The Truth Behind Anne Boleyn Notorious Reputation | Two Sisters | Absolute History

Anne has been celebrated and damned, seen as either schemer or a victim. Her sister Mary is less remembered and often dismissed as a fool. But what was the truth?
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[@rebeccaofsunnybrook]

I'm sure Mary later in life realized how fortunate she was that her sister was picked as queen and not herself.

[@maryboleyn7740]

Yeah I thought that becoz I wanted to be queen too but he chose my sister but atleast I have head till the end

[@calhowarth5004]

, l

[@Maysoon3121]

Mary was the true queen and elizabeth can thank her sister for everything she just had to sit and be the queen

[@yingyang2815]

@@Maysoon3121 Queen Anne was a strong and passionate Queen.

[@bhadj1285]

@@Maysoon3121 are you stupid? You're not even talking about the same Mary as the comment is mentioning and the Mary you're talking about didn't do shit but make bad decisions and set down some foundation for projects that would've never been followed through if it wasn't for Elizabeth 🤷🤷

[@ShaddeyNNM]

Typical, men blaming women for things that are their fault 😒 many of these women were victims, victims of their fathers, husbands and society

[@carabiner7999]

Still ongoing, right?

[@maryzheng5182]

I feel sorry for these women and others like them. Girls of wealthy families were often pimped out by their fathers for influence. It was disgusting. As for Catherine, my theory about all of those miscarriages and dead babies is that Henry was carrying an STD that he passed on to her, which affected the pregnancies. I mean, the man slept with everything with two boobs. LOL

[@carlesock7261]

Poor Anne 💖 Henry didn't survive his ego even with a mind & heart to help him out he still died 😉

[@aprilgosa5779]

stillbirth and miscarriages are nobody's fault neither are genders even though it is the dad who determines the baby's gender I would not call that fault but yea Henry blamed everything on the women in his life or the 3 Anne Boleyn Catherine of Aragon and Katherine Howard mostly Catherine of Aragon first I guess since she was the first wife

[@ngoziB-_-3]

💯%

[@irawilliams343]

Anne banishing her sister from the royal court was actually a blessing in disguise since Mary went on to live a happy married life in the peaceful and quiet countryside

[@JenniferA.Minnear-Salaza-jb4qf]

Mary could have maybe helped, to prevent the problems.

[@dianelove8147]

Mary probably didnt want to be involved in that mess

[@JassminaVellucci]

Jennifer A. Minnear - Salazar Then she too would have Been killed.

[@JenniferA.Minnear-Salaza-jb4qf]

@@JassminaVellucci , that is probably right. If they would kill her brother, and the heir, to the titles, then she'd have gone-down, with the ship, of the family abused by that King. Mary is one ancestor, of the present line ruling. Maybe even Queen Elizabeth I, though she seemed a healthy Lady, was not wanting to create more heirs, to such legacy, too ( death of a Mother, so young, I can only guess how it would change a person. But some even guess that one or more of Mary's children could have been Fathered, by King Henry VIII, too. I do not know. ).

[@JenniferA.Minnear-Salaza-jb4qf]

@Sally Sheldon , I think William Carey died of sweating sickness, in the time Anne Boelyn had also had it, before she was married, and King Henry VIII had sent the castle his '2nd best' doctor, to help. Back then, if a man was raising the king's illegitimate 'son', then he probably did not want, to risk 'making waves', either way. The reason Mary was banished from court was: she'd shown up pregnant, after she'd re-married without permission: a veteran, I guess, who would not have been approved by the King and Queen (her sister).

[@Neneng63]

Ironically, it's Ann Boleyn's daughter who ruled England for a very long time and not a male descendant that Henry VIII had longed for as his heir.

[@angiearbogast5424]

And funny how the Tudor lineage is long gone, but the current queen Elizabeth is a descendant of the Boleyn's. How's that for payback?

[@ruthjimenez6196]

Savage 👏😂💯

[@lindajohnsonkaplan647]

Both of his daughters ruled England. Mary (the daughter he declared illegitimate when divorcing Catherine of Aragon) ruled first, then Elizabeth.

[@Bitter.nemesis..]

​@@lindajohnsonkaplan647but Mary Only Ruled For 5 Bloody Years And Ruined Her Reputation By burning Protestants Meanwhile Elizabeth The First Ruled For (I Think)61 Years And She Is Also Called The Greatest Monarch Of Great Britain...

[@sheilacabral662]

Catherine had at least nine miscarriages and still births. Give her a break. Her stress level must have been thru the roof. What woman could have a healthy birth in these kind of circumstances.

[@shahidajnur]

She had five, but even that is terrible. She deserved so much more and so much better than Henry.

[@vilwarin5635]

Also, she was starved over the years she was a widow of Arthur (for religious reasons and economic ones). That must'd afected her too

[@ButtonsCasey]

@@vilwarin5635 She was also a practicing Catholic. Lawd, knows what those rituals did to her. Then add in that her and Henry were related in some fashion.

[@annainspain5176]

Plus Henry's habit of poking anything in skirts meant he had STDs which he would then give subsequent partners. You try having a healthy baby when you're dealing with untreated syphilis or gonorrhea.

[@Maymei99]

@@annainspain5176 There's actually a theory that Henry had an STD that caused miscarriage in his female partners after prolong contact. Not sure if it's true or not but it seems very likely.

[@1Skorpia]

I dont think Henry truly believed the lie she slept with 5 men including her brother. I think he saw it as a way out and he can start fresh- forever ridding himself of her. Remember he was active pursuing Jane Seymore by then.

[@rudeinterplanetjanet]

He knew the charges were fraudulent. Henry allowed Anne to have a swordsman from France perform the execution. It is a much kinder and gentler execution than beheading by the ax. If she was really guilty, he would have likely not allowed the French Swordsman perform the execution.

[@leanie5234]

He probably knew that she would bad-mouth him for the rest of her life if he let her live. He would never have tolerated that. He didn't want her to discover a happy life with anyone else either...easier to just kill her...convince him self that she was a bad woman and erase her from his mind.

[@ImJustHereForTheShow]

It was a conjured up lie to ensure, and speed up the process of getting rid of her. He knew how long it took with Catherine. Wasn't going to let it happen again!

[@halleyangel1706]

It was a way to also follow what the people believed. Anne Boleyn was a hated Queen. Everyone thought she bewitched Henry or performed black Magic on him. So following a similar narrative not only gave the people what they wanted but gave Henry the clean slate he wanted.

[@natsukifan8736]

Tbh it wouldn't surprise me if he was the one that came up with the story and payed someone else to spread the rumour

[@koyfiish27]

Maybe the women weren't the problem... Maybe just maybe henry was just weak :/

[@virgie4715]

Right. Not to mention the STD’s that *he* probably gave them all and potentially made carrying a child even more difficult for them.

[@isidroguevara4120]

What you mean he was weak? "Am I not a man like any other man???!!! How DARE you question my masculinity!!!"😈

[@kikima258]

No doubt he was the one to have a problem probably genetic wish caused the many miscarriges but back then it was always the women's fault

[@Autumn.04]

It was his fault. Men are responsible for the gender of the child

[@JenniferA.Minnear-Salaza-jb4qf]

@@isidroguevara4120 , first of all: each Indian Woman was in America a part of a chain, and had syphali of her Father .. if he was with a job. There were not random meetings and breeding s in the Americas.

[@terrybardy2848]

Mary wasn't a fool! She stayed away from court and Henry. She stayed alive. That doesn't sound like a fool to me!

[@jocelyncooper1738]

Mary had survival instincts, Anne didn’t.

[@YaYa-ke1zr]

Anne was VERY strategic but failed to realize that she was not in control of the outcome. She focused on her relationship with Henry and not the others who were influencing him. The main influence surrounding royal events and twists/turns of history, falls in the hands of the monarchs court. It has been that way since beginning of time and it continues to this day (it is less obvious today than it was in the 1990s in days of the Prince and Princess of Wales when attention shifted to one level below the Queen). Catherine of Aragon realized that her relationship with Henry wasnt going to save her so she focused elsewhere. Mary Boleyn was put in the worse position with regard to the King. No royal ambition and no personal strategy regarding the King (despite rumors that she had delivered the Kings child). Then she was cast aside. A good strategy at that point was to build a life away from the court. The difference: ambition and an understanding of who in the court held the most influence over the outcome. Hmmm. Maybe the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should have learned that ancient lesson.

[@caobadraconis5560]

Thank you for giving women the leading voice in this documentary. It's great that you've chosen female professionals to do this video, particularly because of how critical they all are with the typical portrayal of Anne as a seductress and a scheming treacherous person. It's really nice to see history being told from a perspective that takes into account more than just what the winning side decided to say about the matter.

[@Bizarro2024]

If You don't already know, check out Claire Ridgway on "The Anne Boleyn Files and Tudor History" channel. She basically breaks every situation down with alot of common sense and research regarding these subjects and is one of the most knowledgable Historians I've viewed.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

@@Bizarro2024 Dr Kat is better, and far easier to listen to. More informed and balanced Claire is just plain Wrong sometimes. She lets her own take on it get in the way. Kat tries to be impartial, and if she thinks she has a bias she will say so. I gave up on Claire after listening to her witter on something that she clearly knew Nothing about and I have dedicated 48 years of my life to. Yet I don't claim to be an expert. Claire seemed to have read one pamphlet and suddenly she knew all about it! I had disagreed with her on her Tudor interpretations before, but assumed she had found something I did not know about, but this was just stupid. It was like she had read a Ladybird book from the 60s.By the way, she has no qualifications that I can find on her subject, so she is just an amateur like the rest of us. I can't find anything on Dr Kat either, but she is better overall.

[@vorabee1847]

Im sure, male voices can be fair too. Dont make things sound feministic, its kinda a turn-off. At least for me. but maybe I just misundestood, then Im very sorry. Im a little on the edge right now.

[@Bizarro2024]

@@hogwashmcturnip8930 Late reply but I like both Claire and Dr Kat and have found Them comparable. I just wish Kat would take that cheesy music intro out of Her Vids. 😉

[@Bizarro2024]

@@vorabee1847 It's not because of the voices,but, the prejudice and misunderstanding of certain Male perspectives. Not all!

[@t.r.luxx1311]

I love that this doesn't just focus on Anne like most documentaries and includes Mary's role in this incrediblely historic event. The added information of what Mary did and didn't do brings so much more to the story that either is briefly mentioned or completely skipped over by other historians.

[@ThePeachygal]

Nothing was recorded about Mary so this is just guesses. We do not know what Mary did not do. Clarrie Ridegway (she blogs on youtube also)believes Mary was his mistress before she married William Carey, and when Henry tired of her he arranged the marriage with Carey who was his second cousin and had the favored court position of Gentleman of the Bedchamber. Alison Weir has even another theory. Now as to who is right or if any of them are right, we do not know.

[@lexomil1414]

This documentary only makes assumptions and rarely cites sources as regards what happened to Mary or what she did. As they said very few is known. We don't know for sure she was his mistress for long, I even read that maybe she was a one night stand. I would love to make a research with primary sources if I had time. I would love to learn about Mary as I love her sister Queen Anne Boleyn.

[@iloveyourunclebob]

@@ThePeachygal I think Ridgeway's theory probably makes the most sense, just knowing what we know about Henry. I love her by the way LOL. Henry has a very clear pattern of either marrying off his Mistresses when he tires of them or marrying his Mistresses as we see with Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, and Catherine Howard. Seeing as though Mary being a mistress to the king of France is very unlikely, it's more likely for Henry to follow his pattern and married her off when he tired of her. There is also a chance that Mary did have Henry's bastards, but most likely it would just have been her daughter. I could see her giving Henry a son and that contributing to his obsession with Anne. He can't be with Mary because she's already married, but this confirms that a Boleyn can give him a son. Not scientifically, obviously. Just in Henry's mind. I could see that definitely happening, that's completely in line with Henry's personality. At least, I think that's how it probably would have went down instead of Philippa Gregory's interpretation. This is also a major if and most likely not a contributing factor or a factor in general. This is all from speculation. They're most likely Mary's children with her husband.

[@SaraWhiteWolf]

If they only knew back then that the gender of the baby is created by the father, her story would have had a different outcome.

[@ThePeachygal]

The problem was not that Elizabeth was a girl but that she had 3 miscarriages after Elizabeth. The whole reason Henry got rid of Katharine of Aragon was she had multiple miscarriages/stillbirths and then when he went through all that for Anne and she had the same issue.

[@leanie9660]

Henry created plenty of male babies. [almost] None survived long. The mother's body would be more responsible for carrying the child to term. Some women cannot carry boys (or so I've heard). Based on the fact that Henry was the only common denominator, it appears that he had weak sperm.

[@Theturtleowl]

@@leanie9660 There are also theories that Henry VIII had an STD which made it difficult for his wives to carry multiple children to term.

[@Katie-qg7xz]

The egg decides who gets in. Who knew?

[@vilwarin5635]

@@leanie9660 different Rh may cause losing the child, if the mother is Rh- and the child is Rh+, her body may treat the baby as a threat (like a pathogen) and kill it.

[@scarlettjewell8092]

I love the passion these historians have for their subject. They have the power to make history come alive, to seem more real and relevant. Imagine if history were taught like this in the classroom?!

[@melancholycat3978]

I was thinking the same thing 😊

[@alexandrinapetrova9995]

It's amazing how easily he loves and disloves his wives... Henry was crazy. Nowadays he'd be hospitalized 😀

[@darkfireeyes7]

Agreed. But suggesting madness in a ruler was often considered treason at the time. What could anyone do??

[@juliestrickland5709]

Or in prison. He's got to be one of the top 5 famous serial killers.

[@alexandrinapetrova9995]

@@darkfireeyes7 oh, you're absolutely right. Nobody could do anything, especially if we're talking about a power that is believed to be given by God himself, which is the case with monarchy.

[@melancholycat3978]

I think he was just desperate at first...then crazy.

[@jasphersianson2842]

Anne may have short lived. But she gave birth to one of the greatest and famous monarch in English history. Elizabeth I.

[@lupajupiter5605]

Jaspher Sianson *Yes, greatest... like when she killed thousands more people than her sister Mary Tudor but still branded Mary “Bloody” and like when she made out Mary to be a murdurous Catholic that would stop at nothing to get her country to Catholicism when Mary only killed a few hundreds of people. Yes I definitely see your point*

[@anastasiaisabella7354]

@@lupajupiter5605 she only killed those she considered as a threat to her life and the Pope has even offered a reward to killed her because he didn't think Elizabeth was the rightful Queen and wanted a weak queen who wasn't populated in her own country on the throne of England

[@kimberlyhawkins2674]

@@lupajupiter5605 it's not hard to do some quick research to make sure your claim is accurate. 450 people were executed under Elizabeth. Which is more than Mary but not by much. And some of the executions were actually more the responsibility of William Cecil, as in the case of Mary Queen of Scots. Not that Elizabeth was free of blame at all, but she did banish Cecil from court because he orchestrated Mary's execution. Elizabeth resisted the execution happening for years, but she did ultimately take responsibility for it. She wasn't the one who coined Mary Bloody Mary. Mary's reputation was more the idea of John Foxe who wrote what is known as Foxe's book of Martyrs. Elizabeth may have encouraged the publication, but after all, Mary very nearly had Elizabeth executed. Hopefully we can all agree that religious persecution is horrible and futile. historycollection.com/seven-bloodiest-queens/6/

[@Olivia_Playz2003]

If you saw the movie from 1998, you would understand more about Elizabeth I.

[@More13Feen]

She actualy wasen't young at all. She was arguably between 33 and 38 yeary old and on avarage woman died at 25, man at 38. Even if you do take in to concideration that she diden't live a pesants live you could maby add 5 years to the avarage lifespan. Plus very often pesants have been a lot healthier if it wasen't for famines. (English isen't my first language and I am dislexic af, back of grammer) nazis)

[@heathercontois4501]

I think people forget, that not only could a woman not tell her patriarchs "NO" back then, but no one said "NO" to the king in any country.

[@camijaque2291]

Always called my attention the fact that Anne supporters look Catherine Of Aragon as a submissive wife, when in fact Catherine was the daughter of a warrior queen, Catherine was elected regent by her husband and king, something Anne would never have dreamed of. Catherine won a war as a Queen, but she was "a submissive wife". She fought for the legitimacy of her daughter and herself, but no, she was the submissive wife. She was educated to be Queen, but she was the submissive one.

[@SafetySpooon]

Hmm, I've never seen that sentiment expressed. Of course she was not "submissive", because she refused to give in when she thought Henry was wrong. I find Anne Boleyn to be fascinating & a woman beyond her time, but that doesn't mean I am blind to reality.

[@vilwarin5635]

She was submisive when she took a blind eye on his affairs (at contrary of what her mother did), but for the rest she was a strong intelligent warrior Queen

[@ButtonsCasey]

@@vilwarin5635 She had no choice but to turn a blind eye to his affairs. He was KING after all. Her mother was QUEEN in her own right.

[@jonelljonelljonell]

I think she's regarded as "submissive" because she found ways to compromise or pick her battles with Henry and his mood swings whereas whenever people touch on Anne Boleyn's time as Queen, they tend to always bring up how she fought with Henry on almost everything. Keep in mind that Catharine was raised as royalty so she would have been taught how to subtly manoeuvre people to get her way without needing to always pick a fight. Anne was more brash and forward which earned admiration from many knowing that as a woman during a very sexist time, she was bold enough to demand for whatever she wanted, from the king, no less.

[@isidroguevara4120]

I feel like CoA was more assertive and "tomboyish" than Anne Boleyn. There are reports where they describe her demeanor is that of a man or something like that. I also don't believe Anne hated Catherine. I feel like somehow she still respected her due to her rank and that she was from a very powerful country. In some ways, Anne must have feared Catherine.

[@emilysahlen9164]

Anne’s daughter Elizabeth was the longest reigning heir of the Tudor line.

[@purplesilverlight]

what? never heard of her. said no one

[@moi458]

I am a firm believer that Anne Boylen was innocent and her husband was deranged

[@juliehawkins3907]

I feel like the sisters were used as pawns! Blame the father and uncles in this!

[@anastasiaisabella7354]

They were used as pawns in their father and uncle ambitious goals .

[@oxigen163]

No, the ruthless father is an unhistoric new-age-myth. There is no historic account that Thomas Boleyn was a bad father, he was in fact as protective as he could have been. He expressed great worries about the idea that Anne would marry Henry. Check out this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKfKk3hne8aAj9k#t=14m00s

[@candisbrown1275]

Welp remember mary and Henry were having sex i dont think she was a hor remember when mary got married he came then he and ann went out to hunt he fell off the horse mary took care of him and when he was going home he wanted mary to come back to his home cause the story told it all ann hated her sister cause she gave him a son there not telling it all there over stepping alot of stuff

[@anastasiaisabella7354]

@@candisbrown1275I don't want to ask where you got that story from ! I thinks already know 😒

[@susannawebb2552]

@@candisbrown1275 where both pregnant at the same time??

[@Rose-xy5pe]

I respect and admire Mary for marrying for love. In fact I respect and admire her more than Anne.

[@tessdurberville711]

Rose 16 Far more.

[@maryboleyn7740]

Aww thanks sweetie

[@ryanaanichitei9380]

Your opinion

[@anneboleyn6530]

Well damn

[@kymberlyphillips9988]

I always felt bad for Anne, especially since they accused her of incest with her brother . George was totally innocent.so basically I feel Henry will always be accountable for killing innocent people

[@annacollins2184]

I agree! She may have been a schemer, but she, her brother and those men accused of having sex with her all pay the price.

[@anneboleyn6530]

@@annacollins2184 that seems kinda backhanded

[@SM-ky6pb]

@@annacollins2184 tbf she isn't a schemer

[@leanie5234]

I doubt that anyone was actually "innocent" back then, particularly the Boleyne siblings. I doubt that they were committing incest, UT they were as much schemes as the other courtiers.

[@CrypTales007]

Elizabeth inherited her mother's strength and qualities

[@Amanda3280h]

And intelligence!

[@lilyann168]

Anne may have saved her sisters life when she banished Mary from court, though neither of them could have known it at the time.

[@leanie9660]

I doubt that they would have bothered killing Mary. They let the father go after all.

[@MollyPocket420]

Yeah but her brother George was also beheaded..

[@anastasiaisabella7354]

@@MollyPocket420 For nothing

[@maryboleyn7740]

Yeah she banished me from court because I marry a soldier

[@eboniestevenson231]

Lmao@ the lady who said she doesn't understand how Anne didn't start stabbing Henry I don't know....lol...😅

[@anastasiaisabella7354]

😂😂

[@taraprysliak8996]

I could have enjoyed this way more without the comments from Kyra whatever her name is. Totally useless in this documentary.

[@carabiner7999]

Right?! I thought her emotions are spot on; but not for a person of research, etc.! Sporks, anyone?!

[@queenb1119]

@@taraprysliak8996 Yeah, I was kind of put off by her comments as well. All the other ladies were very insightful and informative. She was just straight bashing Henry and fangirling over Anne. I'm not saying Henry doesn't deserve bashing for what he had done to many women. But it was a little over the top and inappropriate for an educational documentary. Other than that, I really enjoyed this video! The other ladies did an amazing job being informative and entertaining!

[@owlgirl2337]

Yes! I laughed so hard. I'm so used to serious documentaries. So this and other tidbits from this little gem, is such a delight!

[@doreensika837]

I find so sad that women especially don’t feel a little sorry Anne. What could she have done. They forgot to mention she was engaged Henry Percy but Henry made sure that didn’t happen. I honestly feel so sorry for her she actually came to believe that Henry truly loved her. And was hated for being a woman that dared to have an opinion.

[@lampad4549]

I don't think she was hated for having an opinion. She was hated cause henry spreading rumors about her.

[@doreensika837]

@@lampad4549 she was hated by Henry in the end cause Anne wasn’t like Catherine who allowed Henry to cheat, and didn’t have any of it and that was her down fall honestly.

[@yuhbruh2925]

Lets face it shes not a decent person and its just karma that got her. Maybe she did not deserve to die as Henry was definiately way worse that her. But how she treated Katherine and her daughter mary says a lot about her

[@anthonytroisi6682]

I think that Wolsey, not Henry, was the driving force for breaking up Anne's relationship with Percy. Anne was considered too low-ranking to become the future Duchess of Northumberland. Also, Anne was supposed to marry the Earl of Ormond, an arrangement that Henry VIII supported because it would settle a problem in Ireland. Henry's interest in Anne did not really develop until a later time.

[@doreensika837]

@@anthonytroisi6682 that is very true.

[@musicallydisneyamvs6731]

Anne: In both life & death lived in the lime light. Mary: In both life & death, lived in the wings. Both: Critical dancers on the world stage.

[@harmonymitcham2857]

So glad Im a women in 2020 what these poor women went through.

[@leodeoliveira6504]

The historian in blue sweater is magnificent!! I loved everything about the way she spoke of the Boleyn sisters to her opinionated statements... loved her.

[@mihikadeo]

AND HER HAIR AND SKIN OMG 😍😍

[@vilwarin5635]

I'm so glad such many female historians came toguether to make this vid. I already knew some of them, and I enjoyed this video a lot

[@annainspain5176]

Henry had had syphilis, which would explain the multiple miscarriages and his own erratic behaviour as he grows older. It also explains Mary's inability to bear a child; she and Elizabeth both may have been sterile.

[@brennabrodbeck5183]

Mary did have children. They are just lost to history

[@cindyragsdale2144]

I think she means Henry's daughter, Elizabeth I sister, Mary I, not Mary Boleyn.

[@anastasiaisabella7354]

Elizabeth was never married and how do you know that she was sterile ? She was a virgin for God sake

[@angelareeves967]

@@anastasiaisabella7354 No she wasn't. She was sexually abused as a child and she more then likely had a sexual relationship with Robert Dudley

[@Cat-yi5mz]

Angela Reeves doubtful. Bess was seen as this holy saint figure. No way she’d risk it for Dudley

[@minkim9550]

Man this Henry was terrible and didn’t care at all about any of wives. Henry didn’t deserve children!🙄

[@jeanatwood1421]

Anne may have been more intelligent, but Mary survived!

[@lindleloverwatterson3484]

and? if not for Anne then Mary would never be remembered at all, just another life forgotten over the years

[@isidroguevara4120]

That's the stereotype, but again we never knew them. They were women forced to survive however their circumstances permitted them. They're both victims.

[@drharshchandra7860]

Anne changed the fate of england in a time where women had no role .

[@tupoufanua9497]

If Anne was a princes from a powerful country maybe Henry wouldn't beheaded her

[@celestielsigh]

@@tupoufanua9497 He couldn't have touched her if she were a princess. Even as his wife she was still his subject, far beneath him. Katherine was his equal and why she was sent away rather than anything worse.

[@clynt7452]

Poor lady... i remember being fascinated in my middle school library by Anne Boleyn as she was (sadly) portrayed as a cunning person and eventually sentenced to death :(

[@CeltycSparrow]

I honestly think that's what the Boleyn family did with both daughters. That's how it was done back in that time....when men wanted to make alliances or increase their power, they used their daughters (especially if they were beautiful and a virgin) as pawns to get their own way. The Boleyns were hungry for power and wanted to control the King. They saw a perfect opportunity because Queen Katherine could not produce the son and heir that Henry so desperately craved. So they first put Mary in front of him to be his mistress. And then Anne was put before the King after his interest in Mary waned. The King loved Katherine.....he LUSTED after Anne. He craved her. But she wanted more than a night in his bed. She wanted to be Queen. And the ironic thing is....while Henry had 6 wives altogether, he never got the son and heir he so desperately yearned for....but he DID get a strong successor in the beautiful daughter that Anne gave him....who would become known as the greatest monarch in English history. Queen Elizabeth. Another irony is, Anne thought her happiness and success would be achieved when she became Henry's Queen and gave him the son he so desired. But even when she got her crown, she was lonely and miserable and she kept having miscarriages and she eventually lost both Henry and her own life. Yet her sister, Mary, did the unthinkable....she fell in love with and married William Stafford.....a man who had no money, no land, no title, nothing that would help her or her family rise in power....and yet she was happier living on that humble little farm with William and her children than she ever was in the lavish and opulent years she spent at Court. She found peace and happiness in being a poor man's wife living in the country.

[@warrengwonka2479]

Edward VI, his son, succeeded him. There was also Henry FitzRoy.

[@SM-ky6pb]

I think it should also be mentioned that Anne was secretly betrothed to Henry Percy first but The king and Cardinal Wolsey broke it. I think if they were allowed to be happy together Anne's fate would change

[@msi8311]

How astute. Also, Anne’s direct line ended with her daughter. Today many people are related to Mary’s descendants, including the family Im marrying into.

[@variousJnames]

@@warrengwonka2479 Edward died as a teen and Fitzroy was illegitimate, so neither ascended to the throne as long as Elizabeth did

[@starrrgrimm]

We recently found out that my mother is directly related to Mary!! Which idk- *I thought it was super cool*

[@shahidajnur]

Oh my, that means you are distantly related to the Queen!

[@starrrgrimm]

@@shahidajnur yeup!! It's so distant it doesn't matter, but cool nonetheless♡

[@dennybyrd8122]

How awesome!! Wanna b friends

[@judithboltz7318]

I totally agree.

[@whitney524]

Shahida J. Nur as well as Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge

[@hermalindasalais3638]

I think Mary was a true pragmatist and saw that a virtuous life is best. She survived Henry the 8th and her descendants seat on the throne.

[@jamieyoho2310]

I love that the astrologers made such great predictions about Elizabeth and they all were true.

[@LadyMiir]

"How she didn't just start stabbing Henry, I don't know." Good question...

[@laurenvega6012]

"Happy marriage for 20 years" , uh, a series of affairs doesnt seem too happy

[@potatohorse8304]

She was probably happy for other women to share his bed and give her a reprieve, highly doubt sex was pleasurable for her with all that pressure of getting pregnant and bearing a son, especially during the times she was carrying they could not risk a miscarriage by going at it so having those mistresses to divert Henry's attention may well have been a happy thing for CoA, more so if he was bad at sex, which apparently he was.

[@jocelyncooper1738]

It’s just what kings did back then. He cheated on Anne to, which might have been why an was notoriously cruel mistress to her ladies.

[@brendanguyen9647]

King Henry was disgusting. I hope karma gets him throughout all of his reincarnations

[@sairysv8625]

Yep. Its rarely outright said what an immoral unrepentant man he was.

[@FatimaMarques0890]

Can we address the fact that UK has had powerful, intelligent and ambitious women rulers? And not just the British Empire along the world we've seen this trope. Women have always proved themselves beyond expectation.

[@elizabethmcleod246]

Yes! Eleanor of Aquitaine and Katherine the Great of Russia.

[@Dawnsdelightsart]

Queen Catherine of Aragon wasn't timid and very active in ruling.

[@Queen_Kellz_1120]

I love history! I don't like how Most females were misunderstood & misinterpreted. That said they still lived interesting lives no matter their status' and/or ranks📜❤😘

[@netrakulkarni5253]

So true!

[@hearmeroar6691]

Not interesting life, a stressful life.

[@Axmakis1]

Why are they not talking about Anne's first love - Henry Percy? She wanted to marry him first, but king Henry the VIII made sure this never happens. So, just like her sister Mary, Anne didn't have much of a choice... But it's fascinating she dared to reject the king and try to escape this trap.

[@bluerosegurl]

"HOW SHE DIDN'T JUST START STABBING HIM" XD XD XD LOL LOL LOL LOL

[@homhable]

Just discovered the album "Music for Anne Boleyn - Court music from her rise and reign". It's fascinating!

[@kiki0girlify]

Ironic that Anne had always beaten her sister at everything and now centuries later, Mary is the one who truly came out on top

[@discreetl6418]

Being a big fan of Ann Boleyn, I've read so many books about A. Boleyn's life, this woman was brilliant, a great stratege and highly educated. Justice rarely mentioned that she was the one to open the King's eyes to the power of the Pope, and to convince him that Henry VIII should be the church leader...

[@potatohorse8304]

Yes but this is also how he developed a kind of God complex where he realized that he could get away with anything if he so wanted, ultimately contributing to her own downfall...imagine if he never got it into his head to be the head of his own church then the anullment process would have dragged on for ages until maybe his only way out would have been to poison CoA or wait for her to die...anyway point is that before separating from the Roman church, he was convinced that he was being punished/cursed and still harbored some sense of injustice and remorse...after he succeeded in discarding his first wife, everyone else just became a means to an end, either they delivered what he wanted or they were in the way, almost as if he was rebelling against fate or God himself haha

[@discreetl6418]

@@potatohorse8304 That is correct ! ;-)

[@darllalett960]

He was certifiably insane.

[@tinapresley4286]

Anne saved Mary's life for sure... So She lived happily in her marriage in the country...

[@lindleloverwatterson3484]

no, Mary saved Mary's life. I honestly do not believe that she was as thoughtless and airheaded as she's been portrayed sure she wasn't a great wit like Anne but that doesn't mean she was stupid. I think Mary saw the signs coming and saved herself

[@margotnicole98]

@@lindleloverwatterson3484 i agree. She always saw the toxicity at court and did not thrive in there.

[@frenchypasmt]

Mary is my 15th grandmother. I find her life and the mystery behind it fascinating

[@asamanyworlds3772]

Wow

[@whitneyjoannenelson1989]

Anne is my 13th grandmother

[@Heloshhwb]

My mom went through so much, Thou shall praise her with might and glory .

[@Chlo-ee]

Yeah, nah. No foreign princess in her right mind was going to marry Henry. No way did Anne or Mary have much of a choice in their fates.

[@RogueMustangMare]

It's sad to think that because of Henry's choice on how to secure the succession for his throne, three women got the worst end of the stick. Katherine was divorced against her will and left to die of not only heartbreak but also of poverty and ill-health. Anne was Queen and gave birth to one of the greatest Queens in England's history but then lost everything and was murdered. Mary was able to survive the trials but she lost her family.

[@ebarrios08]

I like how Henry just used the church to give himself legitimacy of anything he wanted

[@roxannecarswell4387]

Queen Katherine was the best but Ann didn’t deserve to die and I’m glad Mary slipped through the cracks they’re father was their down fall

[@VidGirl88]

Women used as a means to an end, and just one generation later, Elizabeth becomes such a renowned Queen we still learn of her achievements to this day.

[@wagherbert]

Excellent documentary !! Very powerful. Thank you.

[@leanie5234]

Mary died at approx 42....hardly a great long life. Her "loving husband" remarried fairly quickly and had many more children. People think that Mary lived a long, happy life outside of the court...but Mary died only 6 years after her sister and brother were executed. Like Anne of Cleves, whom everyone adores for outlining all of Henry's wives.....she was also only 42 at her death. The one who lived longest was Catherine of Aragon

[@spiralrose]

Yes, but who truly knows how old 42 is in the 1500s?

[@emdashing5311]

It might be like dying in your 50s or maybe 60s nowadays. We think that's unfortunately too young with our modern medical advances, but it's not unheard of or wildly shocking.

[@carag2567]

Kyra is not getting nearly enough credit for her hilarious delivery of sarcastic lines. She's got me cracking up 😂😂😂😂

[@Nanalikeschips]

What. Do you expect from Mary when her Family clearly didn’t give her as many opportunities or believe in her like Anne.

[@bophakeolong5553]

No you are wrong, everytime anne was chosen to do this and that, it was not her family choice to let who go and who not, it alway been someone alse decision to choose, watch the whole video again, everything that you have mention is all wrong, i could tell you didnt listen to what the video were saying or maybe you didnt even watch at all?.

[@resnonverba137]

Very interesting and informative. Many thanks for the upload.

[@sourapple5889]

I love how everytime its about to end like its in the climax, it has a powerful song and what happens later in the centuries

[@karamedley6229]

I have always been fascinated by Anne Boleyn and her family. I also was always sad for poor Anne, to be pursued by him then cast away was bad enough but to be executed on such disgusting charges just makes her story much sadder. She did leave an amazing legacy in her daughter, Elizabeth.

[@williamegler8771]

If she was judged by a jury of her peers wouldn't she have had to been tried by royalty? As Queen wasn't she above anyone else in the social hierarchy except the King...

[@c.norbertneumann4986]

Henry VIII. was a despotic king. He let execute whomever he liked to.

[@maureenoleary5277]

@William Elgar the Peers were Peers of the Realm.

[@williamegler8771]

@@maureenoleary5277 She still outranked them all... If royalty was considered to be above everyone only the king was above her and could pass judgement.

[@claracleere3835]

William Egler Anne Boleyn was not of Royal blood. She was created a Queen by Henry and could be destroyed just as easily. She was not a member of the great European royal dynasties and would have been regarded as a “commoner” in all but name. No doubt her independent spirit and sharp intelligence also made her unpopular. I think the real tragedy in all this was poor Catherine. Anne doesn’t seem to have shown any kindness toward her or Catherine’s only child Mary, who was cruelly denied being with the mother she adored when that lady died. Indeed she was complicit in making Mary wait on Elizabeth, the usurper, rubbing salt in the wound. Whatever the truth of it all, Anne to me, still emerges as nasty bit of work.

[@beatlefan713]

Anne was queen in all but name! She wasn’t of royal blood so no she wasn’t really above anyone!

[@m.ccheddarbox874]

If men only knew back then that they were essentially the decider if a girl or boy were born.

[@grass7864]

It wouldn't have mattered...Henry and Cromwell probably would have accused Anne of being a witch that traveled back in time and altered Henry's genetics so that he could only pop out boys or something.

[@lindahedman3115]

So sad. All of it, so sad.

[@keira1485]

It fascinates me how the boleyn sisters both had been unfortunate in their lifetimes yet both played significant roles in the british royal history with anne boleyn being the mother of queen Elizabeth I and one of Mary Boleyn's direct descendants would later on become the longest reigning british monarch in history by the name of queen Elizabeth II

[@namaschu2126]

Thank you for this amazing documentary of the two boleyn sisters

[@champslim]

I always felt horrible for Catherine.

[@Redrum101896]

Me too

[@rhaneg4941]

They were like Kourtney Kardashian and Kim Kardashian...Kim being Anne..its pretty close personality and popularity wise plus their relationship!

[@realmccoy18]

Mary is my 14x great grandmother.

[@realmccoy18]

@@justaperson8910 I guess we're cousins then.😁

[@robincoffman6723]

mine too

[@TheStefangolubovic]

Tom Stockdale wow

[@soyeah4513]

@@realmccoy18 then that means that you are related to queen elizabeth in some way because her mother Elizabeth Bowles Lyon descended from Mary’s daughter Catherine Carey.

[@anneboleyn6530]

Congratulations ig

[@variousJnames]

I also believe that there are other powers at work in this world...Henry and Anne both treated his first wife and child hideously, when you do dirt, that sh** ALWAYS comes back to you some kind of way. That's why he never got his son, and ahe had so many miscarriages. Fate has a way of humbling cruel people like them.

[@lindajohnsonkaplan647]

Women had no opinion, no legal rights, no options at the time. They were property and were treated as such including queens.

[@ToolGirl616]

I felt sorry for Anne, but she had an amazing child and that's what all mothers live for

[@BigMamaDaveX]

...and this mother died for. 😏

[@lindajohnsonkaplan647]

Mothers want to be there for their children and watch them grow up.

[@ToolGirl616]

@@lindajohnsonkaplan647 yeah duh, but if you can't we still hope the best for them

[@achievementrum7568]

I wonder what Henry's reaction was when Mary had a boy. Did he feel he had chosen the wrong sister?

[@bonniemccormack1361]

This was so well done. Thank you.

[@ananyadas2042]

I just come back here for the ending.❤️ Breathtaking! Gives me thrills everytime.

[@lisamoul263]

Contrary to popular belief, Henry VIII was overjoyed at the birth of Elizabeth. He actually carried her himself as she was paraded before his court. Henry VIII loves his daughters. His rift with Mary was because of her allegiance to her mother Catherine of Aragon.

[@ButtonsCasey]

I do believe that Catherine herself made Mary's life hell. Henry did what he did to Mary because of Catherine's actions. He was trying to get to Catherine. Didn't work but it caused hell between himself and Mary and mentally messed up Mary.

[@monkiram]

@@ButtonsCasey Okay but also realize that Catherine could not give into Henry and agree that an annulment of their marriage because that would make Mary illegitimate. In order to protect Mary and her right to the throne, she had to stand against Henry. The fact that Henry's punishment to Catherine was to forbid her from seeing Mary suggests to me that their relationship was close and loving

[@letyv9071]

@@monkiram Adding to this. After CoA died, Henry still forbade Mary to visit her mother’s grave

[@berryj_9633]

Ok, just saying, I would want Krya Cornelius Kramer (curly reddish brown hair) as my history teacher. I absolutely love all her sass 😂

[@exas4791]

It seems that how much u suffer is how much your enemy feels threatened.

[@msi8311]

My fiancé is a relative of Mary Boleyn’s son Henry Carey. He had an affair with Emilia Lanier, the first published woman poet in England and who many think assisted Shakespeare. Emilia had two children, and the only surviving child is the one she had with Henry. Is it known whether Henry VIII fathered Mary’s children before he met her sister Anne?

[@angelartamesia2]

Poor, poor, poor Anne. And all the other wives, especially Catherine Howard who was too young to die. Poor Elizabeth. I have always had sympathy for Anne and it is so heartbreaking to see Anne try to live in such a cut throat court and patriarchal system. So much sadness for them :(

[@ericp9479]

Henry was shooting blanks. His wives got a raw deal.

[@kira196]

Not shooting blanks as he was able to impregnate. He impregnated his first wife at least six times, Anne three times and several mistresses. Poor health, poor hygiene and poor nutrition could all have played a part in so many stillbirths and miscarriages.

[@nayomie.e]

@@kira196 also its the male that determines the sex of his kids so it was mostly his fault for his lack of male heirs lol

[@kira196]

Nayomie.e Agreed!!

[@leanie9660]

@@nayomie.e his wives' pregnancies included plenty of boys.....they just rarely resulted in healthy male children.

[@paden1865able]

He didn't shoot blanks, his drinking alcohol was probably the culprit according to some studies I've read about men fathering more girls than boys while under the influence. Also, STDs were common then and those can kill a developing child.

[@samanthablount3370]

I wonder if king Henery and Thomas Cronwell met the devil when they passed to the hear after

[@annakomuhangi9538]

Mary had the last laugh though.

[@anneboleyn6530]

What I had a very powerful daughter who was one of the best and longest ruling queen

[@Maryifi]

@@anneboleyn6530 And mary descendant are ruling the throne. Queen Elizabelth 2, king charlese the 1 and next will be prince william so basically mary technically had the last laugh

[@Sophia-hh4fg]

I know ads pay the bills, but the ads every two minutes making this video unwatchable. Shame.

[@wendychavez5348]

That, unfortunately, is YT's choice, not the creators'. I have given feedback about that because it hurts the creators, not the advertisers.

[@lexomil1414]

use adblock ;)

[@madamlt5758]

If you watch a lot of KZbin then get premium. Seriously worth every penny. I never see any adds anymore and it’s glorious.

[@Flamsterette]

What ads?

[@Flamsterette]

@@victorianunweiller Hey, numbnuts! I did not say "what ARE ads?" Maybe you need to learn more English.

[@_deadeye]

I just take Mary for the unambitious type. Not dumb, not above average, but just not a go getter

[@o5640]

Sometimes makes no sense to be a go getter

[@janna1080]

Mary is not dumb but she doesn't really have anything to accomplish but to be happy.

[@sairysv8625]

@@janna1080 yep... worldly success doesn't always bring happiness... in this case brought death.

[@jocelyncooper1738]

@@o5640 being a go getting seemed to be more trouble than it’s worth for a woman in this time period.

[@leanie9660]

I always wonder about Anne's age. If she was an adolescent in 1513, she would have been approx 36 at her death. Pretty old for the role of brood mare. When Henry and Anne finally married, she would have been 33 (!)

[@lexomil1414]

some say that she was born in 1507 and she was a little girl when she was sent away not an adolescent. Others think maybe in 1501.

[@ninaelsbethgustavsen2131]

Jane Seymour was 29 when her son, (later Edward VI)was born, in 1537.

[@potatohorse8304]

And that's precisely why he got rid of her after her last miscarriage...Henry only needed Anne to be pregnant twice, if she had a boy the first time and another one the second time and brought both to term and they managed to outlive him would have been enough. That's all his wives were ever good for to his mind so 18 months of marriage were all it would have taken to complete the mission.

[@cynthiasnowden600]

As she was so precocious. and referred to as La Petite Boullain. I still favor the 1507 birthday. Especially when it was said she was not yet 29 upon her death

[@user-kt2jh4vu5t]

@@cynthiasnowden600I totally agree. Not to mention her relationship with the 20 year old Henry Percy

[@kellyalexander4887]

I love Mary strong ,brave and know what she wanted and when for it.

[@michellel564]

Gotta rember a man didn't do shat unless they wanted. And ESPECIALY a woman did not tell them to do anything. It would not matter if she did or didn't want him, he wanted her.

[@TheHattaru]

Indeed, plus saying No to the king is death or being banished.

[@thenewgeneration2378]

Man... I know how you feel Mary. My younger sister was always the star of the show and was very popular. So I chose to be the good, smart daughter and now I'm the favorite 😊.

[@fairytaleimpressions6115]

Loved learning about both sisters

[@milanesaypuredepapas]

This channel is forever a BOP!

[@Omayma357]

This king was so greedy and not fair. He knew well that Ann never did what he claimed. Simply because she refused to make affair with him and she was famous in that. She could be happy with gifts and letters of love but she still insisted to reject him. He even divorced his wife to marry her. So he killed her to just marry someone else. Although i'm not British and I'm an Egyptian ..but i'm really feeling sorry for Ann..and that king was not even handsom to be died for!!

[@journey_cat5192]

When their aunt is your ancestor, poor girls they deserved better but Ann did give birth to a supreme so that was a plus👏🏻

[@thedot7947]

WOW!! I didn't knew this, so interesting!!!

[@avecashley6480]

Thanks!

[@gracespitzer9200]

I like that guy she drinks tea with in the beginning, he seems hella fun

[@sophieblue6289]

This came right when I became obsessed with this subject. Such good a video! I loved how there were all women telling this story. It’s a pitty it has so many adds

[@ryanmarie4461]

I get what you mean about the ads, but this is History Channel level quality uploaded as a youtube video, so Im not mad about some ads

[@JenniferA.Minnear-Salaza-jb4qf]

I don't do this: but people can apparently pay KZbin to leave adds off.

[@sophieblue6289]

I just meant that you tend to lose the idea when you’re interrupted so many times, but I get why this is necessary and watch as many adds as I can until the end, it’s my way of saying thanks

[@j.elizabeth4621]

I think I pay $13 or $16 for KZbin premium. Absolutely worth it.

[@wendychavez5348]

If you use the Brave net browser you can avoid the ads. I don't have Brave installed on my phone but am on the verge of doing so because the ads are out of control.

[@rizwanhaider3688]

Very good your video clip

[@droid2645]

Very good thank you. For the enlightening look at British history.