Musings on history, life, popular culture, and art by historian Gareth Russell. All opinions, unless otherwise stated, are either my own or possibly Gabrielle de Polignac's.
"I promise you that she is very handsome, and of sufficiently tall stature (de statura honestamente granda). She appears to me rather pale, though this [I] believe proceeds from the tossing of the sea and from her fright. She does not seem a whit more than 16 years old, and looks very well in the French costume. She is extremely courteous and well mannered, and has come in very sumptuous array…"Amongst the new Queen of France's retinue was one of the daughters of England's most accomplished diplomat, Sir Thomas Boleyn, the heir-apparent to the Earl of Ormonde. Claire, who is currently writing a series on Anne Boleyn's early life, reasonably hypothesises that the "Mademoiselle Boleyn" mentioned in the household accounts was Sir Thomas's youngest daughter, Anne, although other historians have suggested that it was in fact Anne's elder sister, Mary, and that Anne joined the French Royal Household slightly later. As with everything pertaining to Anne Boleyn's childhood, the sources are less complete than we would like.
It is sad that not more is known about Anne Boleyn's early life. She was a vivacious figure in English history.
ReplyDeleteI also find Mary Tudor and her marriage to Norfolk fascinating. She become of interest after my friend discovered she was related to her granddaughter Lady Jane Grey. Royal woman seemed to have always gotten the 'shaft' so to speak. Kings had the youngest and prettiest wives, while their sisters sometimes had to marry middle aged men and live in a strange land.
http://historywasneverlikethat.blogspot.com/