On this day in 1538, Elizabeth Boleyn passed away.
Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, was the approximate age of sixty-two at the time of her passing. Her death came less than two years after the executions of her children, Anne and George Boleyn, marking the tragic end of a woman who had once been at the heart of the Tudor court.
Who Was Elizabeth Boleyn?
Born Elizabeth Howard, she was the daughter of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, making her a member of one of England’s most powerful noble families. She married Thomas Boleyn, and together they had three surviving children – Mary, Anne, and George.
Through her daughter Anne’s marriage to Henry VIII, Elizabeth became the Queen’s mother. However, her family’s meteoric rise ultimately ended in disgrace and destruction.
Elizabeth’s Tragedy
Elizabeth’s later years were overshadowed by devastating losses:
- Mary Boleyn’s fall from favour, after her scandalous affairs with King Henry VIII and subsequent banishment from court.
- The executions of Anne and George Boleyn in May 1536 on charges of treason, adultery, and incest – a shocking political coup engineered by their enemies.
- The disgrace of her husband, Thomas Boleyn, who lost royal favour and many of his titles.
- Her granddaughter Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth I) being declared illegitimate and stripped of her status as heir.
Elizabeth likely never recovered from the trauma of losing her children in such a horrific way.
Final Years and Death
After the fall of the Boleyns, Elizabeth appears to have lived a quiet and sorrowful existence, possibly retiring to the family estates. She died on the 3rd of April 1538 near Baynard’s Castle.
