To go from being the daughter of a minor noble family to becoming a queen was highly unusual. In the sixteenth century the only recent precedent had been Elizabeth Woodville, whose marriage appears to have been a spur of the moment decision by Edward IV. Anne and Henry on the other hand faced many more obstacles to actually marry and Anne emerged, for a period, as one of the kingâs chief ministers and very much a politician in her own right. This was a remarkable achievement and one that was not followed by any of Henryâs later wives (with even Catherine Parr finding it difficult to assert herself politically).
If she had lived longer, Anne would almost certainly be remembered as Englandâs first Protestant queen (a distinction which belongs to Catherine Parr). At the time of her death, the religious reform movement was heading towards Protestantism, but it was still in its infancy. If she had survived, Anne would also have been regent for her minor children. Perhaps this would have been thirteen year old Elizabeth in January 1547, or a younger son? In her lifetime, Anne was very politically driven. I always think of her as a politician first and I think this would have continued â she would have been a competent and powerful regent.
âDr Elizabeth Norton
