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 3 - Monarch to Monster

The series concludes with a look at the medical history of Henry VIII and how it may or may not have impacted his mental state.  Rebellions take place in the north due to changes in religion and Henry VIII does not react well to that.  Henry VIII soon becomes the large man history knows him as.  His advisor Thomas Cromwell has to start looking over his shoulder as an arranged marriage does not bring Henry VIII joy or a spare heir. 

The medical side of things with Henry VIII, is very interesting and could be a three part documentary too, this particular episode tackles the ulcer on his leg as well as the possibility that he suffered from diabetes.  Diabetes could account for the madness.  It also discusses what was used to move Henry around the palace.  There is another documentary that tried to tackle the medical issues, and this is a documentary that Lucy Worsley took part in.  This is a bonus documentary that you can check out and the link is here.

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 advised Henry VIII to keep his leg wound open?
2. What were things the court used to move Henry VIII around the palace?
3. What could be a factor in Henry VIII’s paranoia?
4. What was the rebellion in the north called?
5. Who’s luck was changing in the Court of Henry VIII?
6. List three new things you learned about Henry VIII

Answers

1. Who advised Henry VIII to keep his leg wound open? - Doctors
2. What were things the court used to move Henry VIII around the palace? - Primitive lift, wheelchair, whistle
3. What could be a factor in Henry VIII’s paranoia? - Diabetes
4. What was the rebellion in the north called? - Pilgrimage of Grace
5. Who’s luck was changing in the Court of Henry VIII? - Thomas Cromwell
6. List three new things you learned about Henry VIII

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

This post will feature a few Resources on The Tudors

Reading the Past - A YouTube Channel featuring Dr. Kat on a variety of historic topics especially in the area of Tudor History.

The Anne Boleyn Files - Claire Ridgeway's YouTube channel featuring a whole lot of Anne Boleyn content as well a a daily feature called "On This Day" in Tudor History.

The Anne Boleyn Files - Claire Ridgeway's website Anne Boleyn files.  Claire Ridgeway is researcher and loves Tudor History and Anne Boleyn.