Lady Anne Boleyn
Anne was very stylish, having spent most of her formative years at the French court. Her fashion was the epitome of trendy when she arrived in England. She brought with her all the sophistication and glamor of the French court. She skillfully avoided Henry's advances for a long time as she did not want to become his mistress like her sister had been.
Anne Boleyn was born in England, but sent to France in 1513. This time in France provided Anne with sophisticated French education and style. She returned to England in 1522, making quite an impression with her French style, to serve as a Lady in waiting to Katherine. Anne's sister, Mary, had already been serving Katherine and was well known as a mistress of Henry. Mary had two of Henry's bastard sons.
By 1526, Henry was courting Anne, but she repeatedly turned down his advances. ​Famously, there's a letter in which Henry assures Anne, "I will take you for my only mistress." At the time, mistress meant something very different than it does now. Mistress was a term reserved for a future wife. It was not in any way indicative of an affair as we use it now. He was offering Anne marriage in this letter. We don't know how Anne felt about Henry because none of her letters back to him survived. Some historians speculate that Anne fell in love with him, while others speculate that as a religiously devout woman she believed it was God's will that she marry Henry and bear him sons.
​
Anne and Henry were secretly wed in January 1533, and Anne gave birth to her first child, Elizabeth in September of the same year. By 1536, after Anne miscarried a son, Anne was arrested on charges of adultery and incest, along with her brother George. There was no evidence that George and Anne has sex beyond the knowledge that they spent considerable time together and were close. Still, they were both convicted. Anne was also suspected of having an affair with Thomas Wyatt, a poet and consultant to the King. Some historians suggest this may be true, but many believe she was entirely innocent. Anne was beheaded on May 19, 1536, at Tower Green.