(no subject)

[naath]

Died on this day in 1536 aged 35 Anne Boleyn (my toy,wikipedia). Executed for adultery, incest, and treason but really for the crime of "not having a son" and "not being Jane Seymour" (since Henry had got it in his head that he could switch wives, and the women of the court had discovered that if you held out for a ring you could get it... this was a very dangerous time to be Queen). Anne's father was "new money" by Tudor standards - his grandfather had been a Mercer, whilst her mother Elizabeth Howard was a descendant of Edward I. Her father survived Anne's execution, but was stripped of the office of Lord Privy Seal and did not survive for very long after. Anne had fought hard to be Henry's wife rather than his mistress, and fought hard for the church of England to be more Protestant.

Born on this day in 1744 to Charles Mecklenburg-Strelitz , Duke of Mecklenburg and Princess Elizabeth-Albertine of Saxe-Hildburghausen, Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (my toy,wikipedia). Charlotte married George III. The marriage was arranged and at the time she spoke almost no English. The marriage seems to have been more successful than many, and they had 15 children. When George became ill (likely with porphyria) it is his wife who assumed responsibility for his care (although this doesn't mean she actually *did the nursing*) whilst their son (the future George IV) ruled as regent.

Comments

[nickys.livejournal.com]

I'm more inclined to the theory that Anne fought very hard not to be Henry's wife or mistress.

She loved Percy, but was prevented from marrying him because Henry had taken a fancy to her.

Henry was married to a princess of Spain, the aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor, and there was no way she'd agree to a divorce/annulment since they had a living child (Mary) who would be disinherited by it.

Anne didn't want to sleep with Henry, but she couldn't say that. All she could do was claim to be too religious to do so outside of matrimony.

It was preposterous that he'd attempt to divorce Catherine.
... and even when he tried to there were huge obstacles in his way, the Church answered to Rome not to Henry.
Henry got the title "Defender of the Faith" for his loyalty to the Church and the Pope, so why would he go against them?

Anne couldn't have planned what happened. It was a ridiculous scenario.
Nobody could reasonably expect Henry to abandoned his faith, lead England to the brink of war and disinherited his own daughter (who he loved), rather than, say, just go and ask somebody else to be his bit on the side.