On a winter morning in 1536, Anne Boleyn lost the child she had prayed for. She had carried it through months of caution, avoiding every risk, determined to give Henry VIII the son he demanded. When her ladies told her the baby had been a boy, she collapsed and wept, lamenting aloud, for a part of her understood at once what this meant. Her marriage, her crown, her very life now hung by a thread.

She was the second wife of the King of England, the first queen ever to be threatened with the scaffold, and she knew that a man who had once broken with the Church of Rome to possess her would not hesitate to destroy her. Anne Boleyn’s origins remain one of the many mysteries surrounding her. Historians have argued for years over her birthplace, suggesting different locations in Norfolk and Kent, and even the date of her birth is uncertain, placed somewhere between 1501 and 1507. What is known is that she was the second of three children born to the diplomat Thomas Boleyn and his wife, Elizabeth Howard.

The family was noble but carried no royal blood. Still, the Boleyns ranked among the most respected families in England, and their children grew up in comfort. Anne spent her early years quietly in England, close to her siblings. As a child she adored her father, though that bond cooled with time.

Her deepest attachments were to her mother and to her brother George, and those ties would remain the most important of her life. When her father’s diplomatic duties took the family to the Low Countries, Anne was introduced to the court of Margaret of Austria, the governor of the Netherlands. Margaret was charmed at once by the girl, whom she found beautiful, delightful, and remarkably intelligent. She took Anne into her household and affectionately nicknamed her “la petite Boleyn.

” Anne remained there for about a year before her father sent her to France to continue her education. In France, Anne entered the service of Queen Claude and received the training expected of a noble lady. She became fluent in French, learned court protocol, studied history and literature, and absorbed the humanist ideas circulating in the French court. There she met Marguerite of Angoulême, a woman of letters far ahead of her time.

It was also in France, according to tradition, that Anne first encountered the Protestant faith, attending secret meetings where the new religion was debated. She was, it is said, fascinated by what she heard. By then she had grown into a young woman of long dark hair, a darker complexion than was common in England, and a short, slender figure. She had captivating dark eyes and an exotic beauty that drew attention wherever she went.

She was intelligent, cultured, cheerful, and charming, skilled in dance and song, and a gifted conversationalist who could debate any subject. She was also, as those who knew her noted, calculating, extravagant, passionate, brave, emotional, and unforgiving. In the French court she earned respect and admiration, in sharp contrast to her sister Mary, who had become the mistress of King Francis I and was openly scorned and humiliated as “the great prostitute. ” When Mary was sent back to England in 1519, Anne remained behind, enjoying the balls and banquets, courted by many young admirers.

By 1521, however, Anne had to prepare, much against her wishes, to return to England. The conflicts between England and France made her position difficult, and a marriage had been arranged for her to her cousin James Butler. The negotiations, for reasons never explained, fell through, and James married someone else. A new match was sought within the English court instead.

On New Year’s Day 1522, Anne made her debut at a court masquerade. She performed a highly complicated dance alongside other ladies of the court, including her sister Mary and the king’s younger sister, Princess Mary Tudor. Anne executed the steps flawlessly and captured the attention of everyone present. Her elegance and grace left a deep impression.

Soon after, she became a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon, and suitors gathered quickly. She sang, danced, and played the lute, and while she was not conventionally beautiful, her exotic looks and poise made her the most admired woman at court. One of her suitors was Henry Percy, a young earl close to her own age. Anne fell in love with him at once and allowed the courtship to proceed.

The two began a secret romance, though it never went beyond flirtation and the occasional fleeting kiss. In 1523 they became secretly engaged, both longing to marry. But Henry’s father discovered the affair and forced the couple to break their engagement. Anne was sent away from court.

When she returned, she kept her distance from men, refusing to risk her heart again. She appeared cold and remote, devoting herself entirely to her duties. It was during this time that she discovered Cardinal Thomas Wolsey had also played a part in ending her romance, and she conceived a lifelong hatred for the chancellor. Her aloofness only made her more desirable.

She was now the most sought-after woman at court, and her refusal to yield made her a challenge men were determined to overcome. Henry VIII took note. He was accustomed, as king, to having any woman he wanted, but Anne was different. He began to pursue her, and Anne politely but firmly refused him.

The more she refused, the more obsessed he became. When she left court for her family home, Henry grew desperate. He sent for her to return, and she would not. Finally, in his frustration, he proposed marriage.

Anne accepted, but on one condition: she would not share his bed until they were man and wife. Henry agreed reluctantly. All he wanted was to possess the woman driving him mad. Henry now sought by every means to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, but the matter proved difficult.

When word of the engagement reached court, many supported it. Anne herself stayed out of the intrigues and politics, occupying herself with the jewels and dresses the king sent her daily. She played her part carefully, appearing as a loving, devoted fiancée, seducing Henry day by day without ever sleeping with him. The annulment proceedings dragged on.

Thomas Wolsey, unable to deliver what the king wanted, was dismissed and fell from favor. Anne had pressed hard for his downfall, still nursing her old grudge over Henry Percy. Wolsey, desperate, asked Anne to help him return to court. She refused.

In return, Wolsey plotted to have her expelled from court and from England, but the conspiracy was discovered before it could be carried out. Henry ordered his arrest and execution for treason. Wolsey died first, of a terminal illness. With her old enemy gone, Anne appeared happy and radiant, and she became the most powerful woman in the court.

A year later, Catherine of Aragon was expelled from court, and Anne took her apartments. She began to influence policy, choosing the men who would serve in the government and on the council. This earned her enemies, and the common people, who adored Catherine, never took to her. Anne championed Thomas Cromwell and helped him rise until he became the king’s favorite.

In 1532, she helped improve relations between England and France, and she and her family received titles, lands, and property. When Henry and Anne returned from France, they married in secret. Soon after, Anne became pregnant. Henry was overjoyed.

At last he had what he had wanted. On 25 May 1533, a second, official wedding was held with a great number of guests and celebrations. A few days later, Thomas Cromwell declared the marriage valid. Anne was now the king’s second wife and Queen of England.

Shortly afterward, Henry broke with the Catholic Church and declared himself Supreme Head of the Church of England. Anne’s coronation was followed by preparations for the birth, still months away. But she suffered a serious shock when she discovered the king had taken an interest in another lady of the court. She became so upset that Henry, fearing she might lose the child, promised he would never be with another woman.

Anne believed him, and their marriage settled back into its normal rhythm. On 7 September 1533, Elizabeth was born, prematurely. Anne was deeply disappointed. She had been certain she carried the heir Henry demanded.

The king too was subdued, but he reasoned he was still young and could have more children, so they made light of it and arranged a magnificent christening, followed by lavish celebrations. Still, Anne feared that Henry’s other daughter, Mary, might displace her baby. She spoke to her husband about her worries, and Henry ordered that Mary serve as one of Elizabeth’s attendants. The older princess lived apart from her parents, in her own household, with every luxury and comfort.

Anne visited her daughter whenever she could and adored the child. As queen, Anne lived magnificently, surrounded by servants, jewels, and dresses, hosting grand feasts and balls. But she also felt pressure from the king and the court, all waiting for the promised son. In 1534 she became pregnant again, and it seemed she would finally deliver the heir.

Her happiness lasted only briefly. She miscarried. Henry was furious and told his councillors he intended to divorce her. Once his anger cooled, however, the couple reconciled and resumed their life together.

Henry genuinely liked his wife, finding her strong temper attractive, and he admired her intelligence and wit. Still, after the miscarriage he grew more distant and began pursuing other ladies at court. In 1535, Anne became pregnant once more and took every precaution to avoid another miscarriage. She was obsessed with carrying the pregnancy to term and giving birth to the next King of England.

She knew that if she lost this child, or bore another girl, her marriage would be in grave danger; Henry would divorce her and she would cease to be the most powerful woman in England. Then one day she found Jane Seymour, one of her own ladies-in-waiting, sitting on the king’s lap in a loving pose. Anne was deeply distressed. In January 1536, Catherine of Aragon died.

Henry reportedly showed some emotion at the news, but Anne was happy and radiant. The royal couple dressed in yellow and held a quiet celebration. Anne tried to reconcile with her stepdaughter Mary, whose position seemed newly dangerous, since with Catherine dead Henry could remarry if his marriage to Anne were annulled. But Mary turned her back on Anne and refused any friendship.

On 29 January 1536, the day of Catherine’s funeral, Anne miscarried. When she learned the child had been a boy, she broke down, weeping and lamenting, certain her end was near. When Henry heard the news, he met with his councillors and declared that he had been seduced into marrying Anne. Once the queen recovered, he ordered her to leave her apartments and gave them immediately to his new mistress, Jane Seymour.

Henry wanted to be rid of his wife at once and turned to Thomas Cromwell for a solution. An investigation into Anne’s life began. On 30 April, the queen’s personal musician, Mark Smeaton, was arrested and tortured until he confessed to being her lover. Three other men, similarly tortured, confessed to the same crime.

One of the arrested was Anne’s own brother, George, accused of incest with the queen. On 2 May, Anne was arrested and charged with adultery, incest, and plotting to murder the king. She was taken to the Tower of London. On 15 May, Anne and her brother were tried separately.

The queen remained calm and declared herself innocent of all charges. Her brother was tried next and likewise pleaded not guilty. Both were found guilty and sentenced to death. Among those who voted on their guilt was Henry Percy, Anne’s first love.

When his turn came to vote, he fell ill and fainted. The four men accused of intimacy with the queen were hanged. On 17 May, George Boleyn was beheaded before the crowd. When Anne heard the news, she fell into a state of anxiety and could not stop weeping.

The following day, the marriage of Henry and Anne was declared null, and their daughter Elizabeth was declared illegitimate. Anne began preparing for her execution, including choosing the dress she would wear. She was then told the executioner had come from Calais and would use a sword, not an axe. Half laughing, she said he would have no trouble, as she had a small neck, and would be remembered as “the queen without a head.

” Many who heard her laugh believed it was the result of nerves and terror at the knowledge she would die the next day. On 19 May, Anne Boleyn was led to the Tower Green for a private execution. She gave a short, emotional speech, speaking well of the king and asking those present to pray for her soul. Her ladies removed her headdress and said their farewells, sobbing.

A blindfold was placed over her eyes. As she knelt and positioned herself, the executioner, with a show of consideration, called out, “Where is my sword? Bring me my sword. ” The words gave Anne a moment of hope, a few extra seconds of life.

But the moment he had the sword in hand, he struck, and her head came off in a single blow, before she could expect it. Henry had made no arrangements at all for her burial. There was not even a coffin. Her body and head were placed in an arrow chest and buried in an unmarked, unnamed grave in the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula within the Tower.

Three hundred years later, during renovations in the chapel, her remains were discovered. Queen Victoria, then on the throne, ordered that they be placed in a proper coffin and given a dignified burial in the same place. Anne Boleyn had made the mistake of falling in love with the King of England. She had been admired by everyone and might have lived a long and ordinary life.

But she let herself be won over by the crown and the power it offered, and for a short time she was happy, called wife by her king. It lasted very little. She never saw her daughter grow up, never enjoyed her affection or her company, leaving Elizabeth an orphan at just two years old. Henry married Jane Seymour on the very day of Anne’s execution.

Henry Percy died a year after her, consumed with remorse. Anne was executed unjustly, dying for crimes she had never committed.