10 Head-Rolling Facts About Anne Boleyn

April 17, 2018 | Reid Kerr-Keller

10 Head-Rolling Facts About Anne Boleyn



"Yes, for Anne had seen for herself that it was possible to be an independent thinker, set free from the pattern of sinful Eve or patient Griselda."
- Joanna Denny, Anne Boleyn: A New Life of England's Tragic Queen

Some historical figures just capture the imagination. Whether it's their heroic deeds, incredible bravery, legendary deviousness, or even their sheer evil, these are the people who will live forever in the hearts and minds of people all over the world.

Anne Boleyn is one of those figures.

Anne was Queen of England for three years. She ruled from 1533 to 1536, as the husband of King Henry the Eighth. Before their marriage, Henry pursued Anne for years... although she repeatedly refused him. Which is saying something: a medieval woman with such strong opinions on her own matchmaking was extremely rare. It was only after Henry left his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, that Anne finally agreed to the match. Talk about hard to get.

In a time when women were often little more than pawns in the games that men played, Anne stands out as an empowering (if ultimately tragic) figure. As the stigma and misogyny she would have faced are becoming better understood, so to is Anne's story. To this day, historians debate Anne's actions and motivations as they would any other character of historical importance. And for a woman born in medieval Europe, that's no small feat. In the face of difficult circumstances, she managed to build a legacy that stands alone.


More from Factinate

Featured Article

My mom never told me how her best friend died. Years later, I was using her phone when I made an utterly chilling discovery.

Dark Family Secrets

Dark Family Secrets Exposed

Nothing stays hidden forever—and these dark family secrets are proof that when the truth comes out, it can range from devastating to utterly chilling.
April 8, 2020 Samantha Henman

Featured Article

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.

Madame de Pompadour Facts

Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress

Madame de Pompadour was the alluring chief mistress of King Louis XV, but few people know her dark history—or the chilling secret shared by her and Louis.
December 7, 2018 Kyle Climans

More from Factinate

Featured Article

I tried to get my ex-wife served with divorce papers. I knew that she was going to take it badly, but I had no idea about the insane lengths she would go to just to get revenge and mess with my life.

These People Got Genius Revenges

When someone really pushes our buttons, we'd like to think that we'd hold our head high and turn the other cheek, but revenge is so, so sweet.
April 22, 2020 Scott Mazza

Featured Article

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but few people know her even darker history.

Catherine of Aragon Facts

Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s First Wife

Catherine of Aragon is now infamous as King Henry VIII’s rejected queen—but very few people know her even darker history.
June 7, 2018 Christine Tran



Dear reader,


Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrochoerus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!


Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,



The Factinate team




Want to learn something new every day?

Join thousands of others and start your morning with our Fact Of The Day newsletter.

Thank you!

Error, please try again.