These Bloody Days: The Fall of Anne Boleyn

When?

Monday 13 May - Sunday 19 May, 2024

Delivery Mode

Solely online via six pre-recorded lectures and one live Zoom discussion. Participants will receive links to each lecture over the course of the week and will be able to access the recordings for two months following the completion of the event. It will also be possible to dowload the videos for private use/study only. Each lecture will also be accompanied by discussion/reflection questions. Closed captions will also be available.

If you have any questions about this event, please contact natalie@onthetudortrail.com or drowenemmerson@gmail.com.

Giveaway

All participants will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of the following two books:

- A signed copy of ‘The Final Year of Anne Boleyn’ by Natalie Grueninger

- A signed copy of 'The Boleyns of Hever Castle' by Dr Owen Emmerson and Claire Ridgway

The winners will be notified via email at the completion of the event.

Lecture Outlines

Session 1 – Henry and Anne: Sunshine and Storms

The courtship of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn was a tumultuous period of history, marked by periods of sunshine and storms which would ultimately divide a kingdom. Whilst Henry's pursuit of Anne is well documented in surviving love letters, which are filled with passion, promise, and obsession, Anne’s negotiation of his advances remains shrouded in mystery. What were Anne’s motivations in the relationship? Did she share the same degree of burning desire for the king that he held for her? And how did Anne cope with the pressures from the scandal she was enveloped in?

Session 2 – The Great Matter and Rise of a Queen

Henry VIII's determination to secure his succession with a male heir ignited his "great matter" that would ultimately lead to Anne Boleyn’s triumphant ascension to the throne. Determined to annul his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne, Henry unleashed a seismic shift in the religious and political landscape. Anne's own influence and radical views played a pivotal role in shaping Henry's decisions, culminating in the dramatic break with Rome. The path that led to Anne's coronation as queen consort would forever alter the course of English history.

Session 3 – From Mistress to Majesty

Did Henry and Anne’s marriage take a dramatic downturn from the birth of their daughter, the princess Elizabeth? Though undoubtedly shrouded in controversy, and fraught with obstacles, this lecture will propose that Henry and Anne’s early married years were overwhelmingly characterised as joyful and “merry”. During these years, Anne's influence soared as she wielded considerable power alongside Henry, championing new ideas which shaped the Henrician Reformation. Opposition to these radical and divisive reforms by key political figures would further divide an already fractured kingdom.

Session 4 – Changing Tides

This lecture will explore the main events of 1535 and early 1536, a period of Anne’s life that contained both joy and heartbreak. By sifting through the many myths and misconceptions still prevalent today, we’ll arrive at a deeper understanding of Anne and Henry’s relationship and the circumstances surrounding the queen’s brutal fall.

Session 5 – About the Throne the Thunder Rolls

In this lecture, we’ll delve into the arrest, trial and execution of an anointed queen. By examining the extant evidence, we’ll consider why it is that Anne had to die and who was ultimately responsible for her demise.

Session 6 – The Aftermath

In this final lecture, we’ll look at the events that took place at court in the wake of Anne’s execution and consider what became of the surviving members of the Boleyn family. We’ll also ask whether Henry VIII ordered the destruction of his former wife’s belongings and images. You may be surprised by the answer!

Session 7 – Live Zoom Q&A

Join Dr Owen Emmerson and Natalie Grueninger for a live Zoom Q&A on the 488th anniversary of Anne Boleyn’s execution. Submit your questions in advance or use the chat function to ask during the session.

Sunday 19th May at 9.30pm British Summer Time (BST)

A recording of the live session will be published at the conclusion of the event.

About the Presenters

Natalie Grueninger is an independent researcher who specialises in the life, reign and times of Queen Anne Boleyn. She’s authored and co-authored six books, including the ‘In the Footsteps’ series. Her latest book, ‘The Final Year of Anne Boleyn’, was published in November 2022. Natalie has written for a number of history magazines, including Inside History and Tudor Places, and runs the website www.onthetudortrail.com. She’s the creator and host of the popular ‘Talking Tudors’ podcast and the founder of Women’s History Circle, dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and promoting the work of women creatives with a passion for history. Natalie is deeply interested in the lives of medieval and Tudor women and in the networks which they built and used, especially those with other women. She’s an avid bibliophile and a lifelong learner. When not at her desk, she can often be found indulging in her insatiable passion for travel. Natalie lives in Sydney with her husband, two teenaged children and a cheeky cavoodle.

Dr Owen Emmerson is a social and cultural historian and author of four books. He worked as the Castle Historian and Assistant Curator of Hever Castle for six years. He has appeared in seventeen documentaries about the Tudor era including 'The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family' (BBC, 2021) and 'Blood, Sex and Royalty: Anne Boleyn' (Netflix, 2022). He is currently writing a full history of Hever Castle, and a cultural history of the ten Tudor Queens.