Breaking News!
Anne Boleyn Beheaded!
from our Language Alive! correspondents.
In 1533 King Henry VIII divorced his wife first wife of eighteen years, Catherine of Aragon, in order to marry his new love, Anne Boleyn.
Anne was said to be very beautiful but with a sharp tongue. She had been educated in France and Holland before becoming lady in waiting to Queen Catherine. It was at the royal court that Anne first caught the king’s eye. He showered her family with gifts and titles but Anne refused to marry the king until his divorce to Catherine was final.
The head of the Catholic church, the Pope, wouldn’t allow the divorce, so eventually Henry broke away from the church in Rome, and declared himself the head of a new Church of England. He then granted himself a divorce. Anne and Henry were secretly married in January 1533.
Their daughter, Elizabeth, was born in September 1533. Henry was desperate for a male heir and he was disappointed with a daughter. Anne gave birth to two more children over the next few years but each died and Henry became convinced the marriage was cursed.
Anne was not a popular queen and rumours began to spread amongst the people of England that she was a witch. It was also said that she had six fingers on her left hand.
On 2 May 1536, Anne was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. Anne Boleyn was accused of having affairs and of treason. Yesterday, on 19th May, Anne was beheaded. She was the first English queen to be publicly executed. Rumour as it that Henry will marry his next wife, Jane Seymour, in just eleven days.
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