Queenship Power & Politics Page 2
This was echoed by her mother Queen Isabella in a dispatch to ambassador Dr Doctor De Puebla, “if a remedy be not speedily found for these things, we shall consider that the principal responsibility of the failure rests upon you”.[21] The serious tone used by Isabella reiterates the importance of securing the betrothal and the accession of her daughter as Queen of England. Catherine’s views regarding her marriage are not mentioned, the views of her parents were relayed to her through the ambassadors, implying Catherine as a royal daughter was the object of international policy.[22] The threats to remove Catherine from England by both of her parents seem to have been a tactical move, they made their intentions known publically knowing the news would reach Henry VII and the Court. Dispatches were often sent in cipher and in multiple copies, therefore this must be considered when analysing their reliability as crucial parts could be missing or have been misinterpreted. The intentions behind these dispatches are clear, Catherine’s parents were eager for her to obtain the position of `Queen of England’ and their involvement in marriage negotiations represents this.
Catherine in her widowhood was left in the ward-ship of her father in law Henry VII. Catherine in her mourning was not treated in a manner befitting her status. Instead she was left in what can only be described as a state of desperation. Catherine struggled to afford to feed her household and clothe herself. A letter written by Catherine to her father on 2nd December 1505 depicts the struggles she faced as Princess Dowager. She informed her father, “since her arrival in England has not had a single maravedi, excepting for food; and her servants have nothing wherewith to buy clothes”.[23] She blamed the Spanish Ambassador Du Puebla for not dealing with the matter correctly, stating she “has lost her health, owing to the annoyances she has had”.[24] This source is indicative of the destitution Catherine faced by the death of her first husband. Her father in law was far from generous towards her, it was clear that relations with England and Spain were not on the best terms and this resulted in Catherine’s suffering, a stark contrast to the lavish luxury that was bestowed upon her at her wedding and when she was Princess of Wales.
The poor treatment of Catherine is also visible in April 1506 in a letter intended for her father. The letter begins with the Princess noting, she “cannot speak more particularly, not knowing what may become of her letter”, this infers Catherine was anxious about the privacy of her letters.[25] She explained the “King shall know all by ciphers”, this suggests the true treatment she experienced was possibly much worse than she expressed in this letter, as she was aware the contents of this letter may be read by Henry VII or an English agent.[26] Catherine reminded her father she had “written many times to him, but has had to answer”, which implies she was abandoned. She begged for help and informed him “her people ready to ask alms, and herself all but naked”.[27] Catherine as head of her household was expected to provide for her servants, her destitute situation would have been an embarrassment for her. She had brought along her servants from Spain to this foreign country and now they too were forced to endure her suffering. Catherine must have felt incredibly lonely and desperate during her time as Dowager Princess of Wales, she knew little of England she was not welcomed by her husband’s family or her own back in Spain. This treatment continued until the year of her marriage in 1509. Catherine’s last letter to her father Ferdinand of Aragon, details her suffering is the longest in length, it is clear her six years of destitution had taken their toll on her. She stated “It is impossible for her any longer to endure what she has gone through, and is still suffering, from the unkindness of Henry”.[28]
The letters attributed to Catherine provide a unique insight in to her life in the years 1502- 1509 before she ascended the throne, her constant struggle is evident and her endurance of these reduced circumstances. In her time as Dowager Princess of Wales, Catherine was in a period of limbo, she was unwanted both in England and in Spain. Catherine’s treatment reflects the role of women, they were treated in accordance with their status and use. As Catherine was of no use during her widowhood her status and treatment greatly deteriorated whereas once she assumed a position and role this was reflected in her treatment. This poor treatment endured by Catherine indicates she was a political pawn of her own family and of Henry VII. It also demonstrates once she had fulfilled her usefulness politically she became irrelevant. Catherine from a young age was very aware her position was one of uncertainty her treatment reflected the tensions between English and Spanish relations in this six year period. Her life played out according to the demands of international diplomacy, Catherine’s feelings and emotions were insignificant her status was more significant.
However, Prince Henry Tudor the younger brother of Arthur had taken a liking to Catherine, they practically grew up together. Henry became King Henry VIII on the death of his father on …. One of his first acts as King was to marry Catherine in a lavish ceremony in … making her Queen Consort of England, 8 years after her arrival in England. Catherine was 23 years old whilst Henry was 18 this was seen as a political alliance but also a love match between the young couple, as Henry was under no official obligation to marry her and it does not seem to be in his father’s wishes as if it were surely they would have been married before his death. The marriage required a special dispensation from the Pope which made it possible for them to marry following Arthur’s death. The rise to the position of Catherine was a long, hard and constant struggle for the young Catherine, it was not as easy as it should have been these experiences would have had a lasting impact on Catherine’s life.
Chapter Two:
Anne Boleyn’s Early Life
Anne’s Boleyn’s rise to the throne was similarly aided by her family relations. Her future marriage was the concern of her male relations, although this was not an international concern unlike Catherine’s. The marriage of English noble men and women was the concern of the state and the monarch as it concerned the passing of titles, alliances and possible change in land holdings.
Anne Boleyn was the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn and Elizabeth Howard, a daughter of the Duke of Norfolk a powerful English magnate. The Boleyn’s resided at Hever castle and had three children Mary, Anne and George. Not much is known about the early life of Anne Boleyn as her position as a child was just an average noblewoman who was the granddaughter of a Duke. The year of her birth has also been disputed historians agree it was between 1501-07 but obviously this lack of official records allows us to see that upon her birth Anne was not a figure of prominence. It is likely her parents and extended family high ambitions for the Boleyn children and would hope they obtained titles and wealth but could never have imagined Anne would achieve the highest position for a female in the land. Anne’s education was unique to most her English contemporaries, she was educated at the French Court, and served as a Lady in waiting to Queen Claude of France for seven years. The French royal court was much different to England; Anne enjoyed fashion, dancing, flirting and falconry to name a few pass times. Anne was educated in a more European manner, the English court was not as advanced at this time in comparison.
Sir Thomas Boleyn, Anne’s father was a royal diplomat and worked for Henry VIII travelling to other royal courts to secure alliances and agreements. Her father was an ambitious man and was heavily involved with international foreign politics. Anne and her sister Mary benefitted from their father’s connections. Anne began her career as a lady in waiting to Margaret of Austria, who as daughter of Maximillian I (Holy Roman Emperor) ruled the Netherlands on her nephews behalf after the death of her father. Anne served Margaret from 1513 until a more desirable position came up. Henry VIII’s sister Mary married Louis XII of France in 1514 and Sir Thomas secured a position for Anne in her household, however the French King died soon after but Anne remained in the Queen’s household and served the new Queen Claude. This was a great honour for Anne and she would have been exposed to French culture, and court life. Unbeknown to her this would also prepare her for her future. Unlik
e Catherine, who has been raised to be a Queen from a young age, Anne now in her position had a first-hand understanding of what the role of a Queen entailed and what was to be expected. Anne remained at the court of Queen Claude until January 1522, in which she was recalled to England by her father presumably to marry.
Anne’s family had relations in Ireland, there had been a dispute as to who would keep the title of ‘Earl of Ormond’, in order to settle the issue a marriage was proposed. Henry VIII ordered the Earl of Surrey who was Lord Lieutenant in Ireland “to ascertain whether the earl of Ormond is minded to marry his son to the daughter of Sir Thomas Boleyn. The King will advance the matter with Sir Thomas”.[29] This document from September 1520 shows how noble children’s marriages were vital to politics. The marriage of either Anne or her sister Mary to and Irish noble Sir James Butler was a diplomatic move, which was typical of the period. It depicts how male kin had influence over their female family relations. It also implies Anne may have been the daughter in question as she was recalled from France not long after. This is a prime example of how women had no control over their own lives during the Tudor period.
Thomas Howard was writing to Cardinal Wolsey to seek approval on the match before he began negotiations. The King’s leading minister was the recipient of the letter which further indicates the marriages of the nobility were the decision of the crown and thus a matter of State. The letter is also indicative of Anne’s wider family circle and her position within it. The future Duke of Norfolk is the author of the letter, due to his position as a peer of the realm and the head of Anne’s Howard relations, her proposed marriage was also something which affected him as well as her father.
For Anne, her future rested in the hands of her family but also in the hands of the Chancellor Cardinal Wolsey. George Cavendish’s The Life and death of Cardinal Wolsey recounts the alleged romance between Anne and Lord Henry Percy. Henry Percy was the son of one of the most powerful dukes in England, their match would of certainly granted Anne a position of power in England, However, as we have seen marriages between noble children were in the hands of their parents and the government. The son of the Duke of Northumberland’s “pastyme vunto the quens chamber / and there wold fall in dalyaunce among the quens maydens beyng at the last…wt Mrs Anne Bolleyn There grewe suche a secrett love bytwen them”.[30] This was a first-hand account written by Wolsey’s gentleman usher who was in close proximity to the Cardinal from 1522 to 1530. We know this relationship came to the Cardinal’s attention as Lord Percy was in the service of the Cardinal at the time. Cavendish states the attachment “came to the kynes knowledge/ who was than myche offendyd/ wherforehe cowld hyde no lenger his secret affeccion but revealed his secret entendement vunto my lord Cardynall”.[31] Cavendish noted the reason for the separation of the couple was because of King’s love of Anne, this carries some reliability as we have no other surviving sources which detail personal conversations between the King and his Cardinal. Cavendish included how the Cardinal sent for the Duke of Northumberland and Lord Percy was subsequently “commaundyd to avoid hir company/ Evyn so was she commaundyd to avoyde the Court”.[32] This is demonstrative of the authority of parents and the state surrounding intimate relationships of unmarried noble children. Percy had already been betrothed/ promised to Lady Mary Talbot and to break an existing pre-marital conflict would of risked creating new enemies for the Percy family.
Cavendish’s biography was composed twenty five years after the said events, therefore the accuracy of the exact conversation has to be questioned. The account was written to bolster Mary I’s Catholic reign by depicting Anne in a negative light. Cavendish provides an insight in to the workings of marriages of the Tudor nobility and shows despite Anne being of noble parentage the match was prevented as it was not considered to be beneficial to local affairs.
It is well documented that Anne made her debut at the Tudor Court in a pageant for the Imperial Ambassador in 1522, Anne played the part of ‘perseverance’ and adorned a white satin gown covered with gold. Pageant is where Anne launched herself in to the court life in England, her French mannerisms and style gained her many admirers among them the poet Thomas Wyatt and the King himself. Anne became lady in waiting to Queen Catherine, it is from around 1526 that Henry began is pursuit of Anne. This is evident in a range of love letters send between the couple in which they communicated in French, the language of love and also in Henry’s personal visits to Hever castle.
Once Anne had obtained the King’s affection, her rise to power coincided with the rise of her male family relations. Cavendish supports the view Thomas Boleyn’s rise to power was the result of the King’s love of Anne, “This gentilwoman the doughter of sir Thomas Bolayn beying at that tyme but oonly a bachelor knight the wche after for the love of his dowghter was promoted to hight dignytes”.[33] Cavendish’s view infers Anne’s fathers rise to power was a result of being in a close relationship with the King as he was the centre of power. As Anne and Henry’s relationship developed her family’s rise also did suggesting that their relationship was more than a dalliance. Anne’s family’s rise allowed her a greater power network at the Court, the new creation allowed for her father to take a leading role.
This is evident in 1527, upon the death of the Earl of Northumberland Henry VIII ordered Viscount Rochford to become his chief mourner. As a member of the Order of the Garter was commanded on “2 June 1527….that Rochford may have masses, orisons and suffrages done for his soul's health, according to the ancient statutes and ordinances”.[34] This set of official instructions demonstrates the trust Henry had in Rochford. He entrusted him to become chief mourner at one of the highest and wealthiest nobles in the realms funerals. We can assume these orders were carried out as they were official instructions which were recorded in the Public Record office.
Anne’s brother George Boleyn, was given “an annuity of 200l. out of the lands of the bishopric of Winchester, with power to distrain for non-payment” by Cardinal Wolsey.[35] This recognition by Wolsey demonstrated people of prominence were beginning to recognise the increasing power the Boleyn family had. This grant symbolises Wolsey’s acknowledgement of their rise in relation to Anne’s relationship with the King. It is also a public testimonial of the relationship between Anne and Henry and the serious nature of it.
Henry had become extremely frustrated with his marriage to Catherine of Aragon by 1527, they had been married 18 years and only had one surviving child; Princess Mary. Catherine had many miscarriages and even lost an infant son Henry one month after his birth. Henry like his father Henry VII was desperate to have a male heir, after all he himself was never expected to by King and he was very aware of the uncertainty of long life. Henry did have an illegitimate son who was the result of an affair with one of Catherine’s ladies in waiting Elizabeth ‘Bessie’ Blount. He was named Henry Fitzroy, meaning son of the King, this would have deeply upset Catherine but his illegitimate status meant he would never be able to rule England. However, in 1525 Henry bestowed the title of ‘Duke of Richmond and Somerset and Earl of Nottingham’ upon his son. Henry firmly believed that God was punishing the royal couple through not giving them a surviving male heir, I would suggest even before the arrival of Anne Boleyn Henry was thinking about the nature of their relationship.
Anne’s French flirtations served her well in catching the eye of Henry and maintaining his affection. It has been suggested that Mary Boleyn, Anne’s own sister had become one of Henry’s short lived mistresses and was even referred to as the “King’s whore”. This is significant as it meant Anne would have had an experience of what generally happens to mistresses; they are usually disgraced by the court and then married of quickly. Anne would of known from the start how dangerous it was to embark on this relationship with the King and avoid been treated in the same way as her sister. Anne instead did not allow Henry to have her intimately, her refusal of becoming the King’s official mistress (a respected position in the French court) was not enough for Anne to gi
ve herself to Henry. This refusal to Henry would have been enthralling, women did not say no to the King for fear of the consequences but also to advance their families position. It is fair to say that Anne was a woman who knew what she wanted but her family too played a part in securing this relationship.
Sir Thomas Boleyn was an extremely ambitious courtier, he wanted a position and power. Anne’s uncle the Duke of Norfolk was a powerful man at court, however there were different factional political groups, if his niece was married or even had a close relationship with the King he could use her influence to gain favour. This relationship was not just an opportunity for Anne to rise it would also be a chance for her family to rise and hold more power at court. Anne’s actions would have been guided by her family who saw an opportunity and were keen to cease it.
The official divorce proceedings began in 1527, Henry VIII had asked the Pope for an annulment on the grounds his marriage to Catherine was not legitimate due to her first marriage to his brother Arthur. Henry wanted to annul the marriage and thus claim the marriage never had existed, thus making their daughter Mary also illegitimate. However, before the marriage of Henry and Catherine took place a papal bull was dispensed by Pope Julius II which allowed the marriage between the couple on the grounds Catherine was still a virgin and the marriage had not been consummated and was therefore invalid. However, Henry sent representatives to Rome to discuss the ‘King’s Great Matter’ with the new Pope Clement VII, who refused to admit that the King and Queens marriage was illegitimate thus preventing Henry from getting an immediate annulment. This timing of Henry sending representatives to Rome was poor as in May 1527, the city of Rome had been sacked by the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles X, and the Pope was now his prisoner. Charles X was the nephew of Catherine of Aragon, at the time he was the most powerful ruler in Europe, with him supporting his Aunt the Pope could not risk displeasing him.