Work Text:
August 1514
Thomas Boleyn writes to the Archduchess Margaret in whose household his daughter Anne is one of her eighteen filles d’honneur. In light of the breaking of the betrothal between Princess Mary and Archduke Charles and the signing of a new Anglo-French treaty, he asks the archduchess to send his daughter home to England so that she may be one of Princess Mary’s attendants upon her marriage to Louis XII, King of France. Margaret refuses - she had put in a great effort to educate the young girl. Why should the French benefit from her work? The delays mean that Anne is not given permission to leave until after Louis XII is dead and Mary is widowed. Thus, young Anne Boleyn remains in the archduchess’ household and eventually enters into the service of Mary, Queen of Hungary, Margaret’s successor as regent of the Netherlands.
Autumn 1514
Anne Boleyn arrives back in England from the Netherlands in time to travel to France with Mary Tudor and her household. After a dispute between the king, Louis XII, and Mary’s former governess, Lady Guildford, Anne, like most of Mary’s English attendants is sent back to England.
May 1515
Anne Boleyn travels back to England with Mary Tudor, Dowager Queen of France, now Duchess of Suffolk.
1521
Anne Boleyn is refused permission to return to England. She remains in France as a member of Queen Claude’s household.
1522
Anne Boleyn marries her cousin James Butler to unite the two rival claims to the earldom of Ormond in Ireland. King Henry and his chief minister, Cardinal Wolsey, with the support of the bride’s uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, force the marriage through despite the opposition of both the fathers because the king needs a new Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and this clears the way for Piers Butler, the only real candidate for the position, to take up the post.
1524
Henry Percy, son and heir of the earl of Northumberland, marries Anne Boleyn, a lady of the queen’s household.
Autumn 1525
Anne Boleyn gives into the king and becomes his official mistress. She quickly falls pregnant and after giving birth to the king’s bastard is soon married off while the king moves on to the next woman.
May 31, 1527
A trial opens to try the King’s marriage to Catherine, and Cardinal Wolsey sits as judge by virtue of his legatine powers. After Dr. Richard Wolman presents his case against Pope Julius’ dispensation, he asks Wolsey to proceed to judgment - and Wolsey does. He finds against the marriage and annuls it. Henry and Anne are free to marry, and they do. Within a year, Henry has his son and heir.
Summer-Autumn 1527
During a diplomatic mission with Sir Thomas More to ratify a new Anglo-French alliance, Cardinal Wolsey summons the cardinals to Avignon and takes over governance of the Church during the pope’s captivity. The French, the Italian cardinals, and Pope Clement agree to his plan. Wolsey meets the emperor, Charles V. at Perpignan and they strike a deal. Henry gets his divorce, and he and Anne quickly marry. Henry is confident that he will soon have his son and heir.
New Year’s Day 1528
King Henry remains confident in the bulls Secretary Knight obtained from Pope Clement despite Cardinal Wolsey’s argumentations against them. He obtains a papally-recognized divorce from Catherine of Aragon and a papally-recognized remarriage to Anne Boleyn. Within the year, Anne is delivered of a son that all of Europe recognizes as his heir.
October 25, 1528
Henry stands firm and refuses Catherine’s ultimatum - she is denied any foreign counsel. Catherine is pressured into taking the veil, leaving Henry free to remarry, which he does quickly to Anne Boleyn, who is delivered of a son within a year of their marriage.
November 1528
Catherine is unable to furnish the Spanish Bulls felling the decretal commission. The decretal commission stands, the trial goes ahead, and Henry has his divorce. Henry and Anne quickly marry, and Henry has his son and heir before their first anniversary.
July 23, 1529
When the Legate’s Court assembles at Blackfriars, Cardinal Campeggio does not adjourn the court. He says that he is unable to give a judgement, but Cardinal Wolsey is allowed by the commission to deliver a verdict alone, and he does so. Wolsey finds for Henry, and Henry has his divorce and marries Anne as soon as possible. He will have his son by this time next year.
September 7, 1533
Henry VIII’s new wife and queen, Anne Boleyn, delivers a stillborn daughter. She falls pregnant twice more and miscarries both times. On May 19, 1536, she is beheaded by a French swordsman within the precincts of the Tower of London. Henry remarries within days, to Jane Seymour, her former lady-in-waiting.
September 7, 1533
Henry VIII’s new wife and queen, Anne Boleyn, delivers a healthy baby girl, but having had a difficult pregnancy, the queen does not survive. Henry names his new daughter and heir Elizabeth and, after a short period of mourning, begins looking for a new wife. His little princess, though he loves her, is not the son and male heir he needs.
Autumn 1534
Anne’s second pregnancy comes to term, and she is delivered of a son. The king, ecstatic, names his new heir, Henry.
January 24, 1536
The Duke of Norfolk tells the Queen, Anne Boleyn, that King Henry had taken a fall during the joust but was uninjured. Assured that the king was well, Anne remains calm and her pregnancy comes to term. In early July, she is delivered of a healthy son. Henry, ecstatic, orders massive celebrations. A few days later, the infant prince is baptized and given the name, Henry.