your Majesty must root out the Lady and her adherents.... This accursed Anne has her
foot in the stirrup, and will do the Queen and the Princess all the harm she can. She has
boasted that she will make the Princess her lady-in-waiting, or marry her to some varlet.'
•
Chapuys describes Anne's attendance at Mass on 14 April 1533:
'It looks like a dream, and even those who take her part know not whether to laugh or to
cry.'
•
Henry and Anne's conversation at her coronation procession was reported by Chapuys:
'How liked you the look of the City?' Henry asked.
Anne replied, 'Sir, I liked the City well enough - but I saw a great many caps on heads,
and heard but few tongues.'
•
Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, was Anne's friend and champion. When
news reached him of her arrest, he bravely wrote to Henry VIII protesting - only to think
better of offending Henry. Cranmer added a suitably apologetic postscript to the letter.
Here are excerpts in which he describes Anne:
'If it be true that is openly reported of the Queen's Grace... I am in such perplexity that
my mind is clean amazed; for I never had better opinion in woman than I had in her;
which maketh me to think that she should not be culpable... Next to Your Grace, I was
most bound to her of all creatures living... I wish and pray for her that she may declare
herself inculpable and innocent... I loved her not a little for the love which I judged her to
bear towards God and His Gospel.'
Below are some interesting facts about Anne that will add to the positive portrayal of her:
-Anne was the wealthiest of all of Henry’s wives
-convinced Henry that the Bible should be translated into English and be available to
commoners not just clergy
-gave more money to the poor in 3 years than Katherine of Aragon did in her entire reign (over
20 years)
-no heretics were burned during her time as queen
-Was the first Marchioness of Pembroke in 1532-became first female English commoner
ennobled in her own right, without inheritance or marriage, and at the time became the most
prestigious non-royal woman in the land
-She became the victim of a public hate campaign, mobilized by Katherine of Aragon’s
supporters. In 1531 a crowd of 8,000 women marched through the streets of London in an
attempt to lynch her
Portraits of Anne
There are disagreements over which portrait authentically represents Anne. German
artist, Hans Holbein created two images that were poorly labeled and are ultimately thought
to be inaccurate. The first was drawn around 1530, but was not labeled as Anne Boleyn until
1649, so there was a long period in which time the likeness could have changed drastically.
The second was labeled as Anne Boleyn during the reign of Edward VI, however the
woman’s appearance does not match descriptions of Anne so it is rumored to instead be a
sketch of a lady of the Wyatt family because she is depicted with fair features, wearing a
furred dressing gown and linen cap. A miniature created by John Hoskins is considered to
have the greatest likeness to Anne.
Miniature by John Hoskins (strongest likeness known)
Hans Holbein (1st image)
Hans Holbein (2nd image thought to be Wyatt family)