Good morning, we are working on our explorations of Women in history by looking at the relationship between two sisters Anne and Mary Boleyn.  Anne Boleyn is often vilified as the other woman.  Mary is known as a fool and a whore.  Anne is remembered in history and Mary is a fleeting thought.  What does this say about their relationship?  The run time for this documentary is 43:12.

The pair is notorious.  Little is known about their lives.  Even their portraits are disputed.  It is not even certain when they were born.  The Boleyns were important, but they were still a modest family.  Mary is often assumed to be the oldest and even evidence is that is not clear.  Much of their childhood was spent in Kent and Hever Castle.  Thomas Boleyn, their father was a rising star at court.  He insisted on education for his daughters.

Anne was smarter and more forward.  She was sent to Europe and she was sent to the Court of the Archduchess Margaret of Austria.  This court was considered a finishing school for kids.  Margaret of Austria’s court was known as flamboyant and the archduchess was a kind woman.  Margaret grew fond of the young Anne.  Unfortunately, Mary was left behind.  However, her turn was to come.  When Henry VIII’s sister married the French King, Mary Boleyn went to France.  Unfortunately, the French king died and was replaced by Francis.  Anne would eventually join up with Mary in the French court.  The French Queen Claude kept Anne on.  Queen Claude was an educated woman.  Anne would remain in France for seven years.  Mary soon caught the attention of the French King.

Eventually, Mary was sent back to England.  She was to get married and Henry VIII attended the wedding.  They soon began an affair after the marriage.  Eventually, Anne was sent back to England because tensions between France and England were rising.  Anne would join Mary at court.  Mary was Henry VIII’s mistress and Anne was in the background.  Eventually, Anne caught Henry VIII’s attention.  He becomes obsessed with Anne.  Anne refused to become Henry VIII’s mistress and retreated to Hever Castle for two years.  Was this an attempt to make Henry VIII back off?

However, Henry would not be refused and he made it clear that he wanted to marry Anne.  He was going to divorce his wife Catherine and was going to marry Anne.  Anne had the choice to become a nun or marry Henry.  Henry’s plans were nearly derailed when Anne became sick with the sweating sickness.  Anne survived, but Mary’s husband died leaving Mary a widow to care for two small children.  Anne intervened to make sure Mary got help and a pension.  Anne would take Mary’s son on as a ward.  Mary would eventually get away from court.  The Boleyn family had other concerns: the divorce proceedings were going slow.

Henry was furious that he was not given a divorce and blamed Worsley for his failure in securing the annulment.  Worsley also was spreading rumors that Henry would cast Anne aside to help secure the divorce.  Anne was furious and Worsley left London.  He would die before he faced charges of treason.  Anne found a new ally in Thomas Cromwell and he had ideas as to how to secure the divorce.  Catherine was sent away from court and Henry married Anne in secret.  Anne was already pregnant.  The Boleyns were now the most prominent family in England.  Would this supremacy last?

Anne was crowned Queen.  Henry VIII arranged days of celebrations for the coronation.  She was a woman who had grabbed the king.  He was genuinely in love with her.  However, the public hated Anne.  When Mary returned to court, she bore the brunt of public hatred.  Her second time at court was an unhappy one.  However, everything was for naught when Anne gave him a daughter.  Fissures started to appear in the marriage: Anne could not adjust to life as a queen.  She and Henry quarreled frequently.  To learn more about Anne, Mary, and Henry VIII continue to watch the rest of this episode.

I was not going to do this documentary because I was worried about being Tudor-heavy in this blog.  However, since it does fit in with Women’s history month I thought I would take the chance and do it.  This would be more appropriate for research purposes.

The series concludes with Anne Boleyn's execution.  Borman explores the documents that lead up to that event and hope that Henry VIII would grant her a reprieve.  

Anne believed that there would be a reprieve from Henry VIII.  She was up all night the day before her execution.  Her mood swung wildly between composure and hysteria.  She cheerfully welcomes death, the constable of the tower noted. 

The four men who were found guilty of adultery with the Queen were executed on Tower Hill.  Anne would be executed within the tower walls.  A scaffold was built.  Cromwell wanted Anne executed quickly so Henry VIII would not change his mind.  Henry VIII wanted to get rid of Anne.  Cromwell persuaded Cramner, the Archbishop of Canterbury to write off the marriage between Anne and Henry VIII.  Elizabeth was made a bastard. 

Cramner had his doubts about Anne's guilt and spent a sleepless night before her execution.  He knows her better than anyone.  She would have told him if she was guilty.  He believes her innocent and that Henry would save her.  However, Alexander Alice, a friend of Cramner came to him in order to tell him a chilling nightmare.  Alice saw Anne's execution in his dream.  Cramner now knows that Anne is going to be executed.  He goes to Anne for her final confession and communion.  She confirms her innocence with him, and if she was lying it meant she would have condemned her soul.

The people in the meantime are starting to mutter against the execution.  Are they coming to the side of Anne Boleyn's side?  Cromwell is growing nervous.  He had the people cleared out of the tower.  Anne prepares for her execution.  She dresses with a red kirtle and black dress. 

Henry VIII dictates that Anne Boleyn be executed by the sword, rather than by burning or executed by the axe.  It was the first time that a Queen of England was executed.  A precedent was being set with this execution.

To continue to learn more about the day of Anne Boleyn's execution, continue to watch the documentary.

I would use this documentary for research into Tudors and would show clips from it to a class as part of a lecture.

For use in the classroom: just highlight, copy and paste into a word document or a google document for use in the classroom.  You can easily format these questions to your specifications.  All questions should fit onto one page after formatting.

You can find the link for the YouTube video here.

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 3 Questions

1. Who wanted Anne dead?
2. Who was waiting in the wings to replace Anne?
3. Who had Thomas Cromwell annul the marriage between Anne and Henry VIII?
4. Did Thomas Cramner support Anne?
5. What role did he play in Anne’s life?
6. Did Thomas Cramner believe Anne to be innocent?
7. Who had a terrible nightmare?
8. What was the nightmare about?
9. Both Anne and Thomas Cramner hoped the king would do what?
10. How many times was Anne execution delayed?

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 3 Answers

1. Who wanted Anne dead? - Thomas Cromwell
2. Who was waiting in the wings to replace Anne? - Jane Seymour
3. Who had Thomas Cromwell annul the marriage between Anne and Henry VIII? - Thomas Cramner
4. Did Thomas Cramner support Anne? - Yes
5. What role did he play in Anne’s life? - Personal confessor
6. Did Thomas Cramner believe Anne to be innocent? -Yes
7. Who had a terrible nightmare? - Alexander Alice
8. What was the nightmare about? - Anne’s execution
9. Both Anne and Thomas Cramner hoped the king would do what? - Grant Anne a reprieve
10. How many times was Anne execution delayed? - Twice

Tracy Borman explores the arrest of Anne Boleyn and looks at original documents to explore her trial, was the trial going to end in the court proclaiming her innocence?  Does she stand the chance of a fair hearing?  Can Anne save herself?  Or did one man's determination to remove Anne from Henry VIII's life cause the court to swing the other way? 

It is May 15: Anne Boleyn's trial will begin in the Tower of London.  The Tower of London will hold the most infamous trial in all of history.  The atmosphere is electric and the public looks forward to seeing what she has to stay for themselves.  Cromwell and Anne were at loggerheads over their influence with the King and Cromwell decided that Anne must go.  Cromwell personally selected the judge and jury for the trial.

The future queen Jane Seymour was sent out to the country before the trial.  It would have caused gossip for the court if she was there.  However, at the start of the Trial, Jane was brought back to London and was kept in Chelsea.

Anne's trial began.  She was escorted to the court by four ladies, placed there by Cromwell, so they could spy on her.  She seated in front of judge and jury.  She looks in control.   However, Cromwell would make sure that the King would get the verdict he wanted.  The only records that survive from the trial are for the prosecution and nothing from the defense.

Anne was accused of 20 acts of adultery.  She is sure of her innocence.  Anne is the picture of innocence and the crowd senses.  She uses her mind.  However Cromwell pushes the incest issue, twisting the closeness of the siblings to show how depraved Anne was.  It seems Cromwell might have pushed things too far, and the crowd was turning to support Anne Boleyn.  She put up a robust defense.  Would Anne Boleyn be found innocent?  Could Anne Boleyn be found innocent?

In the meantime, another trial was being held in Westminster.  It was of the men who were accused of committing adultery with Anne Boleyn.  Only one confessed guilty and the rest of the men confessed not guilty.  Their trial would determine Anne's fate.

To continue to learn more about the trial, keep watching.

I would use this documentary for research into Tudors and would show clips from it to a class as part of a lecture.

For use in the classroom: just highlight, copy and paste into a word document or a google document for use in the classroom.  You can easily format these questions to your specifications.  All questions should fit onto one page after formatting.
 
You can find the link for the YouTube video here.

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 2 Questions:

1. Who felt Anne should go?
2. Who oversaw the trial?
3. Where was Henry VIII lying low during Anne’s trial?
4. How did Henry VIII know if Anne was found guilty?
5. What was Jane Seymour given with the king’s picture?
6. What was Anne allowed to do during the trial that a commoner wasn’t?
7. What doesn’t survive from Anne’s trial?
8. Who were the four men Anne was accused of adultery with?
9. What was said of Anne during the trial?
10. Who else was Anne accused of committing adultery with?

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 2 Answers:

1. Who felt Anne should go? - Thomas Cromwell
2. Who oversaw the trial? - Duke of Norfolk
3. Where was Henry VIII lying low during Anne’s trial? - Whitehall
4. How did Henry VIII know if Anne was found guilty? - A cannon would be fired
5. What was Jane Seymour given with the king’s picture? - A locket
6. What was Anne allowed to do during the trial that a commoner wasn’t? - Sit in a chair
7. What doesn’t survive from Anne’s trial? - Her defense
8. Who were the four men Anne was accused of adultery with? - Henry Norris, Mark Smeaton, William Brereton, Francis Weston
9. What was said of Anne during the trial? - No one could look at her and believe her guilty
10. Who else was Anne accused of committing adultery with? - Her brother, George Boleyn

Tracy Borman traces the fall of Anne Boleyn over the course of three days.  She begins with Anne's arrest and the events that lead up to arrest and questioning.  She looks at original Tudor documents and walks in Anne's footsteps.

May 19th is the day when a bouquet of roses is left on the grave on Anne Boleyn.  This memento is left in honor of Anne Boleyn.  It took 7 days for the fall of Anne Boleyn.  It was the first time in history that an English Queen was arrested and executed.

May 2, 1546 - A plan is being hatched in Whitehall.  Henry VIII sent a message to the Palace of Placentia, where Anne Boleyn was residing.  Anne Boleyn was watching tennis...alone.  The day before she had been watching a joust when Henry VIII suddenly left the joust, leaving the people confused.  He had received some shocking news.  So it would have been unusual for Anne to watch tennis alone.  Anne soon received the message from the king: She was to report to the Privy Council.

Anne Boleyn reported to the Privy Council.  It suddenly becomes clear that Henry VIII is trying to get rid of her.  When she arrives to the Privy Council and was greeted by her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, the constable of the Tower, among others.  They read out the charges: adultery with two men of the court.  Anne had the presence of mind to immediately protest her innocence. 

Anne returns to her apartments under guard.  She tries to follow her normal routine, but nothing is no longer normal.  Her people are acting strangely.  The kings waiter no longer appears before her.  She wonders what happens next and what brought the charges.

Her downfall began three months before this date, when Anne was expecting a child.  Anne had a metal planned for when her son would be born.  The prototype of the medal still survives.  Anne miscarried the baby and it seemed it was a baby boy.  It was a blow to both Henry and Anne.  This caused Henry to turn against Anne and look for someone younger to give him a boy.

To continue to learn more, continue to watch the documentary.

I would use this documentary for research into Tudors and would show clips from it to a class as part of a lecture.

For use in the classroom: just highlight, copy and paste into a word document or a google document for use in the classroom.  You can easily format these questions to your specifications.  All questions should fit onto one page after formatting.

You can find the link for the YouTube video here.

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 1 Questions:

1. Where was Anne Boleyn in residence?
2. What sport was she watching?
3. Where was Anne educated?
4. What happened at the May Day Joust?
5. What did Anne have to do?
6. Who was Anne’s uncle?
7. What did Anne claim about the Privy Council?
8. Who was Anne accused of adultery with?
9. What was the first thing she did when she found out about the charges?
10. Who doesn’t appear at Anne’s dinner?

The Fall of Anne Boleyn Episode 1 Answers:

1. Where was Anne Boleyn in residence? - Palace of Placentia
2. What sport was she watching? -Tennis
3. Where was Anne educated? - France
4. What happened at the May Day Joust? - Henry VIII left suddenly, leaving Anne alone
5. What did Anne have to do? - Present herself before the Privy Council
6. Who was Anne’s uncle? - Duke of Norfolk
7. What did Anne claim about the Privy Council? - That she was Treated Cruelly
8. Who was Anne accused of adultery with? - Henry Norris, Mark Smeaton, Unnamed man
9. What was the first thing she did when she found out about the charges?- Protest her innocence
10. Who doesn’t appear at Anne’s dinner? - King’s Waiter

Episode 2 - Bloodlust and Boleyn's

Henry VIII meets Anne Boleyn and falls head over heals in love with Anne Boleyn, a new arrival from France to the English court.  She is not a classical English beauty, but is intelligent and witty.  Henry VIII is charmed by her.  She is determined to keep Henry at arm's length, was this a ploy to become queen or was it simply a matter of not having a choice? Their love story causes much upheaval for England as Henry VIII decides to divorce Catherine to marry Anne in order to get a son.  A son is the only person who can succeed to the English throne.  England's religious are thrown into turmoil as Henry VIII breaks with the Catholic Church.  Now, courtiers who thought themselves friends of the King must constantly look over their shoulders. The historians exploring Henry VIII as a Monarch go to an interesting source to learn about the relationship between Anne and Henry.

Things with Anne do not go according to plan as she only produces a daughter.  This time the solution Henry VIII comes up with entails getting rid of an unwanted wife...permanently.  Henry VIII starts his slide into madness and will become the Monster history makes him out to be.

If you need some research into Henry VIII for a class lecture, I recommend you use this documentary just for the fact it offers another perspective on Henry VIII, more so than the typical "Henry VIII was a madman."

I created several questions to go with this documentary.  Just copy and paste them into a word document to distribute in the classroom just in case you decide to use this series in the classroom.  Since there's a lot available out there on Henry VIII, I want the student to have a chance to reflect on what they learned about Henry VIII.  You can format anyway you want. 

For use in the classroom: just highlight, copy and paste into a word document or a google document for use in the classroom.  You can easily format these questions to your specifications.

Link to the YouTube video is here.

Questions

1. Who did Henry VIII want to marry?
2. Where are the letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn kept?
3. Who was Henry VIII’s secret weapon in spreading the new religion?
4. Who many monasteries were closed under Henry VIII?
5. Who Henry VIII’s former friend that was executed?
6. List three new things you learned about Henry VIII

Answers

1. Who did Henry VIII want to marry? - Anne Boleyn
2. Where are the letters of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn kept? - Vatican
3. Who was Henry VIII’s secret weapon in spreading the new religion? - Thomas Cromwell
4. Who many monasteries were closed under Henry VIII? - 563 Monasteries
5. Who Henry VIII’s former friend that was executed? - Thomas More

     6. List three new things you learned about Henry VIII