(*1501 or 1507 in Blickling Hall (Norfolk); † 19/5/1536 in London)
Anne Boleyn was born in 1501 (or 1507) the daughter of the diplomat Thomas Boleyn and his wife Elizabeth Howard. In 1521 she succeeded in becoming a part of the English court and was appointed lady-in-waiting by Katharina von Aragon, the first wife of Heinrichs VIII. In this position she succeeded in rapidly acquiring favour to the king and this exerted the divorce of Katherina to marry Ann consequencely against the resistance of the clergy.
In 1532 a divorce was implemented (and the breach from Rome), and Henry married Anne Boleyn. At first from the harmonious marriage bore a common daughter (Elizabeth, the later queen) in 1533.
When however it appeared that after several miscarriages and stillbirths the desired male successor to the throne would however not be, the king abandoned Anne and began increasingly spending more time with his next wife Jane Seymour.
Intrigue from courtly entourage and Anne's rather difficult character did their part and led finally to the fact that she was accused of several serious crimes (including adultery and high treason) and was sentenced to death.
Although all accusations remained unproven, the judgement was carried out on 19/05/1536.
(In 1536 she was to have written the song "O Death Rock Me Asleep “ in prison while waiting for her impending execution.)
