Anne Boleyn Biography and Timeline

Maid of Honor

Appointed Maid of Honor to Catherine of Aragon

Role range: 1533-1536

Marriage

Henry VIII asks the Pope for a dispensation for him to marry Anne Boleyn

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Created Marquess of Pembroke

Anne Boleyn is created Marquess of Pembroke in her own right, raising her status immediately before the marriage intended to produce new Tudor heirs.

Peerage

Given the title of Marquise of Pembroke by Henry VIII plus an annual income of 1,000 pounds

Role range: 1533-1536

Pregnancy

Becomes pregnant with Henry VIIIs child after a visit to Calais to meet Francis I

Role range: 1533-1536

Marriage

Marries Henry VIII, secret wedding while pregnant with the future Elizabeth I

Role range: 1533-1536

Secret Marriage to Anne Boleyn

Henry privately marries Anne Boleyn while Catherine remains alive, creating the marriage from which he expects a legitimate successor.

Role range: 1533-1536

Marriage

The marriage between Anne & Henry is declared valid by Parliament & the Church

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Coronation Preparations at Tower

The Tower is prepared for Anne's coronation celebrations, including accommodation, decoration and ceremonial spaces for the royal household.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne's River Procession to Tower

Anne travels by barge from Greenwich to the Tower in a richly staged river procession accompanied by civic craft.

Role range: 1533-1536

Coronation

Goes from Greenwich to the Tower of London by the River Thames escorted by 50 barges

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Boleyn Cheapside Coronation Pageant

Anne passes elaborate Cheapside displays prepared by the City of London to honour the approaching queenly coronation.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Boleyn Cornhill Coronation Pageant

A further civic pageant greets Anne as her procession continues through the decorated commercial centre of London.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Leaves Tower for Westminster

Anne departs the Tower in state to begin the formal city procession toward Westminster.

Role range: 1533-1536

Gracechurch Street Coronation Pageant

London stages a civic pageant along Anne's route, using elaborate imagery to celebrate the new queen and expected Tudor succession.

Role range: 1533-1536

Leadenhall Coronation Display

Decorations and performance at Leadenhall form part of the city-wide pageantry welcoming Anne before her coronation.

Role range: 1533-1536

Westminster Coronation Vigil

Anne reaches Westminster and prepares overnight for the religious crowning service to be held the following day.

Role range: 1533-1536

Wine Fountains for Coronation Procession

Municipal fountains run with wine along the ceremonial route, contributing to the public festivities surrounding Anne's procession.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Crowned with St Edward's Crown

Anne is crowned with St Edward's Crown, an unusually elevated ceremonial distinction for an English queen consort.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Receives Coronation Ring

Anne receives the coronation ring as part of the traditional investiture of a queen consort.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Receives Sceptre and Rod

Anne is presented with the sceptre and rod before the climactic act of crowning.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne's Coronation Anointing

Cranmer performs Anne's anointing before the investiture, giving the controversial new queen the full religious dignity of coronation.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne's Coronation Banquet

A formal banquet follows the Abbey ceremony and concludes the principal celebrations surrounding Anne's coronation.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne's Coronation Communion

Anne participates in communion after the anointing, investiture and crowning rites are completed.

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne's Coronation Recognition

Anne is formally presented before the congregation as the queen whose crowning is about to take place.

Role range: 1533-1536

Coronation

Crowned on Whit Sunday, the last Queen Consort to be accorded a separate coronation

Role range: 1533-1536

Birth of Elizabeth I

Birth of Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn, in Greenwich Palace

Role range: 1533-1536

Elizabeth's Birth

Gives birth to Elizabeth at Greenwich Palace.

Role range: 1533-1536

Christening

Henry VIII is so disappointed that he has a girl that he cannot attend the christening

Role range: 1533-1536

Death of Anne Boleyn

Henry believes his marriage to Anne is damned. Anne Boleyn & Henry have a stillborn son

Role range: 1533-1536

Anne Boleyn Miscarries Male Child

Anne miscarries a male fetus, a severe dynastic setback that weakens her position because Henry still lacks a surviving legitimate son.

Role range: 1533-1536

Miscarriage

News of Henry falling from his horse in a coma causes Anne to miscarry a male child

Role range: 1533-1536

Arrest of Mark Smeaton

Mark Smeaton is arested for having an affair with Anne Boleyn

Role range: 1533-1536

Marriage

Cranmer declares Annes marriage void due to Henrys affair with her sister Mary

Role range: 1533-1536

Arrest of Anne Boleyn

Arrested at the May day jousts in Greenwich & taken to the Tower of London

Role range: 1533-1536

May Day

Arrested at the May day jousts in Greenwich & taken to the Tower of London

Role range: 1533-1536

Arrest of Thomas Wyatt and Richard Page

Thomas Wyatt is arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn. Richard Page is arrested for infidelities with Anne Boleyn

Role range: 1533-1536

Death of Anne Boleyn

Found guilty of treason & condemned to death

Role range: 1533-1536

Execution

Anne believes Henry will not allow her execution & will send her to a nunnery

Role range: 1533-1536

Treason

Found guilty of treason & condemned to death. Found guilty of treason

Role range: 1533-1536