Anne Boleyn & Jane Seymour, Relatives & Rivals
In the first half of 1536, Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour, were tangled in a fatal love triangle.
This would end tragically, with the murder of an innocent anointed queen.
Henry’s rushed third marriage with Jane, would come just 11 days after Anne Boleyn’s eXecution.
Anne Boleyn’s mother, Elizabeth Howard, was the first cousin of Jane’s mother, Margery Wentworth.
Subsequently, Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour shared the same great-grandmother.
Jane was also the 5th Cousin, of her future Husband, King Henry VIII……
Talk about keeping it in the family!!
Jane Seymour, served in the household of Queen Katharine of Aragon, in 1532.
She then went on to serve Queen Anne Boleyn, also as a Lady-in-Waiting.
The first report of Henry’s interest in Jane, came sometime late in 1534.
By the spring of 1535, the relationship between Henry and Jane was getting steamy, whilst Anne’s relationship with her Husband, was rapidly declining.
The dangerous game was beginning, and the stakes were high.
Tension between Queen Anne and Jane, rose.
Anne was well aware of her husband’s growing infatuation with Jane.
As he had done early in his relationship with Anne, Henry gave Jane his picture, which she wore around her neck.
When Anne saw this, she reportedly snatched it from Jane’s neck so violently, that she hurt her hand.
Jane Dormer, who later served Princess Mary, also claimed that there was often scratching and blows, between Anne and Jane.
Friction arose between the Boleyns, the Seymours, and a multitude of Anne’s enemies.
Anne felt she was surrounded by people who no longer supported her.
In spite of Anne’s obvious displeasure, Henry continued to lavish Jane with his affections, perhaps at first, hoping to make her his mistress.
It is widely thought, that perhaps Jane was instructed to copy Anne’s previous actions, by refusing to be a royal mistress and presenting herself as a true maid.
Jane’s virtue and maidenhead, was the most precious thing in the world, and a tantalising prospect for Henry.
The strong emnity Anne felt and displayed towards Jane, helped to justify Henry’s attachment, to Jane.
Jane most likely complained to Henry, about the queen’s hostility, and resentment towards her.
Henry’s passion for Anne was cooling off, but the couple seemed to have reconciled by Christmas 1535, because Anne was pregnant again…..
On the 29th of January 1536, everything came crashing down for Anne.
Anne’s tragic miscarriage, which Anne claims was caused by her witnessing Henry with Jane ‘wenching’ on his knee, changed everything.
Anne’s time was up, her days were numbered, and Jane was getting ready to step into her shoes……