Was Anne Boleyn charged with witchcraft?

[@helmaschine1885]

I don't understand what these charlatans get out of making up nonsense about historical people. Have they no shame or integrity whatsoever? Thank you so much for clearing all of these myths up. Clearly, your expertise and source criticism are sorely needed!

[@elainenewth1285]

Thank goodness Queen Anne Boleyn has you and your historical knowledge to stand up for her.Thank you so much for all your videos,really enjoying them

[@christinedarrock8486]

Although I am not a fan of Anne Boleyn, there is no way in "hell" that she was a witch. She was very religious and devout.

[@hollerinannes7780]

The two are not neccesarilly mutually exclusive... most witches of Anne's time in fact were members of the church. Look into Pellars craft/ west country witchcraft, it'll explain

[@maryannlockwood3961]

🇺🇸It seems to me that calling a woman a witch back in the day was a way to put a woman in her place by men. 🇬🇧

[@danianderson2268]

Thank you for dispelling myth, superstition and prejudice from history. Your videos are fascinating.

[@janesweetman9890]

Your timing is superb - it seems as though the background bells ring whenever you mention something tragic or deadly. I'm really enjoying this series, thank you.

[@anonz975]

On the otherhand....most of the episodes include something really tragic and deadly. :)

[@mikki3961]

Poor Queen Anne, so much hatred for her. She was a human being who had the misfortune of marrying Henry.

[@samanthalong287]

I think Henry really had to have had some gonads to accuse Anne of witchcraft. Especially considered his great grandmother, Jacquetta Woodville, was almost convicted for witchcraft by Warwick the Kingmaker. If anyone had a stain of anything unholy on them, it would have been Henry himself (witchcraft not included). He had so much blood on his hands.

[@shadrach6299]

Samantha Long They easily believed in witchcraft then.

[@frightbat208]

Exactly The women of the Rivers family were thought to be a bit on the witchy side.

[@jillniemczynski5517]

So the bells ring out once again for Anne Boleyn in the tower! Interesting facts on the witchcraft theories, thank you very much. I have a question not related to today's topic. Did Elizabeth ever visit any of her mother's homes or any towns where Anne lived in order to learn more about her mother? Thanks again Claire, & have a great weekend. 🙋💜👸👑🏰🎪🎭🌹😄✌👍

[@meganellis8645]

Thank you so much for pointing out the heinous historical inaccuracies of these authors and filmmakers, and for speaking truth to fiction. Anne was a muggle! LOLOL Well done!

[@redleaf1344]

Megan Ellis haha love this comment! She was a muggle indeed.

[@theresecatalano4017]

I remember reading this little poem years ago...Anne Boleyn you’ve been undone your mortal sin you bore no son.

[@buddasquirrel]

Damn! Anne Boleyn can't catch a break! Now she's a ghost rabbit?? Does anyone do research anymore? Thank you for the video. Great subject.

[@Ladybug-uf7uh]

Moles, extra fingers, deformed babies, weather predictions, spell casting! Transforming in to a Hare... Norah Lofts is a research authority I well respect; thank you for including her. I appreciate your video's very much, your honest point of view based on thorough research. They are the highlight of my day.

[@AshleyLebedev]

Claire, I thought at first you meant when mentioning “saw a hare” as “saw a hair” and thought my god, everything was an omen, even a piece of hair. I face palmed & laughed. Btw, are you by chance a Virgo, Taurus or Capricorn in either your sun, moon or rising of your natal chart? Your attention to such detail & logic and extensive loyalty to knowledge would speak to heavy earth influence in the full chart. No worries if you don’t want to share, though. x

[@carolynambrose830]

OMG! I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who heard hair & not hair.😛

[@dmgib5239]

Very interesting video today. Since the charges against Anne Boleyn were so scandalous I've often wondered why they didn't include charges of witchcraft. Above everything else, the charges were intended give Henry the grounds for an immediate annulment of their marriage. Charges of witchcraft might have made Henry's case even stronger, but I believe there are two reasons why they were not included. First, if Anne was a witch that would have meant that the men who were charged (her brother, Henry Norris, etc.) had also been bewitched. This would have prevented them from being punished. Secondly, I believe in his heart of hearts that Henry loved all of his children. Naming Anne a witch would have made Elizabeth the child of a witch. This could have led some to believe Elizabeth should be executed when she came of age. Henry would not have wanted that.

[@Slinkynuts]

If Henry really felt that she was a witch, Wouldn't he have insisted having her burned instead of being beheaded. Also Your book ABII is keeping me awake @ night- I can't put it down!!!!!! So many interesting facts that I didn't know. Have a great weekend Cx

[@anneboleynfiles]

That's so kind of you to say! Anne could have been burned anyway as the sentence for female traitors was burning or beheading, but the king, in her mercy (!), chose beheading, and by sword.

[@cherylbrim9026]

Was she a witch? Well there is a portrait of her at Hogwarts...

[@anneboleynfiles]

Sadly, she was a muggle!

[@redleaf1344]

That’s the only thing I dislike about the Harry Potter movies. That and evaporating Voldemort

[@HeddyT]

I never noticed it before!!!

[@AmethystEyes]

@@redleaf1344 Henry VII is there too!

[@user-sy5vr9hv8p]

Same Cheryl I was here because I noticed her picture on a painting on hogwarts

[@cinnamonbunny4830]

I'm addicted to these videos, absolutely love them and find these extremely interesting. Makes me want to read and learn more about the Tudors, Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. Going to need a bigger bookshelf soon. Thank you for the wonderful series!

[@tonicastel2390]

Thanks for an excellent discussion. Not only did you correct the untruths on this topic, you presented all your sources. Most convincing & interesting!

[@hierosgamosvibration2951]

Anne Bolelyn is definitely a Ravenclaw! That's my house too.😁I love your analysis of Anne Boleyn and other historical Tudor figures.

[@janyceimoto8750]

Claire I just want to let you know, although I am an Asian from Hawaii, I am very interested in British monarchy & history. Our monarchs had very strong connections and respect for Great Britain. I especially love Tudor history so I am completely enjoying your series. I look forward to reading your books! Much appreciation for your work!! I am also enjoying occasional glimpses of your cats 🐈 and yes the bells ring out always at the perfect time!!

[@yazserna1150]

It was funny to me that even in the new Sabrina serie, they mention Anne boleyn as a witch too. I love your channel😊. I am learning a lot about Anne Boleyn.

[@Angel-nu7fm]

Claire, you no doubt lived at this time. I know you've related a dream you had wherein you were at Ann's execution. I don't know if you believe in reincarnation. I would be interesting to try and find out who you were. You connect and devotion to true detail is very telling.

[@oftenrebellious5266]

I love your channel Claire. Thank you so much for doing them. I look forward to your videos everyday.

[@redleaf1344]

Those bells man. XD so on que. I have a question for you Claire, something I’ve really been curious about. What was Anne’s real relation to all the men accused with her of adultery? Apart from George of course.

[@aliciarichards6634]

I think you're the next Eric Ives, you seek the actual truth about Anne Boleyn, and unlike most historians you don't go along with all the made up facts just to make the history more juicy. You use common sense and stick to the evidence and weigh it all up to form your conclusions. Eric Ives would be proud of you and your work on Anne.

[@redleaf1344]

Alicia Richards or Eric Ives was the previous Claire Ridgeway :o

[@aliciarichards6634]

RedLeaf 13 omg could be

[@scottmercer9618]

Hi Claire, it beggars belief that so many writers and scholars have written so much nonsense, as well as what seems......non researched claptrap on Anne Boleyn. I now know, they could have and should have accessed real historical documents, as you have done By the way, does any of Anne Boleyn's jewels exist even state jewels that she must have worn?

[@thpeaky]

I had read many years ago two different accounts of the wearing of yellow on the day after Catherine of Aragon's death. In one account it was that Anne had dressed in yellow and that it displeased the king greatly that she disrespected this now dead previous queen or princess consort. The other account was that they had both dressed in yellow that day which to raise no eyebrow between them. I wish I could recall my two sources but I was probably about 14 or 15 years old and that was a few years ago sadly. Either way I thought it was a rather tacky thing to do! But I would like clarification of the source because I think yours is probably correct. I believe the other story would have been perhaps an even earlier sign of her potential Fall From Grace. Thank you for any light you can shed on these opposing stories. Thank you from Libby and Jerry

[@jillianaprati108]

Did anyone else watch chilling adventures of Sabrina on Netflix? There’s an episode where they are doing a spell and they are calling on past ‘witches’ and they call on Anne Boleyn. Interesting how the rumor sticks in pop culture.

[@AndriaBieberDesigns]

I can’t stand Phillipa Gregory. She has done nothing good for history. She’s a romance novelist. I love your videos and details! Thank you 🙏

[@callytheist2414]

Love how the bells ring when you mention the Tower! Great video as always!

[@Kneazle79]

As a Ravenclaw I agree with your sorting of Anne Boleyn!

[@shirleybray7327]

Another wonderful video. I believe Henry was both a product of his times and a full-blown narcissist. People to him were objects to be used and discarded. Add to that the belief of the times that the monarch had the God-given right to absolute rule and you have a lethal combination. I believe Anne initially fascinated him, but ultimately her role was to give him legitimate sons to rule his land. I also believe that courtiers looking to ingratiate themselves to the king were able to influence him. There seems to have been a great jockeying for position in the courts of Tudor England. I believe that the men accused with Anne were scapegoats used to strengthen the case against her. Under torture poor Mark Smeaton (and dare I say many others) would have said their own mothers were guilty if told to do so. Once again, thanks for your wonderful videos Claire

[@EnglishVirgo]

Another excellent video. May I also say, you look very pretty in that blue.xx

[@redleaf1344]

StephieAck She really rocks that blue right!

[@janemorris2932]

I never thought she was a witch. Thankyou for clarifying this.

[@kaywatson396]

I Love it I must go to the book store get these books .My daughter & me love the history of the Tudors & England .

[@vickienelson2525]

Look forward to this every day! Great series!

[@PhoebeTarzan80]

I remember learning about King Henry VIII in the fifth grade, and found the subject matter quite interesting. I never gave him, his wives or his court much thought over the years, but whenever anything related to his reign would pop into my consciousness - such as the publication and popularity of The Other Boleyn Girl (which I read) - I found myself becoming really interested again. I recently discovered your channel (it was suggested to me by KZbin), and have really enjoyed it. It's nice to get a new educational video each day, and it's very generous of you to provide it. I am a very fact-based, science-minded person, and so I really appreciate all the time and effort you put into gathering information and discerning fact from fiction, making sure the information you share with all of us is as accurate as possible, and letting us know when and why some information is questionable or flat-out false, even citing sources to back up your claims. Because you got me interested in this subject matter again, I purchased the book Wolf Hall. Completely out of character, I researched the book after I purchased it, not before, and discovered that it is not historically accurate. I never would have purchased it if I had done my homework and realized that beforehand. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for being so generous with your time and your knowledge. You seem very kind, and have a pleasant demeanor, making it a pleasure to listen to you and watch your videos. Because you have done such thorough research, I wonder: If you had to choose, what is the one question about Anne Boleyn (or anyone/anything about the Tudor monarchy), you would most like the answer to?

[@pamspurgers3578]

I actually have a copy of the Norah Loft's book. I bought it in 1979 when I was looking for a biography of Anne. Clair, I completely understand your sarcasm. Even Ann Rice wrote about Anne being a witch in one of her Mayfair Witches books. The Loft's book can only be read with eyeballs rolled back in one's head (more sarcasm). Love your video's!

[@darianrose2195]

Love all of your videos! My inner dork loved the bit about Anne Boleyn being Ravenclaw.

[@janicegaypowers3953]

Such in-depth history of the Tudors!❤️

[@anna-sophitiajoleighashfor7408]

I love your videos, I've had a passion for Tudor history since I was 6 years old.

[@kerrylowrie8228]

When I was at the Tower of London a few weeks back we were told that one of Queen Anne’s charges was she was supposed to have laughed at the kings clothes.is this true Claire..?

[@anneboleynfiles]

They were said to have made comments about the king, yes.

[@robinpinkham9398]

Excellent!

[@marieciaburri5415]

Clare..cant believe u r a devotee of Anne..and so wonderfully entertaining..as a junior devotee i couldnt get enough of the Tudors..this love and fascination w the Tudors extended into adulthood and is still going strong. I like to fancy myself an amateur historian..all kinds but always the Tudor dynasty. I would dress up as Anne EVERY halloween..my mom made me a most Elegant purple gown..right down to her headpiec. My dad made me the infamous choker..oh, the gown had to have bell sleeves to hide my little extra nub on my left hand which of course noone understood..didnt stop me from doing it every year...sadly, never won best costume but i forged on..lol. i even went so far as to change my middle name to Boleyn...Its on my high school diploma!!! I always said Anne had the last laugh..Elizabeth went on to become one of the greatest monarchs England ever had...right?anyway..u r a godsend. I feel right at home listening to u. One more thing if i may..in my opinion Naralie Dormer was the consummate Anne, followed by Genvieve Bujold in Anne of the Thousand days..What do u think..love to u Clare..keep going!!!

[@carolynambrose830]

Why not accuse Anne of witchcraft? It only would've been one more false charge.

[@linharvey9177]

Thank you Claire for answering the question that I had asked; "did Anne try to poison Fitzroy and Mary?"

[@laurnias1516]

I have the Norah Lofts book! It wasn't very factual all the way through, but still an interesting read.

[@thomassperduti4500]

Excellent story indeed Claire.

[@AmethystEyes]

Supposedly Henry VII was also at Hogwarts lol

[@amandagrayson389]

I have Retha Warnicke’s book. I found it interesting but then later I think she published a book on Cromwell and again, she went to witchcraft as a reason for his downfall (and not the obvious). I did not read this book. I thought she was too obsessed with this witchcraft nonsense. Oddly enough, I do like the idea of a spirit appearing as an animal. I would have been convinced, however if it had been a hind. 🤪 Anne Boleyn keeps receiving bad press and needs a better PR department. I am glad you are here to start that!

[@justsomecreatureofthisearth]

Anne Boleyn would be in Ravenclaw? Awesome! :D

[@anneboleynfiles]

Definitely!

[@jillianaprati108]

In the new ‘Sabrina’ on Netflix they’ve mentioned Anne Boleyn several times when referring to witches in the past.

[@silkeeckelmann9572]

hello, Ms Ridgeway. Thank you so much for this enlightening video. Ever since my childhood I'm a history fan and I therefore rather like to learn more about past (in)famous people. :-) Allow me please to ask two questions: In which Potter film do we see a portrait of Anne Boleyn? And what was the word J.K.Rowling used, which can also be used in connection with that "traial" (it was more a sham than a *fair* trial). Thank you so much, Silke Eckelmann

[@snowpony001]

Another great video.it always amazes me how prevalent all these falsehoods about Anne Boleyn have become. I don’t mind when I read these things in historical fiction. Reading historical fiction usually always sends me on a most enjoyable journey for the truth when I read something I'm not familiar with 😁. What really irritates me is when an author presents something as fact and doesn’t provide sources for their argument. Thanks for laying that out so clearly.

[@angelanorthcutt4339]

I started rewatching the Tudors and the White Queen. I know. But now I know when it’s not historically accurate. What I was wondering is how well they portrayed what people wore and the sets .

[@shadrach6299]

I thought the bell sounds were coming from my car. LOL!

[@vetsai8199]

I do know that Anne Boleyn was physically a departure from the “type” of woman that Henry had previously sought (short, blonde, blue eyes, very pale skin). Many people thought Henry had been “witched” by Anne Boleyn to go through such lengths to marry her!

[@almontepaolilli4909]

It seems that people in the public view often have many false charges brought against them over time.

[@jessicakaplan1095]

Love your videos! Please could you list the mentioned/suggested books in the description?

[@ana9120]

Claire, I am a big fan of yours! What movie or TV show about Anne Boleyn would you personally recommend?

[@frightbat208]

I have not spotted Anne in Hogwarts!! I love that you put her in Ravenclaw. That’s my house too!

[@erracht]

Sorry for the trivial comment, but I laughed when you said "witch's teats".

[@territ7952]

Such hog wash, I don’t think Anne was a witch. But I do think being a woman, in that time period, people felt free to throw out false rumors or “facts”. I think because Henry didn’t get a heir from her, she was expendable, like his first wife Katherine. He love/lusted after her for what he thought she could give him. When she didn’t give him that, the shine was off the penny, so to speak. But the bells, love it when they ring at the right time. Thanks again clarie🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@ritikamehrotra]

Plz do a video on comparison of truth VS fiction in the series The Tudors

[@eej1983able]

I love those bells

[@patriciahayes7315]

I have the Nora Lofts book on Anne Boleyn. I do enjoy it, but I don't believe that the hare was Anne and I don't think Lofts did either. I believe she was simply being good-humored about the coincidence of the hare showing up.

[@DetroitLives313]

Witches couldn't catch a break! Imagine all of those innocent women (and men) that were executed based merely on an accusation.

[@pippy68p65]

Hi. Just wanted to ask are your books on kindle?

[@tesssanders7993]

I have a question that no-one can answer. Several times in documentaries and books I've seen a quick reference that Henry VIII wrote a play or poem or something about his experiences with Anne Boleyn, did he write a play or poem?

[@kerrylowrie8228]

Thanks Claire.x

[@kerrylowrie8228]

Loving the videos.xx

[@aimee2234]

I'm loving everything Tudor now, Claire! :-)

[@sandrablanchette2239]

I can't help but wonder if king Henry would have been ridiculed for being so weak as to be enchanted by a witch. perhaps, that's why he didn't say it

[@rhonr]

What the heck was wrong with Henry to kill so many women? Didn't people of the time think something was wrong with him? I've always wondered.

[@hammycats6919]

Hi. Is it true that Anne's birthname is Anna Maria Bullen? Seen a few articles stating Anna Maria Bullen and even Anna De Bolina, so it is very confusing? 🤔

[@maureenmcallister6102]

I just can't wrap my brain around how he would rather see her DEAD than call her a witch and divorce her/annul the marriage.

[@AITrademarket]

Did Elizabeth I have any relationships with her mother’s side of the family (the surviving Boleyn’s ..or Howard’s)?

[@Erin-ts7ul]

If I remember correctly, the article,"Sexual Heresy at the Court of Henry VIII" (www.jstor.org/stable/2639194), also mentions that some of the men executed were also involved in same-sex relationships.

[@anneboleynfiles]

That is Retha Warnicke's view, yes, but there is no contemporary evidence to support it. It is really twisting the verses by Cavendish and also using the fact that Smeaton and Rochford inscribed their names in the same book, a satire on marriage, as evidence that they were involved. Wyatt also added his name to that book. It was a trendy book at that time, it was passed around a circle of friends.

[@summerdesjardins6808]

I didn't know witchcraft wasn't a crime until 1542. How interesting.

[@susanjamison3382]

If she really had been a witch, she would have been the one ruling the country.. she seems to be a normal woman stuck in an intolerable situation. She did the best she could for the times and her circumstance. She f Henry had left her alone, she very likely would have married Percy and never been heard from again. I love your readings and your videos are a bright spot in my day. I look forward your videos.

[@ianslass]

Common sense would dictate that if you were a Witch...you'd get rid of the "wonky" tooth and the moles and 6th finger so no one would know that you were a Witch. Not only that...you'd make sure you were gorgeous so you can indeed "bewitch" another and make sure you didn't look like what everyone thinks is a typical Witch.

[@sandranevins2144]

Warning I'm about to ask a very difficult question. Just going get on with it. With the Catholic Church pope having a stranglehold on Henery VIII and Catherine marriage was it ever considered Trial by Sex? But that would have bruised Henery 's ego to say the least. Or was thought as a reason to null any other marriage in pursuit for a male heir?

[@jennifermoran6637]

I feel Anne was treated unfairly ; I feel people blamed and hated her more than the King. Wasn’t it his decision to break with Rome? It wasn’t like she forced him to do those things..?

[@Corbyloc]

I agree Anne Boleyn has been characterized falsely and unfairly. Yet, she was human with frailties and made mistakes. In your research, and speaking as an objective historian and not a fan, what were they? She took a false step somewhere surely. Thank you. I’m enjoying the videos.

[@ElizabethF2222]

I think people are confusing fact with fiction, mainly the television show The Tudors. On that show, Henry tells Charles Brandon that Anne seduced him with witchcraft into marrying her. In all my extensive reading on the Tudors, I have never found any evidence that she was accused of witchcraft or that Henry thought she bewitched him. I wish people wouldn't repeat rumors. It makes it so much harder to discover the truth! It seems to me, Claire, that you are her strongest defender! I know I appreciate that and I'm sure I'm not the only one.😉😀

[@jodycarrithers6160]

I'm sure I am FAR from the first person to make the following point... isn't it a tragic irony that these women were either banished or beheaded by Henry VIII for their inability to provide a male heir only to discover so many years later that it's the man who determines the sex of a baby NOT the woman. I know that for Catherine of Aragon and Anne B. it was more about not being able to produce one that would survive but, clearly, both of these women were able to carry a pregnancy to term and have the child survive. It just so happened that both of these children were girls and, it was, solely, Henry VIII that determined this to be so. Incredible irony!

[@LaPetiteBoulin]

Why do you think Henry VIII went so far in trying to erase Anne from history but did do the same with his other wives? Or maybe I'm wrong all the way around?

[@Raiche58]

Did Anne have a French accent?

[@nickmail7604]

I think its a moot point as she has been dead for a while now.

[@JJMarie3509]

Ravenclaw is perfect!

[@wednesdayschild3627]

Jk Rowling wrote it in Harry Potter.

[@ajaylet8466]

I missed that part where she took the potion in the other boylen girl. , why would she do that in then movie I thought she wanted to be pregnant again. Even if Henry wasn’t the real father.

[@jebsmoak925]

Omg id put her in raven claw btw Jesus lol omg ;) love that

[@mcbrineart]

Ravenclaw :)

[@virgilpine9712]

She may not have been charged with witchcraft and let me add, it seems unlikely that Henry VIII would have taken interest in such a deformed woman with all of those traditional old hag witch features, but I can see how people would have called her a witch. I'm not saying that it was used against her in trial, or that she was an actual witch casting spells, but people might have said that she had bewitched the king. Maybe that is where the witchcraft rumors started. Blimey, some people are now saying that about Meghan Markle! That she is a witch who has cast a spell on Harry!

[@vickinoeske1711]

This author is suppose to be taken seriously? A hare? Seriously!

[@suemount6042]

Sounds like a molar pregnancy to me

[@davidspeight8790]

Because Anne was not charged does not mean she was not a witch.

[@anneboleynfiles]

Well I haven't been charged with it either, so what does that mean? She wasn't accused of it, it wasn't rumoured that she was one, it's just an inaccuracy.

[@anneboleynfiles]

Well I haven't been charged with it either, so what does that mean? She wasn't accused of it, it wasn't rumoured that she was one, it's just an inaccuracy.

[@hollerinannes7780]

I am a descendant of Anne Boleyn and I actually am a practicing witch. Witch or not, I am immensely proud of both my ancestor Anne Boleyn and my path in witchcraft.

[@anneboleynfiles]

But Anne Boleyn doesn't have any living descendants. Her only child died childless.