Anne Boleyn is one of the most controversial figures in Tudor history, and myths about her continue to persist. Some of the most enduring include the claim that she had six fingers, that she was a witch, and that she was a cruel stepmother to Princess Mary. Put those together, and you have the perfect villain: the wicked witch stepmother. It’s almost as if that’s exactly the narrative Anne’s detractors wanted to create…
Since this week marks Mary’s 509th birthday, it seems only fitting to focus on the last of these myths: Was Anne Boleyn truly a wicked stepmother to Mary Tudor?
The short answer? No. The long answer? Let’s take a closer look.
A Relationship Destined for Conflict
To understand Anne Boleyn’s relationship with Mary, we need to consider the political and personal context in which they came to know each other. By the time Anne entered Henry VIII’s life as a serious romantic prospect, Mary was already firmly established as the only legitimate heir to the throne. She was adored by both her parents and recognised throughout Europe as Henry’s sole successor.
Anne’s rise to power, however, upended this certainty. The crux of the issue was legitimacy: Anne and Henry argued that his marriage to Katherine of Aragon had never been valid because she had previously been married to his brother, Arthur. If that marriage was invalid, then Mary – Henry’s daughter by Katherine – was illegitimate.
This alone made any prospect of a positive relationship between Anne and Mary nearly impossible. Mary was unwaveringly devoted to her mother and to the belief that she was Henry’s rightful heir, refusing to acknowledge Anne as queen. Anne, on the other hand, was equally determined to secure her own position and, most importantly, that of her daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in 1533.
Anne’s Influence on Mary’s Downfall
Anne is often portrayed as the villain in Mary’s story, blamed for orchestrating the humiliation and suffering that Mary endured after Henry’s marriage to Katherine was annulled. Mary was stripped of her title of princess, declared illegitimate, and forbidden from seeing her mother. It is tempting to assume that Anne was the mastermind behind these actions, but the reality is more complex.
Henry VIII was the ultimate decision-maker at court. He was the one who issued the orders declaring Mary illegitimate, removing her from the line of succession, and insisting that she be treated as “the Lady Mary.” While Anne undoubtedly supported these moves – after all, her own daughter’s legitimacy depended on them – there is little evidence that she was the driving force behind them. In fact, Henry’s treatment of Mary worsened after Anne’s execution, demonstrating that the queen was not the sole architect of Mary’s hardships and perhaps even played a role in softening Henry’s temper with her.
Moreover, Anne made several attempts to reconcile with Mary. Contemporary accounts suggest that she sent messages offering to intercede with Henry on Mary’s behalf, provided that Mary would acknowledge her as queen. Mary, however, refused, remaining loyal to her mother and unwilling to accept Anne’s position.
The Role of Henry VIII: Who Was the Real Villain?
If anyone deserves the label of cruelty in Mary’s story, it is Henry VIII. He was the one who ordered Mary’s separation from her mother, refused to allow them to see each other, and had Katherine moved to increasingly remote locations to prevent any contact. The emotional toll on Mary was immense. She fell seriously ill, likely due to stress, and there were real fears that she might not survive.
Henry also demanded that Mary submit to his authority by recognising Anne as queen and accepting her own illegitimacy. When she refused, his punishments became harsher – at one point, there were even rumours that he considered executing her. His councillors, including Thomas Cromwell, urged him to show leniency, but Mary remained in a precarious position until she finally submitted to Henry’s will after Anne’s downfall.
Did Anne Boleyn Seek Mary’s Death?
One of the most damning accusations against Anne is that she actively wished for Mary’s death. This claim largely stems from reports that Anne once expressed a desire to see Mary executed, supposedly in response to Mary’s defiance. However, the evidence for this is tenuous at best.
The primary source for this claim is Eustace Chapuys, the Spanish ambassador and an outspoken supporter of Katherine and Mary. Chapuys was notorious for repeating court gossip, often presenting it in the worst possible light for Anne. He suggested that Anne wanted Mary poisoned, but there is no credible evidence that Anne ever attempted to harm her stepdaughter.
Given the volatile atmosphere of Henry’s court, it is entirely possible that Anne made a flippant remark in frustration – something Henry himself frequently did. But there is a significant difference between venting frustration and actively seeking someone’s death.
The Aftermath: Mary’s Revenge on Anne’s Memory
Anne Boleyn was executed on the 19th of May 1536. Just weeks later, Henry married Jane Seymour, who, along with her supporters, encouraged him to reconcile with Mary. By 1537, Mary was restored to royal favour, though she had to submit fully to her father’s authority to do so.
However, it can be suggested that Mary never forgave Anne. Her mother’s suffering, her own disgrace, and the years of uncertainty left deep scars. When she became queen in 1553, she sought to restore the Catholic Church, undoing the religious changes Henry and Anne had championed.
In many ways, Mary’s reign helped cement Anne’s reputation as a villain. Catholic chroniclers depicted Anne as an ambitious seductress who led Henry astray and destroyed a noble and pious queen. This portrayal endured, shaping historical narratives and influencing how Anne was perceived in later centuries.
Conclusion: Was Anne Boleyn a Wicked Stepmother?
The idea that Anne Boleyn was a wicked stepmother to Mary is more myth than reality, rooted in propaganda rather than fact. While Anne and Mary were certainly adversaries, their conflict was dictated by the brutal politics of Henry VIII’s court, not personal cruelty.
Anne did not have the power to determine Mary’s fate – only Henry did. While she played a role in Mary’s hardships, she was not their sole architect. In fact, evidence suggests that she attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to soften Henry’s treatment of his daughter.
Ultimately, Anne Boleyn and Mary I were both victims of Henry’s ambitions, forced into opposition by a king who valued his own power above all else. Anne’s execution and Mary’s later struggles serve as reminders of the dangers of being a woman in Tudor England, where survival often depended on forces far beyond one’s control.
