Legacy and Historical Contributions

Picture
Long after her death in 1536, Anne Boleyn and her impact on history continues to fascinate historians around the world. Anne Boleyn is connected with some of the most turbulent times in English history. She was married to the most famous King, as well as the mother of the most famous Queen, Elizabeth I. The beauty and charm of this seductive woman served as a catalyst for the separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church.

Although the mystery surrounding her true religious affiliation still baffles even the most renowned historians in the field, it is clear that Anne was devout in educating her people in the ways of the Church of England. Anne’s push for the publication of the Book of Common Prayer and the King James Bible, both written in English rather than Latin, are testaments to her pious religious beliefs. By publishing prayer books in the colloquial language, the religious audience greatly increased. Previously, only the educated aristocrats knew how to read Latin and access the Bible. Now the common folk, providing they could read, had access to the Holy Book.

Anne Boleyn was the mother of Elizabeth I, whose reign is often described as the Golden Age of England. Having learned from the tragedy of her mother, Elizabeth chose to remain single throughout her life earning the name “The Virgin Queen.” She was able to unite both the Protestants and Catholics within England without civil warfare.

Had Anne not insisted on marriage to Henry, and rather consented to be his mistress, the entire relationship between England, France and Spain during this time period would have been drastically changed. Catherine of Aragon, a Spanish princess, would have arranged for her daughter to marry Phillip of Spain, therefore establishing a relationship between Spain and England. No one will ever know how that marriage would have affected history, but had a close relationship between England and Spain existed, many monumental events would not have occurred. Had Mary created a Anglo-Spanish dynasty, there would have been no destruction of the Spanish Armada, therefore changing the way the rest of the world was colonized and explored.