Mary Boleyn: biography and famous beauty novel

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:55

When this surname is pronounced, Anna, the younger sister of Mary, is most often remembered. But what is known about her?

Origin

Mary (Mary) Boleyn was born in the family of one of the courtiers of King Henry VIII in the Norfolk manor house Blickling Hall, which belonged to the Boleyn family, and grew up in Hever (Kent).

Her father, whose name was Thomas Boleyn, made a successful career at court, although blue blood did not flow in his veins. The mother was Elizabeth Howard, whose sibling later became Lord Treasurer to the king. There is some disagreement among historians regarding the date of Mary's birth: most are sure that it was 1499, while others speak for the period from 1499 to 1508. There are also some doubts about which of the famous sisters was the eldest. But those who attribute the primacy to Anna cannot explain the fact that none other than Mary's grandson, Lord Hunsdon, asked to be given the title of Earl of Ormonde. If Anna was the eldest, then this title should have rightfully belonged to her daughter Elizabeth I. So, most likely, Mary Boleyn was still the eldest sister. Anna was born either in 1501 or in 1507. They also had a brother, George.

Education

As befitsnoble girls of that time, Mary, still in her early teens, was attached as a maid of honor to Mary Tudor, the sister of the same Henry VIII, who played a fateful role in the life of both the eldest and the youngest of the Boleyn family. In 1514, she accompanied the princess to Paris for her marriage to King Louis XII of France. After she performed her role, Mary Tudor kept her with her rather than sending her home. Perhaps Mary's father, who by that time had managed to become the ambassador of England to France, did his best here. And even when Mary Tudor returned to her homeland in 1515 after the sudden death of her husband, having not lived in marriage for a year, her former favorite remained in Paris and began to serve a new pair of monarchs - Queen Claude and King Francis I.

Be that as it may, being at the royal court had a significant impact on the career of the young lady-in-waiting. Over time, her parents could find her a prosperous party from among some lords, and she would live comfortably the rest of her life, giving birth to a couple of heirs. But it didn't quite work out that way.

French court intrigues

Mary Boleyn was by no means quiet, but managed to have several romances with some courtiers of the king, and then with Francis I himself. There is no clear evidence of this, perhaps these are just exaggerated rumors, although the king himself spoke of her as about a rather frivolous girl. Be that as it may, Mary's reputation was not at all impeccable, which also affected the attitude of the court towards her younger sister Anna, who did not allow herself such liberties. The fact is that Mary lived and ledherself the way she wanted, she was almost not interested in we alth and power, she did not seek to marry for convenience, unlike her sister.

But the stay in France ended in 1519. Mary's father influenced his eldest daughter to get a place as a lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon, Queen of England, first wife of Henry VIII.

First marriage

In 1520, the 21-year-old beauty gets married. William Carey was the right match.

He was one of the king's courtiers, and quite influential. Naturally, the king himself was also invited to the ceremony of their marriage. It is generally accepted that it was then that he drew attention to Mary. She was pretty and outwardly corresponded to the standard of beauty of that time: fair-haired, busty and white-faced. Photo of Mary Boleyn, of course, does not exist, but there are many paintings with her portrait. Here is one of them.

Henry and Mary Boleyn

Their romance began shortly after her wedding.

By that time, Henry was already married to Catherine of Aragon, who still failed to please him with a legitimate male heir, and the appearance of which he sought in every possible way. During this time, their relationship cooled, although they remained quite friendly, so to speak, mainly due to the fact that the queen did not interfere with the king's romances on the side. For example, before Mary, Henry's favorite was a certain Betsy Blount, who was the first of his women to give himson. But in 1522, her place was confidently taken by the eldest daughter of the Boleyn family. She confidently held her position until 1525. Did Mary Boleyn love Henry? History is silent about this.

The fact that she was married did not bother anyone: neither her nor her husband or parents, who were given generous estates so that they would not interfere with the whims of the monarch.

Although the parents were not against it at all, on the contrary, because according to the court customs of that time, slipping your children into bed with influential people and using this relationship to obtain possessions or titles was not at all considered something heinous, but it was in order of things. So when, 3 years later, the king refocused on their youngest daughter, the Boleyns rejoiced again.

Mary Boleyn never claimed the title of queen, she was also satisfied with the state of a constant mistress. But her sister Anna went much further: she demanded a divorce from Catherine and legal marriage to the king.

So, when Mary ceased to interest Henry, she was allowed to return to her husband.

It happened in 1525, and in 1526 Henry Carey was born, the son of Mary Boleyn. But her husband died shortly thereafter, namely in 1526, leaving his wife with two young children in her arms. She could be doomed to poverty, because he owed huge sums of money, and if it were not for the intervention of her sister Anna, then she would hardly have been able to get even with them herself. The king gave her 100 pounds from the treasury as an annual income.

Children

Mary Boleyn and William Carey had two children - daughter Catherine Carey (in 1524) and son Henry Carey (in 1526). Paternity is attributed to Henry, they say, they were born during the period of the romance of Mary and the king. Whether this is true or not, there is no official evidence. However, there are indirect ones: contemporaries said that Henry was very similar to the king in appearance, and also a certain priest John Hale in his memoirs called the young Mr. Carey Henry's bastard. Although it is believed that by the time of the birth of her son, the romance of Mary and the voluptuous monarch had already exhausted itself, and she went to her lawful spouse. But there is no such certainty about the paternity of Catherine's daughter. Be that as it may, Mary never pressed Henry to recognize them as her children - either because they were not such, or to save them from inevitable death at the hands of the legitimate heir to the throne, Mary, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, who later became known as the Bloody Mary.

Second marriage

When her sister Anne, having achieved her goal over many years, becomes Queen of England in 1933, Mary is still serving at court, now in her sister's retinue. But suddenly, unexpectedly for everyone, she gets married. Her chosen one this time was William Stafford. Mary Boleyn's husband was a very poor man, he did not have any title. From this follows the conclusion that it was a union of love, which was quite rare among courtiers.

The fact that her sister married almost a commoner so angered the Boleyn family and Anne herself that she sent the Stafford couple out ofroyal court. They lived in Rochford, Essex. The spouses did not have common children.

Although later Anna took steps towards reconciliation: for example, she sent them gifts and money to Rochford to support them financially. It is not known whether Mary Boleyn held a grudge against Anna until the end of her days or not, but the fact remains: she did not visit her either during her stay in prison or before her execution in 1536. Perhaps she was simply afraid of falling out of favor with the king, who had already undeservedly executed her brother George, and accused Anna of being a witch.

Last years of life

Maria did not long outlive her sister. For unknown reasons, she died in 1543. Until the end of her days, she lived with her husband and children in Essex and led a rather quiet life. From Anna, she inherited a small inheritance, thanks to which her family lived well.

This is such a short but eventful life lived by Mary Boleyn. Her biography served as an inspiration for many directors who filmed the story of her fate.