The Wives of Henry VIII (episode2, part2/5)

[miltsar]

I find the comments about Ann Boleyn being a whore etc and breaking up a marriage hilarious....as if we were watching an episode of Real Housewives or some soap opera.This is historical machination for power at the highest level not an episode in Kim Kardashian's life.

I wonder if all these people are as concerned with the trice married Newt (he's 1/2 way to Henry in that department )

[black8sherry]

"...left her dangerously depended on a SINGLE THING, Henry's love and support.." -dude, thats 2 things. lol

[IsobelDeBrujah]

It is ridiculous to blame Anne for Henry's position. Further, it shows a total lack of understanding for both the historical context and the role of women at the time. As is shown in any factual viewing of his life Henry VIII did what he wanted to do when he wanted to do it and once he had decided on a course of action nothing was going to sway him. When he didn't get his way he found ways around other alliances and agreements he had made. His first marriage was no different.

[madeleineakaino]

for god's sake why does anne boleyn's actress have that weird funny smile sticked on her face all the time?

[Strefanasha]

@madeleineakaino to show how she maliciously gloated over her favour, I think.

the whole affair was profoundly disgusting. The King had no Biblical warrant for his adulterous liason : his appeal to Leviticus 20:21 is specious, having wrenched that verse out of context

[SJJGautham08]

What a whore.

[dchichan24]

I think he mostly liked her because of the attractive forbidden relationship, like teenagers are today. Ironic!

[tinydusty123]

the sad thing is that katherine actchuly loved henry but henry just married her for the politacal reasons.anne just wanted to be queen at first and then she fell in love with him

[zokerYprincess]

I'd only like to make a question, and that is: If Anne was a whore for making Henry putting away Katherine (without killing her), then what was Jane? A good Christian woman? She stepped to the throne with Anne's blood and murder, whilst Anne began to hate Mary just when, after several tries of being kind one with each other, Mary treated her bad, and just then she began to hate Mary, better known as "Bloody Mary" and don't tell me that was because of Anne, cause here the only guilty was Henry.

[PrincessKarrah]

TO me Mary and Kathrine and the people of England hated the wrong person for the divorce Anne is not the one who stud at the alter and vowed to love honor cherish Kathrine for batter or worse for richer or for poorer in sickness and in health till death do he part that was Henry people hated Anne because she refused to sleep with anther woman's husband that sounds F up to me

[luciferfromhell]

@PrincessKarrah "people hated Anne because she refused to sleep with anther woman's husband that sounds F up to me"

Not really. Anne's ultimatum to the King wasn't innocent. She would not sleep with him unless he married her, unless he made her Queen. People loved Kathrine as a Queen. When you replace a Queen that's already loved it's harder to please the people. Also, by marrying Anne, Henry was excommunicated (& subsequently his people)...not what the people wanted at the time.

[TheOrnt]

Women can be far more dangerous then men!

[KDVx3]

PS - gotta say, before the lynch mob forms -

There WAS one good thing to come out of the union of whore and fucktard:  Queen Elizabeth I. In my humble opinion from across the pond, she's the only noteworthy crown the brits have had. Who really gives a crap about the rest of 'em? They were nothing and nobodys compared to her. :o)

[islandblind]

This amounts to anecdotal proof that "what goes around comes around." I feel a considerable degree of sympathy for Catherine of Aragon.

[MegaSelgomezrox]

Anne should never of been beheaded henry was just bored of her so he said she flirted with some other man i mean jesus

[xMarix]

If people cannot at least recognize that Anne rose to a position that no other woman in England did until Elizabeth, they are missing a huge chunk of history. Whether you like her or not, she was one of the most influential woman in English history. She set trends, she was intelligent (which was uncommon for women) and she didn't give in many people. She was very paranoid, yes, which was her downfall, along with her sharp tongue. But she was not a terrible woman, and certainly not a whore.

[winadyaputri]

the character of anne boleyn is too old and less attractive tho

[annahrwth242]

@winadyaputri I agree....huge bags under her eyes, and pasty looking...she is no Natalie Portman.....:)

[luciferfromhell]

@annahrwth242 Well, Anne Boleyn was said to not be beautiful but she knew the wiles to use to ensnare men. Natalie Portman is gorgeous and definitely more so than Anne Boleyn ever was :)

[shyfly825]

@winadyaputri I prefer Natalie Dormer's portrayal of Anne Boleyn, it was perfect.

[1000huzzahs]

one person is katherine of aragon :D

[shyfly825]

@1000huzzahs LOL!!!

[XoCaNtHaNdLeThIsXo]

what a bitch

[JesusChacin9]

Long live Queen Anne Boleyn

[OnTheRock111]

I think it's neither woman's fault. Its all Henry's fault. As a man and husband, he was a dick (pardon my language) but that is so true in case of Anne because he was only thinking with his dick and longing for sex with Anne which she refused him for so many years. I mean if he truly loved Anne, like stated in his letters, he would not have abandoned, betrayed, and killed her.. At least not that easily!

[italianosoccer44]

@cupidxxrawr but if Anne Boylen hadn't had Henry divorce Katherine then Anne wouldn't have given birth to Elizabeth I.

[oldfurniture]

That's not true, he was considering divorce, even before he met Anne.

[Bloombaby99]

Anne Boleyn worked her way into royal society by her intelligence, not by her looks like other monarchs and some people today. In this, I admire her no matter what. However, she was very arrogant and impatient. This ruined her good nature.

[BeeVan19]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate you posting this... its wonderful :D I love learning about this stuff!

[ChristineScholz]

@BeeVan19 ik its so much fun!

[orienteyes78]

Can you please upload the rest of the series. I've really missed out on Seymour's, Howard's and Parr's stories. :)

[cupidxxrawr]

Grrr.

I can't stand Anne Boylen.

I have no pity for her when she is thrown away like a used rag.

and that smirk makes me just want to punch her.

[kiddooo10]

@cupidxxrawr why don't you like her? she was a strong-willed intelligent woman who wouldn't settle for being his whore, and had a standard for what she expected of their relationship. then when she couldn't have a son, henry treated her like nothing

[cupidxxrawr]

@kiddooo10 Its the fact that she was a home wrecker. Yes, Henry wanted a son badly, but because of Anne's determination to be Henry's wife, she makes it so Kathrine is denounced as queen. Mary is bastardized and because of this trauma to a child, she will believe that this new religion her father wants is the devils workings. And Henry is excommunicated because If it isn't his way, its the highway. Anne was already called a whore by most of the kingdom, and she wasn't popular.

[kiddooo10]

@cupidxxrawr but don't you think most of this was Henry? she wasn't a home wrecker, on the contrary she refused to have sex with him because he was married to katharine. Henry was trying to divorce katharine for a good year before anne even came to court, she was just a scapegoat for people to blame for their country falling apart. henry was the real monster

[cupidxxrawr]

@kiddooo10 No, I don't. You can be a home wrecker without sleeping with some one. She knew how he would react when she refused to sleep with him. When Henry doesn't get what he wants he goes after it. it was only after he met anne that he decided to divorce Kathrine. Yes Henry was a monster, but Anne drove him into that position. She was the whole reason that he made himself of the head of the church of england, so he could divorce Kathrine and marry Anne.

[kiddooo10]

@cupidxxrawr i still think that henry would've gotten the divorce whether or not anne was in the picture, it could've been any woman. i don't think he needed any pushing. he wanted a son more than anything and katharine couldn't give him that, so he saw no point in wasting any more time.

[cupidxxrawr]

@kiddooo10 It was only after he met Anne did he want a divorce. Yes, he read the bible verse of taking the his brothers wife over and over, but once Anne came into the picture, he decided to end his marriage with Kathrine.

[Nhoca79]

@cupidxxrawr

Actually, you're wrong. Henry had decided and asked for the annullment to his marriage with Katherine long before he even met Anne. Wolsey began to work on it before this whole Anne's business.

[cupidxxrawr]

@Nhoca79

Can I ask where you learned that? Just curious.

[Nhoca79]

@cupidxxrawr Well, I've read a lot of books on the matter (history books) and i have also a degree in English. One of the books that clarifies this matter is the one written by David Loades, The six wives of Henry VIII. I'm not saying Anne Boleyn was a saint. King Henry was just a selfish man obsessed with himself and with having a male heir.

[DuttyGyal718]

@cupidxxrawr wait so are you saying that anne should have slept with him? Seems like a damned if you do or dont situation.

[DuttyGyal718]

@cupidxxrawr because if that is the case then jane seymour is no less a home wrecker than anne was. vI love all the tudor queens. :D

[Bloombaby99]

@cupidxxrawr: I love your vast knowledge of such grandeur history. Very applauding indeed and so well refined.

[Prettie1]

@cupidxxrawr - I totally agree with this! Thank you for posting this!

[lamenzies]

@cupidxxrawr You seem to be forgetting the faction that was behind her: The Howards had the political acuity to have survived being on the wrong side at Bosworth, backing 2 of Henry's most turbulent marriages and being recusant Catholics, and they are still on the go today. I think you overestimate the woman and underestimate her party.

[NYCBlonde]

@cupidxxrawr @cupidxxrawr He and he alone is responsible for his actions. End of story. Her magic v**** does not compel him. HE and HE ALONE is responsible for his actions.

So sick of women being blamed for men's shenanigans. Anne looked for herself. Your post is gross and misogynistic.

[cupidxxrawr]

@NYCBlonde Excuse me? I don't see how MY post has anything to do with you. Great thing about history is that everyone can have a different view on it. I would appreciate if you would remember that before being disrespectful and rude to people with opinions.

[NYCBlonde]

@cupidxxrawr Oh for God's sake, grow up.  If you're going to post inflammatory and misogynistic opinions, learn to take the heat, like adults do. I didn't attack you, I attacked your silly, sexist argument--which you invited by posting it in a public forum. See how that works? If you don't want to be called out for your opinion, don't air it. 'Nuff said.

[cupidxxrawr]

@NYCBlonde I am taking it like an adult. I am proud to be a woman and normally in a case like Anne Boleyn I would support her- but I have a problem with women who chose to seduce married men who are easily manipulated and crazy - like Henry. I take your reply as an attack. Don't call me misogynistic, I am not a woman hater. I'm going to stand up for myself when you chose to attack me. You could have easily posted your thoughts without posting it towards me. Grow up.

[NYCBlonde]

@cupidxxrawr I attacked your opinion & I will continue to do so. If you are going to post inflammatory, sexist opinions publicly, you will attract this reaction--welcome to debate in the real world. Your claim that Anne "knew how he would react" is the oldest, most offensive kind of misogyny. This garbage has been used to justify rape, spousal abuse etc. which is why it is so profoundly disgusting. The "men can't help themselves" argument is ridiculous & I will continue to call you out for it.

[cupidxxrawr]

@NYCBlonde So you are saying that a man with a long line of sleeping with women behind his back isn't proof that she knew what she was doing when he started to become interested in him? She chose to 'give herself over' to him as his wife. He had a choice of leaving her alone or to do what she wanted. and he did so. I am not talking about other women or how people use the argument about 'how men can't help themselves'- im talking about Anne. It wasn't sexist to say that she (c)

[cupidxxrawr]

@NYCBlonde knew what she was doing. You are taking this way out of proportion. I said that I didn't have sympathy for her - just like she had no sympathy for Catherine. So yes, your right when you said that it was his choice, but she was the catalyst. without her he never would have gotten the book 'obedience of a christian man', he never would have left the catholic church and he wouldn't have made himself head of the church. so i'm not misogynistic, i'm basing my opinion on fact.

[NYCBlonde]

@cupidxxrawr You don't have to like her--she did some really crappy things, like her behavior of Mary which was reprehensible. But blame her for what she actually did, not what he did. (And if you think Henry made himself the head of church for her, you misunderstand Henry, an absolute monarch. He loved Anne but he knew what he was doing.) Google "the myth of male weakness," the idea that men are so susceptible to women's sexuality that they are easily manipulated. A very old, dangerous trope.

[NYCBlonde]

@cupidxxrawr Also I must correct this--Henry did NOT leave the Catholic Church. This is a common misconception. Henry just made himself the head of the church in England--it was about power & to some extent money (the smashing of the monasteries). Even ANNE died a Catholic--she was a reformist & promoted the new learning but she made a final confession & died as a Catholic. Later Cath. Parr was a secret Protestant & nearly was arrested as a result b/c Henry was very much against Protestantism.

[Redluna32]

@cupidxxrawr I can agree with the fact that Anne was the one that pushed Henry to make himself head of the Church of England and that she shaped him into what he later became. However, Anne is by no means solely responsible for Henry leaving Katherine. Even if she wasn't there, Henry would have still wanted the divorce. He was looking for any way to get out of leaving his throne to a female heir out of risk of civil war.

[haroof]

@kiddooo10 Why would you like her? She called for the death of Queen Katherine & the Lady Mary. She basically wanted Henry to murder his ex-wife & his own flesh & blood. Is that a good enough reason not to like her?

[Iusedtobeacat93]

@cupidxxrawr I'm not a fan of Anne Boleyn either but you have to admire her for her ambition.