Examining Anne Boleyn’s role in the English Reformation is essential to understanding both the origins and trajectory of religious change in England. Historians continue to debate whether the English Reformation would have occurred without her and to what extent she directly influenced its course. Some might argue that, had Anne not entered Henry VIII’s life, another woman might have taken her place, and the break from Rome would have unfolded regardless. However, I disagree. While the Reformation may have eventually taken hold in England, Anne was instrumental not only in initiating it, but sustaining its momentum. She was a central figure in the earliest stages of the Reformation – removing her from the equation could have destabilised its foundation, potentially delaying or even altering its course entirely.
Anne Boleyn’s Influence on the Break with Rome
The extent of Anne Boleyn’s influence on the English Reformation is often debated. Was Anne Boleyn the true driving force behind the English Reformation or simply a convenient justification for Henry VIII’s ambitions? Some view Henry VIII’s desire for a son as the primary driving force behind his break with Rome, rather than any religious, romantic, or ideological motivation. While Henry’s obsession with securing a male heir was undoubtedly a key factor, his determination to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon intensified only after his pursuit of Anne. Before Anne entered the picture, Henry had made significant efforts to prepare his daughter, Princess Mary, for rule and had granted his illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, prestigious titles, including Duke of Richmond and Somerset. He seemed content, or at least resigned, with the prospect of Mary succeeding him. However, once Anne became his focus, the situation shifted dramatically. Henry began to argue that his marriage to Katherine was invalid, citing his lack of a male heir as divine punishment. Anne’s role in this process was far from passive.
Anne was the first to introduce Henry to the idea that papal authority could be challenged in a meaningful way. She presented him with a copy of William Tyndale’s The Obedience of a Christian Man, which argued that a king should answer only to God, not the Pope. This concept provided Henry with the theological justification for what would later become the Act of Supremacy (1534). While Henry’s motivations remained primary dynastic and political, Anne’s influence ensured that the break from Rome carried strong evangelical undertones from the outset.
However, this is not to suggest that Anne and Henry were always aligned in their beliefs or that Anne was consistently successful in influencing the king – for neither was the case. Henry, despite breaking from Rome, remained doctrinally conservative, resisting full Protestant reform. His dissolution of the monasteries, for example, was largely driven by financial and political considerations rather than religious conviction. Anne’s vision of redistributing monastic wealth for charitable purposes was ultimately disregarded in favour of royal enrichment. Nevertheless, her role in steering Henry towards religious reform cannot be understated.
Could the English Reformation Have Happened Without Anne?
By the time Henry began his campaign to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon, the Protestant Reformation was already sweeping through Europe. Martin Luther had posted his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, and by the 1520s, reformist ideas were spreading rapidly across Germany, Switzerland, and France. This raises an important question: would that English Reformation have happened without Anne Boleyn?
Some historians argue that England would have inevitably embraced reform, regardless of Anne’s influence. Geoffrey Elton, for example, diminishes her role, crediting Thomas Cromwell as the true architect of the English Reformation. Similarly, A. G. Dickens contends that reform was widely accepted by the English population, implying that the shift towards Protestantism was inevitable once the right conditions emerged.
While these arguments highlight the broader European context, they overlook the unique nature of the English Reformation. Unlike the Lutheran movements on the continent, which were largely grassroots efforts, as described by Dickens, the English Reformation was initiated from the top down, driven by the monarchy. Anne’s refusal to become Henry’s mistress and her insistence on marriage played a crucial role in forcing the king to challenge papal authority. Without her influence, the break with Rome may have lacked the same ideological foundation and may have taken a different, more gradual course. While the Protestant Reformation may have reached England regardless, without Anne, it is unlikely that it would have resulted in lasting doctrinal change. But why was Anne so passionate about reform?
Anne’s Connection to Reform
Anne’s exposure to reformist ideas began long before she arrived at Henry’s court. During her time in France, she encountered intellectual and religious circles influenced by figures such as Marguerite of Navarre, the French king’s sister. Marguerite was a prominent supporter of religious reform, advocating for vernacular scripture and opposing corruption within the Catholic Church.
Historian Maria Dowling argued that Anne’s association with Marguerite played a pivotal role in shaping her religious views, providing her with an early awareness of the debates surrounding corruption within the Catholic Church.1 Upon her return to England, Anne brought these continental ideas with her, aligning herself with evangelical thinkers and using her influence later in life to advance their cause.
Anne’s connection to French evangelical circles is significant, as it positions her as a conduit for reformist thought rather than a mere bystander. It also sets her apart from Henry, whose religious views were shaped more by political necessity than by genuine theological conviction.
Anne’s Fight for Reform
One of the clearest indications of Anne’s commitment to reform was her patronage of evangelical preachers and scholars. She played a crucial role in securing the appointment of Thomas Cranmer as Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533. Cranmer, whose reformist leanings aligned with Anne’s, was instrumental in legitimising Henry’s marriage to Anne and later in implementing Protestant reforms under Edward VI. Without Anne’s influence in elevating Cranmer, it is uncertain when – or if – Henry and Anne’s union would have been lawfully recognised. Although they had married before Cranmer’s appointment (you can read more about this here), they relied on him to annul Henry’s marriage to Katherine, thereby legitimising their own.
Anne was also a strong advocate for the production of the Bible in English. Before the Reformation, the Bible was written exclusively in Latin and Hebrew, rendering it inaccessible to much of the population. In 1539, Henry VIII authorised the first official English edition of the Bible, allowing individuals to read and interpret scripture without relying solely on the Catholic Church. Although Anne was executed in 1536, three years before this milestone, her influence on this achievement should not be overlooked. As queen, she proudly displayed a copy of Tyndale’s translation of the New Testament, encouraging her ladies-in-waiting to read it and draw strength from its teachings. She also provided members of her household with a book of Psalms in English. Anne’s advocacy for vernacular scripture undoubtedly contributed to the eventual authorisation of an English Bible, marking a significant step in England’s Reformation.
The Reformation after Anne
Anne’s commitment to the Reformation appears to have had a lasting impact on her daughter, Elizabeth. In April 1536, one month before her downfall, Anne met with her chaplain, Matthew Parker. While the details of their conversation remain unknown, it seems evident that Anne tasked him with watching over Elizabeth, perhaps in a spiritual capacity. Parker’s loyalty to Anne and her cause endured long after her execution, as he later became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1559 under Elizabeth’s reign – a position he admitted he would not have accepted had he “not been so much bound to the mother.”2 Despite Anne’s execution twenty-three years earlier, her influence on the preservation and advancement of a Reformed England remained profound.
Elizabeth’s religious policies mirrored many of the principles Anne had championed, particularly her emphasis on an English Bible, royal supremacy, and a national church that was neither wholly Catholic nor wholly Protestant. Although Anne’s tenure as queen was brief, her Reformist ideals endured through Elizabeth’s religious settlement, helping to solidify England’s Protestant identity.
Conclusion
While Anne Boleyn is often remembered for her downfall and execution, her crucial role in the English Reformation should not be overlooked. Her influence on Henry VIII, support for the translation of the Bible into English, patronage of reformist scholars, and connections to continental evangelical movements all helped lay the foundations for the religious transformation of England.
Anne’s significant role in the English Reformation should not be underestimated. A reflection of her importance can even be found in the historical drama The Tudors, in which Richard Rich remarks to Thomas Cromwell that with Anne’s death, they may have “lost a great friend and powerful supporter.”3 While this is a fictionalised account, the sentiment reflects a broader recognition of Anne’s influence on the Reformation. Her support for religious reform was so substantial that, without her, its progress appeared uncertain.
It is clear that Anne Boleyn was a catalyst for the Reformation, at least to a certain extent. However, her influence extended far beyond her initial refusal to yield to Henry VIII’s advances until marriage – a decision that ultimately pushed him toward breaking from Rome. As queen, Anne actively championed Reformist ideas, ensuring that the momentum for religious change did not falter. She did not merely ignite the Reformation; she fought to keep its flame alive.
- Dowling, Maria. “Anne Boleyn and Reform.” The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 35.1 (1984): 30-46. ↩︎
- Parker, Matthew. Correspondence of Matthew Parker, D.D., Archbishop of Canterbury, Comprising Letters Written by and to Him, from A.D. 1535, to His Death, A.D. 15/5; Edited for the Parker Society, by John Bruce and the Rev. Thomas Thomason Perowne, 1853, p. 391 ↩︎
- “Civil Unrest” The Tudors, created by Michael Hirst, Season 3, Episode 2, Showtime 2009. ↩︎
