The Rise and Fall of Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn is one of the most famous queens in English history, though she ruled for just three years. The daughter of an ambitious knight and niece of the duke of Norfolk, Anne spent her adolescence in France. When she returned to England, her wit and style were her greatest charms. She waited nearly seven years for Henry to obtain an annulment. How Anne was able to capture and maintain the king’s attention for such a long while, despite great obstacles and the constant presence of malicious gossip cannot be explained. For several years, he remained faithful to his feelings for Anne ? and his desire for a legitimate male heir. It finally took an irrevocable breach with the Holy See before they wed in 1533. But she was unable to give Henry the son he desperately needed and their marriage ended tragically for Anne. When her destruction came, it was rapid and unbelievable. Henry had always been one to plot against people while he pretended affection. He had her arrested, charged with adultery, witchcraft, and incest; the charges were ludicrous even to her enemies. She was executed on false charges of witchcraft, incest and adultery on 19 May 1536.