Lust To Loathing: Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn's Turbulent Love Life | Henry & Anne | Real Royalty

The lives of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn have been cloaked in historical myth, romantic legend, cliches and half-truths. Their turbulent relationship continues to spark fierce debate. Retracing the fragments of this fascinating relationship Suzannah Lipscomb attempts to discover what brought them together, and what ultimately tore them apart.
From Elizabeth II to Cleopatra, Real Royalty peels back the curtain to give a glimpse into the lives of some of the most influential families in the world, with new full length documentaries posted every week covering the monarchies of today and all throughout history.
📺 It's like Netflix for history... Sign up to History Hit, the world's best history documentary service and get 50% off using the code 'RealRoyalty' bit.ly/3vp92uu
Subscribe to Real Royalty: bit.ly/3tofGQL
Facebook: / realroyaltydocs
Instagram: / realroyaltydocs
Content licensed from All3Media International to Little Dot Studios.
Any queries, please contact us at: [e-mail]

[@RealRoyalty]

It's like Netflix for history... Sign up to History Hit the world's best history documentary service with code ‘REALROYALTY for a huge discount! bit.ly/3ncAKY8

[@neptunedawn7121]

L)

[@karencawthorn3173]

@@neptunedawn7121 .??

[@djjamestobin]

Code doesn't work

[@gigig2492]

Code is not valid.

[@owlgirl2337]

i usually watch with subtitles

[@houseofgiza7919]

Can you imagine living in a period where a woman is constantly blamed for having a daughter instead of a son, while the man's seed determines the child's sex...the horror!!

[@evaulrikajansson62]

Its still like that in many muslim countries , because of the ignorance that only reading the qouran create.

[@voraciousreader3341]

It happened up until the early-mid 20th century! These documentaries never say anything about Henry’s infidelity issues could have been due _in part_ to an STD he’d picked up from one of his mistresses.

[@colleens1107]

@voracious-reader him having an STD like syphillis is highly unlikely as NONE of his children or wives were infected. The chance of him not passing that down would be almost zero. Nah, the most likely problem is rh factors or just plain ol bad luck as infant mortality and still births were extremely common. Not to mention the horrendous confinements the queens had to endure: stuck in their apartments for almost the whole last trimester with all windows but one shut. Not to mention the stress of being expected to bear an heir.

[@DaisyChain3339.]

It's the RH negative blood line.

[@tru2harris998]

HENRY DID HAVE AN STD!!! ITS A FACT.

[@cinthiasilva6334]

It's funny that they say women can't rule because of their emotions but this king tore apart his country for his "passionate love" for Anna.

[@sarahgeloneck4857]

And we are still feeling the repercussions of this in the Protestant/Catholic tensions in certain parts of the UK today.

[@MFLimited]

Who says women can’t rule because of emotions? I guess people forget that anger is an emotion 😂

[@NatzTalk]

This is what I've always said.

[@jonnieinbangkok]

Henry waited a whole eleven days before getting remarried...what a guy 😝

[@DBEdwards]

Makes one wonder... Just having the same thought

[@kerry7216]

The old saying "if they will do it with and for you eventually they will do it to you" never a truer word said than in Henry's case.

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

Yep. Once a cheat always a cheat.

[@NatzTalk]

She should have known.

[@retrospectors6595]

Has anyone else noticed that most docs about Anne Boleyn include a scene filmed from behind as she’s running through a maze?? No? Just me?

[@theuniverseisme432]

Probably because there are two mazes by the Hever castle where she grew up

[@Odanti]

Even Elizabeth l...Runs. I think that it's how the director can show youth in the film.

[@tuckerplum8085]

It's a visual metaphor for Henry finding his way out of his first marriage, navigating the twists and turns of negotiating with the pope, and finding his new bride (and new religion) as a prize at the end of the complex puzzle. Anne gets to run and flirtatiously look behind her, beckoning the king to chase after, youthful, exuberant, encouraging, but playing hard-to-get.

[@Stitchwitchstitch]

Yes! I thought that too! Maybe taking after the cable series the Tudors. (In which Natalie Dormer rocked it!) Though, if the modern day groundskeepers of the estates and castles ARE keeping true to history, it shows rich folks’ gardens were often hedged and sculpted, and had walkways/maze-like features, which offered a place to walk and also talk in some privacy. So really, it was a pretty common thing to be in a sort of maze lol. Conspicuous, showing “I’m so rich, I don’t need to use this land to survive AND i can afford to pay others to take care of all this land I have!” And as for the maze, I think it’s about portraying her as playful and youthful, “oooo catch me, catch me”. Symbolic but also not totally. And those orderly maze-y grounds were prime real estate for flirting, conspiracy, and kids playing. Sorry if you already know this, not trying to be a know-it-all! I’m just… a history nerd and half-English and I’ve been to a bunch of the castles and houses in these Tudor documentaries. My mom (from England) even made sure our little yard had hedges and she would clip and shear at them like some country estate gardener.

[@NatzTalk]

I noticed this too!😂😂😂

[@jolesliewhitten6545]

No way could Anne have committed adultery-no time, no opportunity. Gossipers murdered Anne.

[@AshleyLebedev]

She also just wasn’t of the character. She was extremely pious and was noted for her feelings about always telling the truth.

[@cynthiarunge4858]

Henry done with her …she should’ve known because she did it to last wife and Henry moved on .so did she without her head

[@AndriaBieberDesigns]

She didn’t. It is so annoying when people try to say she did. There’s no way she would’ve risked it

[@Meriale46]

@@cynthiarunge4858 She actually didn't do it to his first wife. Henry VIII was already wanting a divorce before Anne Boleyn came into the picture. Katherine of Aragon was unable to conceive for several years prior to Anne's arrival at court. Henry loved Katherine but wasn't in love with her. She had aged and was no longer capable of giving Henry an heir. At the beginning of Henry's infatuation and pursuit of Anne, she had no interest in him. She was in love with Henry Percy The Duke of Northumberland. Henry was relentless and determined to have her as his mistress but she wasn't going to whore herself out to help advance her father and uncle's interest at court. She had seen what happened to her sister Mary who was Henry's mistress and gave birth to 2 illegitimate children with him...then forced to marry a man she had no love for. as well as her mother who was both mistress to Henry VIII and his father. Anne was a strong woman and had no plans of giving in to Henry's desire to sleep with her. She didn't hold out because she wanted Katherine gone, she held out in the hope Henry would give up and allow her to marry who she loved. He pursued Anne for years promising her everything from divorcing his wife to making her Queen and never having sex with any other woman. He swore to never take a mistress if she waited until his divorce was final so he could marry her. So she didn't do anything to Katherine that Henry wasn't already doing. So before you make a statement you know nothing about try fact-finding. Everyone has their opinions of Anne Boleyn based on rumors and gossip that was spread by jealous women and men who looked at her as an obstacle in their pursuit of power. Anne was a huge influence on Henry and how he made his disicions in matters of state.

[@juniemoon1528]

@@Meriale46 I’m not sure how accurate our fact-finding would be, almost 500 years later. TRUE and accurate facts. However, there are multiple historical accounts of Anne’s abysmal treatment of both Katherine and Mary, her glee at hearing Katherine had died, and the enemies she made at court. I’m also a fan of Anne, but am not going to sugarcoat her mistakes. Nor take social media comments so personally.

[@AndriaBieberDesigns]

Anne didn’t cheat. Henry was a narcissist. He needed it to look like he was a victim so he could marry Jane and move on with his life without ridicule. Anne didn’t fulfill the bargain and he was moving on.

[@leonieromanes7265]

I think there was something else going on. Anne had one healthy child and three miscarriages. Miscarriages were not uncommon in Tudor England. Anne was still a young woman and had many fertile years ahead of her. Henry went off Anne in a major way, for some reason. I've known narcissistic people, they are extremely hard on their partners. Henry put Anne on a pedestal of perfection that no one could live up to. I think Henry's expectation of Anne to make him completely happy all the time, were impossible for her to achieve.

[@sandraswannell4170]

@@leonieromanes7265 not being able reproduce an heir would do it every w. He loved Katherine at one time too and had she had a son she’d have stayed married to her. I saw on another doco about a problem that effected the Tudor’s from inbreeding It was passed down the male line and it often didn’t effect the first born but each subsequent foetus. It happened to both Katherine and Anne and who knows what would have happened with Jane had she not died of scepticaemia from incomplete placenta or puerperal fever. Edward was not a healthy child.

[@veronicagross7458]

@@sandraswannell4170 I watched on another doc that he probably had Sifilis, was caused his wifes miscarrieges, so technicaly it was his fault...

[@gladtobefreeagain7375]

Agreed. A queen's adultery was also treason & a legal reason for death penalty. A living ex queen would have cast doubt on his 3rd marriage & any heir from new queen. Maybe his ego couldn't chance Anne remarrying & possibly having a boy. So like the old saying "Rome does not pay traitors" Henry had no problem with executing wife #2 to head off future problems. Wife #1 was a Spanish princess so he couldn't have openly harmed her & essentially he waited for her death.

[@shaitarn1869]

@@leonieromanes7265 I wonder if the accident he suffered when he was jousting and was knocked off his horse and unconscious for several hours affected him mentally. I've heard head injuries like that can cause significant personality change.

[@sandraswannell4170]

A great production with Suzanne narrating with expert knowledge and feeling. However it is spoiled by the background music sometimes being so loud it is difficult to hear Suzanne’s voice. Everything else is wonderful.

[@emkoh2746]

Sandra Swannell Totally agree!

[@TribalMatriarch]

Agreed, all background narration is drowned out by the music. Needs rebalancing.

[@Elleoaqua]

It’s sentimental bullshit. There’s zero love here

[@sandraswannell4170]

@@Elleoaqua ya think? Just lust. I reckon if it was just lust Henry could have had her anytime he wanted. Don’t know if I can entirely agree.

[@AishaAlMidfa]

Subtitles help 👍🏼

[@BeerElf66]

I always felt that it was a shame that Henry never lived to see his daughter Elizabeth's reign, but I know she wouldn't have had one if he'd lived.

[@tiermacgirl]

He would never have enjoyed pride in anything she did. He didn't deserve her

[@evaulrikajansson62]

No, Henri have no credit for Elisabeths reign ,and frankly dont deserve to take proud in Elisabeth after what he did to her mother.

[@yayableu]

I love how they brought her down but her revenge is her daughter as the ultimate queen, beautiful come back.

[@evaulrikajansson62]

Why do you love" how they brought her down"(?) Yes, she was heartless towards Catherine of Aragonia, but she certainly did not deserve to be beheaded for an adultary she did not comitte. Its crazy to suggest that " you love how they brought her down", because then your as foolish as King Henry.

[@user-bm5un3zb1v]

I always feel that way too,!

[@JadedGen]

Agree!!! Karma. She ruled long, and from my understanding steady.

[@heatherbeach4696]

Poetic justice

[@NatzTalk]

@JadedGen during her reign, it was called the Golden Era.

[@darkprince56]

It's disturbing how Henry treated the women he professed to love. He supposedly loved Catherine of Aragon deeply at one point, the same for Anne (and his daughters weren't immune)....yet he discarded them with shocking coldness. EDIT: never mind, he treated men badly as well, even those who had the utmost loyalty to him

[@redroutemaster]

He treated some men no better, like Wolsley.

[@darkprince56]

Jay Day that's true, I'm going to edit my comment

[@ebonyloveivory]

Basically, he was a tyrant. Especially in the later years of his life, he turned despotic and if things did not go his way, he discarded the people who were "useless" to him.

[@Elleoaqua]

It wasn’t love it was lust and faded fast. This docu is demented.

[@darkprince56]

ebonyloveivory i've seen it be speculated in many documentaries that maybe it was due to the massive head injury he received in that jousting accident

[@adrianneavillion7230]

I would love to see a documentary devoted to Catherine of Aragon, a neglected yet important historical figure.

[@lilina_who]

Suzanne actually did that, together with Dan Jones. It's called Henry VIII and His Six Wives and aired on Channel 5. You can find summaries of the episodes on their KZbin channel (but since they are only ~10 minutes I'd search the full episodes). It's really good and one episode is entirely devoted to Catherine of Aragon.

[@beverleyonyejianya5710]

The Spanish princess is out on Netflix. It’s based on true events and really well dramatised

[@vaeyaxzaveriastarnovae3744]

Exactly!!!! F Anne she cool or whatever but KATHERINE... I don't like women who play games like this purposely n they really be thinking its all good.. They be carrying on like its a pure joy to hurt someone else... So for that again F Anne... She coulda behaved better as well. Just dumb dumb dumb

[@robinlillian9471]

Catherine of Aragon was hardly neglected by historians. There are more documentaries made about Henry & his wives than any other English kings and queens, including William the Conqueror.

[@redemissarium]

@@robinlillian9471 because williams most interesting fight is against his enemies while henry most interesting fight is with his wives 🤣

[@nickyphoenix2470]

Did he really believe that she has committed incest or adultery or was he just bored with her and she hadn’t produced a male heir.

[@Elleoaqua]

Duh.

[@tiermacgirl]

Brain injury can be associated with paranoia

[@jacquelinerussell8530]

The Latter is true in my opinion

[@danielasarmiento30]

I believe the latter. Mostly beacuse he didn't grieve at all. Had he had feeling for Anne, he wouldn't have been married no another woman less than two weeks after her death. He was also actually outraged when Katherine Howard's premarital relationships came to light, while with Anne he kind of gave the order and then faded into the background

[@Rat_Queen86]

Probably the latter in my opinion; he wanted a male heir and was running out of time

[@LuzMaria95]

Idk why I’m so obsessed with British history but I love it

[@Nikaroooo]

I am obsessed as well!

[@Elleoaqua]

Cuz it’s everywhere and u don’t have the imagination to study any other history

[@sharmagneleland-st.john-sy7697]

@@Elleoaqua That sounds rather rude! 😱

[@made-line7627]

@@Elleoaqua Ouch 🤕

[@cassiecavataio2982]

Same

[@welshwitch2126]

Catherine and Mary were truly victims. They didn’t deserve the treatment they received. I’m fascinated by Anne, and a big fan, but I have great sympathy for them. From what I have read, Anne didn’t enter The Tower through Traitor’s Gate and I’ve never read that her head was put on a pike.

[@moondancer4660]

Well, he "loved" her enough to get a professional from France to use a sword to behead her. to lesson her suffering , So I seriously doubt that he put her head on a pike.

[@jacquitebbutt9446]

You're correct, she didn't enter through Traitors Gate but at a different place near the Tower. Anne's head was not placed on a spike but buried with her body.

[@Elly3981]

I don't think it was. If we could somehow recover Anne's skull, we could do a forensic reconstruction of her face to see if she really looked like she's depicted in her famous portraits.

[@marypeck887]

If memory is right poor Anne was buried in an arrow box. He moved on with Seymour

[@spookyxstylist]

This doc is great… except the part where Suzanne claims her head was “dipped in tar and placed on a spike.” Anyone who has studied Anne Boleyn knows that is not true. Moments after her head was struck from her body, her head was covered in a white cloth and her body and head were placed in an arrow chest and buried in the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula

[@colleencox2927]

Logan Carter your descriptive details in this tragic matter are absolutely historically correct. I'm surprised Suzanne seems unaware of this.

[@cflotronsong]

She didn't say that's what happened. She said "if" she was treated in the usual way. Meaning they don't really know if she was buried with her head or not. But honestly, if a very controversial queens head was put on a pike, there would be some kind of record, I'm sure

[@spookyxstylist]

@@cflotronsong Since her grave was exhumed in the late 19th century I’m assuming her head was buried with her body as the record states. I highly doubt H8 would want her head publicly displayed as he wanted to erase her completely - which obviously failed hahaha.

[@arianaashdown6367]

Not even Henry viii would have dared to do that to a woman who had been crowned as queen...

[@lucyosborne9239]

The more I learn about Henry VIII the more I believe he was a selfish turd who got whatever he wanted no matter who paid the price, and it usually wasn't him. I think Anne Boleyn was dealt a raw hand who played it as best she could, under pressure from her father, her King and all those around her. How could she have escaped her fate? I can't see any way given who Henry VIII was and whom he became.

[@Katherine_Allen]

I agree with you. It's hard to survive under someone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury if that person is a king in the patriarchal, violent, post-War-of-the-Roses 1500s! Later, a princess in Europe would say she would marry him if only she had 2 heads, indicating that it's not just us here in the 2000's who think/thought his behavior was abnormal!

[@Elly3981]

Anne did promise King Henry a son if he would leave his wife and marry her. She also made a lot of enemies at court by being arrogant, rude, and condescending to King Henry's other subjects and treated Catherine of Aragon and Princess Mary horribly. I think people should stop trying to make Anne out to be some kind of saint or angel because she wasn't. Even if she may not be guilty of the crimes that led to her execution.

[@AshleyLebedev]

I still just love this casting of Henry and Anne. Of all the docus over the years this was my favorite one, saved for Nat Dormer in the Tudor’s.

[@nadyayap2714]

I liked them, and Natalie, but people forget that Anne was more French in mannerisms and attitude than English, and she- while not conventionally beautiful- had incredible charm that she sparkles wherever she went. The best portrayal was Rafaëlle Cohen from The Boleyns: a Scandalous Family. Check that one out: Her portrayal of Anne is incredible, the attitude and mannerisms, and the documentary is so very informative, and goes in-depth; you really start to understand Anne and her family in ways you've never done before.

[@mangot589]

These two are my favorites too!

[@made-line7627]

Yep, me too. However, the actresses who play her always seem to be a lot more... aesthetically pleasing...than the real Anne, if her celebration coin and supposed portraits are anything to go by 😶

[@made-line7627]

@@nadyayap2714 Will have to watch!

[@sikequan4542]

No verisimilitude to Henry's looks though. He was already a fat, aging roue when they met. In his 40s at least.

[@arctic61314]

"Anne would have written this sometime before her execution". Amazing.

[@dazeyday5699]

“Some time” not “sometime”; meaning a longer time before as opposed to right before she was imprisoned, smart ass.

[@made-line7627]

Hahaha

[@rubynibs]

🤣

[@rubynibs]

@@dazeyday5699 Aw, you're 12, aren't you, honey? Here to school people, too, I see. That's sweet.

[@tossefin]

@@rubynibs Why the condescending tone? Dazey Day is correct.

[@angelaesteban9090]

The marriage to Catherine of Aragon helped the English Court in the European Courts. Spain was a very important empire and very close to the Vatican. Queen Catherine of Aragon did alot of good for English. And England repays her good deeds by not even saying one thing about them. She defend England when the king was in France. She was a key for politics in the European Courts. She had influence and power where the Tudors could not reach if it had not been for her. She did alot for the common English man, charity's, hospital's etcetera. Blessed be Queen Catherine of Aragon.

[@under-dog5390]

I am English and I have never heard anything but reverence for Queen Catherine. The problem with Catherine is she was treated horribly and yet if she wasn't removed we wouldn't have got Queen Elizabeth I. It's a very complicated situation. Also everything you listed could be attributed to nearly every single monarch we have had. Nearly every marriage helped in european courts, each marriage brought different influences and Catherine certainly was not the only Queen to rule the country whilst the king was away. Scotland had been invading England for centuries by that point.

[@Katherine_Allen]

All these love letters and love notes are chilling to listen to, knowing that 3 years after their wedding he had her murdered by execution on trumped up charges.

[@angelaleishman1570]

I do wonder if the serious jousting accident where Henry was unconscious for hours affected his brain and changed his personality, as brain injuries sometimes do; it is easily overlooked that he was contentedly married to Catherine for twenty years before meeting Anne, and he was quite benign and hail-fellow-well-met during this time. He was also a musician, a composer, a poet, a writer, and an excellent tennis player and jouster.

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

To see the writing of Anne's own hand, breaks my own heart.

[@cherrytomato6139]

The love affair that destroyed so many people with such cruelty could end no other way. Anne lost her life and Henry turned from a golden prince to a monster. And the ultimate twist - the daughter he never really wanted bacame a better monarch than the son he killed for. I have no doubt that Elizabeth's decision not to marry could be rooted in her mother's fate. Sins have very long shadows.

[@Rat_Queen86]

I totally agree 👍

[@bludiva27]

I’m surprised they were touching those precious books with Henry & Anne’s handwriting in them, without gloves on.

[@johnlandau7111]

Henry was not a good person. A good man doesn’t cheat on his wife, doesn’t divorce her or banish her from his home when she has been a loving and faithful wife, doesn’t ridicule her. He certainly doensn’t have people killed because they disagree with him about something, or because they are unsuccessful in accomplishing some task he has given them, despite their best efforts to accomplish it. He had up to 77,00 people put to death, destroyed hundreds of architectural masterpieces, all of the country’s masterpieces, looted them of their vast wealth, destroyed thousands of manuscripts stored in them, turned thousands of monks onto the streets with no job or source of income, turned thousands of sick and disabled people cared for in the monasteries hospitals to die on the streets or in the fields, etc. A truly evil man. His affair with Anne Boleyn led him to many of these crimes. It destroyed his character completely.

[@michellelambert8729]

He made the choice to be evil.

[@Kim-gv5bw]

I find comfort in the fact that Henry VIII is rotting in hell for all the innocent people he both directly and indirectly slaughtered.

[@twichmcvey6065]

Disgusting how men thought of women. He swore to love her forever then tossed her to away to her death. It's not like she was old, she could have kept trying but he was so full of himself. A fall, a miscarriage and men trying make her disappear spreading lies and he lost all love. Never caring for her pain, fear and stresses.

[@cassiecavataio2982]

I don't believe for a second that henry truly believed that Anne was guilty. I believe that he was a narcissist and psychopath

[@GTX1123]

In his younger years, Henry was the affable, gracious, approachable man he was because he was raised differently than his brother Arthur. All of that changed when Arthur died. Henry's childhood mentors and tutors did such a good job that it did take a bit longer than one would expect for the entrapments of almost absolute power to corrupt him. I read somewhere that Henry was VERY repentant on his death bed. If this is true, as he was approaching death and his life flashed before his eyes, he no doubt realized what a brutish tryrant he had become as compared to the cheerful, benevolent man he was in his youth.

[@dragonclaws9367]

Did she ever dream future people would hold her books? She's immortal and I love her. The two Annes are my personal favorites of the lot.

[@onthebeach1336]

Sort out the audio the music is way to loud over the talking

[@Jerseyboondocks]

You did not pay or film or produce this documentary. You think yourself so entitled that someone's actually going to listen to your comment when you didn't even pay one red Penny to watch this?! My God

[@Jerseyboondocks]

I listened to this documentary with CoWin headphones... They are super high quality, so any problem with sound I would notice immediately, since I basically have it blasting in my ear- I wouldn't be able to listen if it was really that bad. But I guess sound is subjective, I just don't understand people thinking they're so entitled to demand sound levels when they did not pay or work on the documentary and are watching it for free!! Lord have mercy

[@onthebeach1336]

@@Jerseyboondocks who the fuck are you

[@onthebeach1336]

@@Jerseyboondocksit’s a bloody KZbin video get a life

[@MinervaShavoux]

It is logistically impossible for Anne to have been guilty of most, if not all, of the charges that were put against her. What really could've done with mentioning in this particular documentary about Anne and Henry was the simple fact that the evidence against her by her alleged accusers could not have happened at the times they were claimed to have taken place; it was literally physically impossible. Lining up the dates of Anne's listed indiscretions in the indictment laid against her by the court, the vast majority of the afore testified liaisons Anne allegedly had between Henry's subordinates and courtiers took place either while Anne wasn't even in the same count(r)y as the individual accused, or when she was already pregnant by Henry (the number of miscarriages Anne actually had after having Elizabeth I is estimated between 2 and 3, but there may have been more that were never disclosed or that terminated so early that she mistook them for heavy menstrual cycles). In Tudor times, it wasn't just considered unlucky for a pregnant woman to engage in sex AT ALL, it was also suspected that it would cause the mother to miscarry. Anne and Henry's relationship and subsequent marriage's success was entirely contingent upon Anne's successful delivery of at least one son. She knew that Henry's entire world revolved around producing a legitimate, healthy heir to the throne, and that her status as Queen wasn't truly official until she provided him with that heir, especially so long as Katherine remained alive. Anne wasn't stupid, and she was extremely observant of Henry's behavior and character when it came to his treatment of Katherine of Aragon: The longer he despaired of ever having a son, the worse his treatment of her became and the more affairs he had. Anne was furiously jealous of her relationship with Henry and was sensitive enough about Henry paying attention to other women that she had a very, very notorious screaming fit at Henry when she discovered that, when she was still residing at court, Katherine was still mending and sewing Henry's shirts. With the time Anne spent in her formative years at the French court watching the behavior of Francis I, she would have learned quickly that the only way she could hold Henry's attention and keep him from straying from her was by proving her fertility early and fast while maintaining the persona of the most alluring and stimulating lady at court. Furthermore, Anne's feelings toward keeping Henry's attention made her outbursts toward him during his typical episodes of taking mistresses were uncharacteristically reckless. In Tudor England, not only were married men expected to take a mistress while their wives were pregnant in order - as they believed - protect the welfare of their growing child, it was also a common health concern that men especially engage in regular sexual relationships, as doctors believed that spending extensive amounts of time without enjoying one's conjugal rights was damaging to male reproductive organs - essentially coming up with a roughshod concept of muscle atrophy; if you don't use it, you lose it. For Henry especially, it would have been critical to his husbandly duties to Anne in the eyes of their culture and era to sow his wild oats in order to ensure that he was well-prepared to impregnate her again after she gave birth. Otherwise, he could very well have believed that NOT cheating during pregnancy would've rendered him impotent or less virile. There simply isn't enough surviving or accessible documentation from Anne's side of the story to truly make any judgment calls about her core personality; the Vatican will have to release Anne's stolen letters and documents from their archives for us to ever know the person she was. They're locked away somewhere in the Holy See, believed to have been filched by either Ambassador Mendoza or Chapuis, or possibly an agent of Cardinal Campeggio himself to be taken for review by the Pope. Anne originally kept them in a trunk with other precious belongings, but at some point, an unknown supporter of Katherine stole them from her chambers and they have never been seen since. It's likely that they still exist intact.

[@Riderules73]

thanks so much for this - fantastic insights!

[@melliegrantedd]

I enjoyed reading this!

[@lemonhead162]

I love these shows and always snuggle with my phone and watch at night after my shower! So cozy!!

[@valkyriesardo278]

Yes indeed, Anne did spend some years as a lady in waiting in the French court. Let's not imagine that in any way equates to Catherine of Aragon's upbringing, a royal princess of Spain.

[@juliemenzies6387]

The actress who played Anne, done an amazing job!

[@fidelogos7098]

ohmigoodness...I'm 4 minutes and 55 seconds in and I can barely hear the narrator over the music.

[@MOONFIREmagess]

When looking at the Book of hours, I love suzannah's emotion, so thrilled and looks as if she may shed a tear with the excitement of it...so lovely 😄

[@soapy9685]

Got some serious audio issues here. Also why is Suzannah handling Anne’s bible with bare hands? Shouldn’t she be wearing gloves or something?!

[@mlrice5352]

I think they found that gloves were more damaging than bare hands recently

[@Jess-bee]

Why are there always audio problems??? The music is always too loud and we comment the same thing each time

[@Hseem]

don't watch then

[@Justice-ef9sk]

Henry the 8th was an overgrown spoiled brat if you ask me. He knew damn well Anne Boleyn did not have hundreds of lovers. He just wanted any excuse to get rid of her permanently so he could marry Jane and hopefully have a son. I wonder if the Bittersweet irony of Jane bearing him a son, yet dying shortly after ever ever made Henry realize that he was wrong and maybe this was God's way of letting him know.

[@made-line7627]

One would hope it might wake him up to his severe wrongdoings. Whether he admitted it to himself or not...

[@cflotronsong]

The situation is way more complex, that you give it credit for

[@Justice-ef9sk]

@@cflotronsong I know it was. I do. And I understand how important it was for him to have a son to carry on the Tudor dynasty. But the way Henry went about it... was wrong. Pure and simple, the way he treated Katherine, and Anne was wrong. Whether it was five hundred years ago, or today. Henry the 8th was a spoiled brat.

[@krystalpennell]

Great documentary but hard to hear over the loud music :(

[@Ashley-ui2lt]

I love watching this channel because everything is made excellent. However the music is extremely loud the over the dialogue. I hope it's an easy fix

[@user-gd8hu9iq9u]

except that they keep making princess diana look bad.the rest is fine loll

[@AishaAlMidfa]

Subtitles help 👍🏼

[@farfallinaazzurra5318]

@@user-gd8hu9iq9u truth has finally come to light

[@alexdidden8208]

I love how they explain everything along with the inserts of the visual feel

[@karenkelley1332]

Almost everything is beautifully done except the music is disturbingly loud.

[@wyvern723]

You lost me here. Proclaiming constantly how good Henry was... He was a monster.

[@zetarose9170]

Imagine your child being declared a bastard like not only is your legacy ruined but your child is destined to go through endless suffering.

[@brucemooney1277]

Dude who plays the young King in this documentary is bloody handsome. He gets the point across haha

[@olavwilhelm6843]

Jack Hawkins . look for google images cause there is another older actor with the same name !! yes he is hot :-)

[@sunflowersprinkles5787]

it’s amazing how every human is connected to history

[@redroutemaster]

A year ago I started digging at the family tree, with some assistance I got back to my 13th great grandfather a Sir John Baker of Sissinghurst Castle. Sir John was Henry VIII’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, amongst many other notable titles after leaving the inn fields of London. Sir John had a Daughter Cicely Baker, who married into the Sackville family of Knole Park, Sevenoaks. Through that family line there’s relations to Anne Bulleyne (Boelyn) family through her sister. Sir John is buried in Cranbrook, Kent, quite coincidentally only 10 miles from where I Iive now. I’m sure if my radio career takes off, I’ll get on Who Do You Think You Are 😂.

[@theuniverseisme432]

Most people alive today can trace their origins back to royals or people of importance, it’s how earthly population works

[@theuniverseisme432]

But that’s really cool!

[@No-Global-Government]

Very interesting, post an update if you find additional information.

[@aarons6935]

Absolute BS.

[@Kim-gv5bw]

I'd just like to add that Anne Boleyn may have learned at the French court from the example of her sister Mary"The English Mare" to not indulge in affairs lightly.Anne wasn't exactly a beauty,but she was witty,intelligent and charismatic .Also ambitious.I don't believe that it was a matter of love between Henry and Anne,after all,men(especially narcissistic control freaks like Henry)want what they can't have-that which Anne denied him.Lust on his part,power-hunger on her part.And remember people,the abuse Princess Mary suffered at the direction of Anne Boleyn.Horrible,horrible woman,but I know that she was totally set up by Cromwell(with significant influence from Henry and the bitter,jealous Jane Boleyn).6 innocent people executed because Henry knew damn well that his claim to the throne was tenuous at best.Because Anne was trying to interfere/influence Henry in matters of politics and religion.Narcasstics are like that. (Professor K Howard-Hastings)

[@Galen_G]

My favorite part of all of this was Queen Katherine and Anne Boleyn's revenge - when Henry's son died before he could even rule, there were eight heirs to the throne - all female.

[@MsLogjam]

If Anne was able to keep Henry at arm's length for so many years before they married, it seems unlikely that she wouldn't have had the self-discipline to keep herself tidy after they were married. So much irony in how things turned out. The royal family is full of ironies, with the biggest one being that Charles allegedly married Diana because she was pretty, not too bright, and would presumably be easy to control. He took her for a wren and she turned out to be a firebird.

[@megvoss3329]

I have studied this at length. Part of it was Anne had made a terrible enemy in Thomas Cromwell & other powerful members of Henry's court. Cromwell fed Henry's insecurities about Anne & Anne was also very outspoken with her husband which generated animousity in the marriage.

[@robertalpy9422]

Her speech before her death was obviously facetious. She prayed that the King rule over them all with the kindness and mercy 😆. That's a backhanded blessing if I ever saw one.

[@normamimosa5991]

Very surprising that this woman would be allowed to touch that book without wearing gloves.

[@Elleoaqua]

Look. For YEARS it’s been known clean bare hands do less damage than gloves. Read something before making an ass of yourself and spreading false info. Where did YOU get your history PhD? Where are your videos?

[@normamimosa5991]

@@Elleoaqua You have just made an ass (to use your word) of yourself. You appear to be a very unpleasant woman who was never taught any manners, resulting in your being nothing but a foul-mouthed, adult bully, with narcissistic manifestations.

[@LusiaEyre]

Maybe you already found this out in the last 2 years, but clean, dry hands are recommended over gloves for handling the majority of paper artefacts.

[@normamimosa5991]

@@LusiaEyre No, I hadn't found that out. Thank you for the information. I find that very surprising!

[@lisasweeney9676]

This aged like fine wine. “ nobody is going to tell senior royals that they are getting it wrong.” I wonder which ones he was talking about.

[@pianoprincess6255]

I love it but couldn't watch it because the music was so loud it covered the dialog😞

[@graceamerican3558]

You do have to listen hard. It’s not easy.

[@elizabethtorres3491]

OMGosh, you are so right. Such a bummer. 😔🐩✌

[@neptunesvortex]

I agree.. wish they would repost with less music

[@theresawong3033]

I agree!

[@stompthedragon4010]

@@theresawong3033 yes, just started and not sure I will continue

[@deanvrabl]

If only this music wasn't so loud, this docu would be even better

[@Deldelo-]

Excellent prog, however, the incidental music is simply too loud in places.

[@sunnysmiles8211]

I might actually prefer swimming in the ocean with a great white than being in Henry’s court!!???

[@annjohnson6193]

Yes, being in Henry’s court was dangerous

[@investedfemelle7564]

You’d stand a better chance

[@danielasarmiento30]

I'm personally of the belief that Henry knew the charges were false, partly because of the difference between his reaction with them and the acussations of Katherine Howard. He was actually scandalized, betrayed, embarassed. Here, he retired with his pretty new lover while his current wife was in trial for execution. I believe Henry believed he wouldn't have a son unless his marriage was accepted by God. So if Catherine of Aragon was sinful because of being his brother's widow, then Anne was because she married him while his first wife was alive. To get a true wife he needed to be permanently rid of his current wife to be a lawful widower. I imagine also, Jane wasn't entirely innocent. She did the same things that Anne did when Henry was seducing her, believing he would do the same with her as he did with Catherine, only to find he intended to be permanently rid of her likley at the same time as Anne did. He used the chance to also be rid of people politically useless to him, like his friend who likely dared voice his opinions and the brother of the woman who wouldn't be useful anymore. The one musician who confessed, if you recall, was pardoned. He did his part. Herny married his new wife with the soil on Anne's grave was still fresh. I feel for Jane, to be pregnant and know that she'd likely lose her head if she didn't give Henry the boy he wanted. And I believe it's the birth of Edward that gave her the title of the true wife. She's the one God blessed with the heir. Had he been a girl, Jane wouldn't have been mourned long either

[@craykanne]

Wonderful recounting of history...but for GOD'S sake PLEASE turn down the background music!

[@marinadubois7347]

To be fair ,she couldn’t get away from him. He had ultimate power. Anne’s sister had already been his mistress and then dumped! What real choices did she have? If she went to the country Henry could call her to court. Everyone around Henry suffered in the end.

[@Rat_Queen86]

She could have stayed away until he fell for someone else. The man had the attention span of a fish. Given time, he would have forgotten her

[@DBEdwards]

I say the hostess of this programme and the actress who plays Anne Boleyn are both of exquisite beauty

[@YAHMORTIZ]

the background music was very disturbing

[@pamelameadows9717]

I've never understood why the hell she said so many good things about him with the way he treated people really after the way he treated her. I can only think that she might hope it was stopped before she was beheaded

[@made-line7627]

Pretty much.

[@christina3521]

Yeah i know. From what have read from the time period- saying anything against the monarch would put their family, friends, children and estate in danger. Anne knew she had to protect her daughter Elizabeth with a “good death” acknowledging the King. But these were not lines of bs from her at the end - she had a very sharp wit and she knew Henry would hear of her last words - and that he could not deny the truth of what really went down between them. That she held her composure despite his ultimate betrayal. And that he’d rot in hell for his actions.

[@montrelouisebohon-harris7023]

The Tudor dynasty was probably the most ferocious and peculiar of all. What a different world it would have been even if Edward v would have been coronated and been king for a long time. He was a smart young man and very intuitive. Henry Tudor didn't have any inheritance right to the throne but he wanted on a battlefield with the help of his stepfather and his step uncle. There wasn't any surety of the Stanley family helping him because they were going to back a winner and they weren't going to be charged with treason if they sided with Henry and Richard ended up winning the battle. They only made their decision when Richard III decided to take off away from the group and leave himself wide open to go after Henry Tudor which was a big mistake!! One thing about the Plantagenet family is that they were all very courageous powerful fighters!! They must have gotten it from William the conqueror but it just seemed like they all could throw down and fight. Even Margaret plantagenet ( Margaret Pole who was the daughter of George Plantangeant Duke of clearance, and his wife Isabel's daughter... That woman was 67 years old when Henry VIII WAS EXECUTING HER AND HER FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WERE THE LAST OF THE PLANTAGENETS AND MARGARET FOUGHT BACK WHEN THEY GOT HER UP AND GETTING READY TO BE HEAD HER BECAUSE SHE RAN FROM THEM AND STARTED FIGHTING THEM BACK.. THAT POOR ELDERLY WOMAN GOT HACKED TO DEATH BECAUSE SHE WAS FIGHTING THEM BACK. POOR GIRL HAD SUCH A HARD LIFE AND SO DID HER LITTLE BROTHER EDWARD PLANTANGENET WHEN HE WAS LOCKED UP IN THE TOWER WHEN HENRY THE 7TH BECAME KING. SAD! IT WAS ALL BECAUSE OF MARGARET BEAUFORTS MENTAL ILLNESS AND SHE WAS SO OBSESSED WITH POLITICAL POWER BECAUSE THE ONLY THING SHE HAD WAS MONEY SINCE SHE WAS A WOMAN. SHE LITERALLY USED HER SON TO BECOME KING OF ENGLAND SO SHE WOULD HAVE MORE POWER BECAUSE AS A WOMAN SHE HAD NOTHING..

[@dazeyday5699]

Wow that escalated quickly.

[@justinbergmans36]

You listen and read all the accounts of Henry. The one conclusion you can make is how this “man” possessed all the negative qualities of a human being. A raving narcissist, lack of empathy or honor, when it came to his daughter Mary or his first wife. The accident definitely accelerated his awful traits.

[@joshlock4627]

Anne was NOT taken into the tower via traitors gate. She was taken in via a small boat ramp into the tower

[@czgator9000]

Traitors Gate is where the boats come in off the Thames River into the Tower.

[@stacysatterfield2154]

I always thought that Anne Boleyn was innocent and she couldn't produce a male heir...but produced one of the greatest QUEENS OF ENGLAND..ELIZABETH TUDOR I..Henry VIII was a ruthless evil king. I also felt bad for Catherine of Aragon, the daughter of King Ferdinand, Queen Isabella

[@BeveC21E]

The Very saddest part of Anne's life is, the fact that the eves of the 2 most significant events that occurred in her life, began and ended there--the tower!

[@annabelle1632]

All you have to do is look to how he treated Queen Catherine.. he only became bolder after that.

[@Roypb01]

I'm beginning to understand that Henry VIII was down there with people like Caligula, Nero, Ivan the Terrible and Vlad Tepes. Poor Anne Bolyne (along with Catherine of Aragon and their daughter Mary); what a horrible, horrible story... along with the ±57,000 other people he murdered during his reign. Imagine what he could have accomplished with 20th century mass-murder techniques... 😳

[@racewayjay]

Background music was way to loud. Please re-record! We click on this to hear the story, not for the unnecessary music.

[@victoriacappon767]

Love how they just skipped over Mary’s reign at the end 😂

[@bbug4841]

The Vatican should be forced to return the original letters that they stole in antiquity from England that were between Henry and Ann.

[@maryrinehart2346]

The sound mixing is terrible. The music completely drowns out the dialogue. So you go back & forth from hearing Dr Lipscomb just fine to the music overwhelming every word and then back again. Very irritating in an otherwise excellent documentary

[@VaBeachBeach2971]

The imagery and poems in this documentary are beautiful.

[@debrakleid5752]

I really like these types of documentaries especially when it regards the Tudors. Music gets way too loud so hearing the narrator gets difficult. Other than that it’s a great documentary

[@AJShiningThreads]

The sound levels are off. Other versions of this series are much better

[@Jerseyboondocks]

And? So rude and unnecessary a comment. It's so simple you don't even have to watch and don't have to announce that other versions are better unless you want to be a jerk

[@clivechambers6624]

This is magnificent thank you. Far, far better than the commercialisation. Well done, well produced and authentic.

[@Geno5]

The Dr. makes the show. She is wonderful in every documentary I’ve seen.

[@erntefreude]

I am not a historian, but even I know that Anne did NOT go through Traitor's Gate, when she was arrested, and brought to the Tower of London. The contemporary chronicler (Henry Wriothesley said that she came in through the 'court gate' (also now then as 'Tower Gate') - meaning the Byward Tower via the drawbridge from the wharf.

[@joyceclarke9210]

This is a wonderful production presented by my ultimate favourite historian, the very wonderful Dr. Suzannah Lipscombe. Her knowledge and passion is quite simply a joy to watch. My firm belief is that Henry was a narcissist. The targetting, swift love bombing, manipulation and control, followed by the inevitable devaluation before very swiftly moving on to Jane Seymour. Even taking into consideration his desperation to sire a male heir, these are all traits of a narcissist. My only criticism is the extraordinarily loud music which drowned out several parts of Suzannah's brilliant narration.

[@nancybeveridgetaylor3256]

Suzanne is such a wonderful narrator and historian.

[@dwideadwalkerinvestigators9713]

I have watched this documentary so many times I can't count. It's got to be one of the best I have ever seen!

[@daviddio3876]

What a great piece about the relationship between Henry and Anne. So much information and beautifully narrated and produced. I enjoyed every minute of it. 👍🏻 plus a treat to watch and have Suzanne bring us all this knowledge.

[@sinsitysinderella790]

This was beautifully, even reverently, done. I was tearing up at the end. Ms. Lipscomb told an exquisite, poignant and heart-breaking story, worthy of a Shakespearean tragedy. I've watched many interpretations of their story, but Lipscomb shared a perspective that I've never quite seen. Having removed the trappings of the trope fictions (at times presented as fact-adjacent), based on centuries of speculation, she sought out and referred Only to the primary sources. She found within them the possibility that both Henry and Anne were, for all intents and purposes, innocent - in that they likely Were still in love, that Anne was totally innocent and faithful, and Henry didn't truly want to lose her, and that they were both, perhaps, victims of circumstance. The acting was first-rate, better than you would expect from a documentary re-enactment. --I will say, she was the hottest victim of "The Sweat" that I've ever seen 😁29:03

[@beverlyrhame3692]

Promising to give the king a son shows that people has been always made stupid promises, it's not like now when one can choose what kind of baby you will give birth to.

[@joanwiebe3654]

Amazing - wonderful video! I love history & this is such a fascinating couple / subject. Thank you

[@jamescairns4051]

Suzannah has a wonderful podcast out called ‘not just the tudors’, thoroughly recommend it. Plus there’s not much music playing in the background which is a bonus 😉.

[@lisamcandrews8594]

Thank you I’ll check it out. I like a documentary’s to, but the music drives me crazy

[@govegsaveanimals1972]

Sometimes the background music is so loud that it drowns out the narrative voice. 😞😓

[@Bahia320]

Dr Lipscomb, this is an amazing work, truly engaging with fine acting and production. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[@emilythorne3100]

It’s incredible how a medieval love story can become a career of a modern individual (and my obsession)

[@kathrynjordan8782]

Wonderful production. I enjoyed Suzanne's expert knowledge about Henry and Anne. I enjoy learning about English history.

[@karengoldner4719]

This is the best video about Anne Boleyn I’ve seen yet! Great job!

[@tracymcardle1236]

I read one comment about wearing gloves, I made that comment once and was told there is a new thought that wearing gloves could do more damage than not wearing them👍

[@gonefishing167]

To me, I have always taken Leviticus to mean adultery. No adultery with your brother ex wife The other one is to protect your brothers widow. Whoever is not married takes the widow to wife - and any children - as his own so the family name goes on. Guess you can make it go any way you want if you’re a king! I would love to Fred in the footsteps you are walking. What history. 👵👵👵👵👵🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

[@stompthedragon4010]

Yes. I made a comment about that. Leviticus is about a living brother. Elsewhere a man is to marry his brother' s widow. I' m not even sure how that did not come- up in the debate when Henry was pressing his case on the pope. Maybe it actually did. Time to do some research.

[@carmensavu5122]

​@@stompthedragon4010 Ikr? The reason Onan was killed is because he refused to impregnate his sister-in-law and produce an heir for his dead brother.

[@christineh2843]

Really informative and well done documentary. Thank you so much.

[@graceamerican3558]

The music does override the dialog a bit.

[@andreagv3]

Jeez, the music is so freaking loud, you cannot hear the narrator's voice. Who the hell did the sound mixing on this documentary?