On this day in 1536, Greenwich Palace hosted the traditional May Day joust – a key event in the Tudor court’s spring calendar. Queen Anne Boleyn watched from the royal box, seated beside her husband, King Henry VIII, who was not participating for the first time due to an injury. To many, it would have appeared to be a typical celebration of chivalry and courtly spectacle.
But beneath the surface, tensions were rising. Just the day before, court musician Mark Smeaton had been arrested and questioned, likely under duress. Anne however, was unaware of his arrest. Rumours were beginning to swirl, and for Anne Boleyn, the bells had started tolling.
The joust began as normal and would have been quite the spectacle. There were no outward signs of tension between the king, the queen, and Henry Norris. In fact, when Norris’s horse refused to run, the king graciously offered him his own. George Boleyn, who would be arrested just 24 hours later, played a central role in the event, leading the challengers, while Norris led the defenders.1
Then, something unusual occurred: Henry VIII abruptly left the event, taking Norris with him. During their ride back to Westminster, Henry reportedly questioned Norris about his alleged relationship with Anne.2 Despite the pressure, Norris denied all accusations, bravely stating that he “would die a thousand times, rather than ruin an innocent person.”3
This marked the beginning of a swift and devastating unraveling. Within hours, Norris would be arrested. Anne would follow the next day.
The May Day Joust was the last public event Anne Boleyn ever attended. Less than three weeks later, she would be executed on charges of adultery, incest, and treason.
Imagine being in the crowd at that joust. Would you have sensed something was wrong? Or would you, like so many others, have believed it was just another dazzling courtly display?
Join me again tomorrow as we follow Anne’s journey, day by day, through her final, fateful weeks.
