Was ann Boleyn King Henry's love?

Answer 1

I've read a lot on the subject of Henry VIII and his relationships with his six wives. (Or two wives if you believe all the annullments were valid...) Personally, I think what happened between him and Anne Boleyn was mostly lust, but I think his feelings for her, whatever they were, were genuine. However, Henry loved himself first and foremost, and he wanted a baby boy. Anne led him to believe that she, being young and healthy, would be able to produce a male heir. When she didn't, he felt betrayed, and retaliated by having charges fabricated to ensure her execution. I think in Anne he met his match; they were both strong personalities, both stubborn, from what we can gather. Henry maintained that his next wife, Jane Seymour, who died giving birth to their son Edward (who died at age 16) was his true wife. Some of this affection was probably due to the fact that she bore him a living son. However, she was also very obedient and very religious (possibly a closet Catholic in his newly-Protestant country), the exact opposite of Anne Boleyn (who was also actually very religious, but in a Protestant way, rather than Catholic). When Henry was sick and dying, it was Jane Seymour he called for, and he was buried next to her, although he widowed another woman. Also, he had her painted into family portraits as his wife and Queen after her death while he was married to other women. (Which actually isn't a very nice thing to do, when you think about it...)

Answer 2

Yes. She was one of his mistresses.