A Coronation
Book for Queen Anne Boleyn
On 1 June 1533, Anne
Boleyn, the mistress of King Henry VIII of England, achieved her greatest triumph.
Overcoming great adversity, including the enmity of foreign powers and the
opposition of the Church, she was crowned Queen of England. It was a moment
Anne had eagerly anticipated for seven years. She and the King had already wedded in
secret, Henry's marriage to his first wife Katherine of Aragon was annulled, and now Anne
carried the nation's longed for heir. It was little wonder that the motto she
chose at her crowning was The Most Happy.
Anne’s
happiness was only marred by the reception of the sullen London crowds who
regarded her as an upstart and as the King’s
concubine. Nevertheless, the coronation festivities were a great piece of
theatrical showmanship and political propaganda. Anne was hailed as the
progenitor of a great new age - it was foretold that it was her ‘son’ who will
bring forth a ‘golden world’ unto the English. The prediction was half correct.
In time it was a daughter, Elizabeth, who was to fulfill the expectation.
Henry VIII (by Joos van Cleve)
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Anne Boleyn (by an unknown
artist)
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| A
description of Anne Boleyn’s coronation was set down in pamphlet form
shortly after the festivities by the London printer Wynkin de Worde. Entitled
The Noble Tryumphaunt Coronacyon of Quene Anne - Wyfe unto the Noble
Kynge Henry the VIII, it consisted of 11 typeset pages
with a rather crude woodcut of a courtly scene on the front cover.
Right: The Noble Tryumphaunt Coronacyon of Quene Anne - Wyfe unto the Noble Kynge Henry the VIII (printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1533) |
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The project was begun in January 2002, and was completed in March 2004
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