White Rose of Avalon

Anne Boleyn

  • The Cultural Legend of Anne Boleyn

    Anne Boleyn is a historical figure who has obtained legendary status.    This also means that she is a figure that has been misunderstood over the years, and one that it is near impossible to entirely pin point.    There is a question over whether we could ever truly know who she was. We do…

  • Was Katherine of Aragon’s Marriage to Prince Arthur Consummated?

    The question over whether or not Katherine of Aragon was a virgin when she married Henry VIII is one that has been debated for about 500 years!    Katherine maintained that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated.    Henry VII likely had some doubts about this, given that he desired her to marry…

  • Mottos of the Six Wives

    Today I want to take a look at the coronation mottos chosen by the six wives of Henry VIII.   Each motto really seemed to fit the queen and her reign! Katherine of Aragon chose “Humble and Loyal” as her motto.   She certainly lived up to this, and was very loyal to Henry, even…

  • Royal Mistresses

    Monarchs throughout time have taken mistresses to satisfy their desires.   Especially French kings had special places at court for their mistresses.   There was in fact a particular title in the French royal court for a king’s mistress.   The king’s official mistress is known best by the original French term, maitresse-en-titre.    One…

  • Courtly Love

    The dynamics of courtly love, and the so called games of courtly love were very specific.    The ideation of courtly ideals was incredibly popular throughout Europe in the medieval period.    This usage of courtly love ideals carried over into the Tudor age.    Anne Boleyn, for example, was well versed in the art…

  • My Top Ten British Royalty Period Pieces

    The ten period pieces listed below are my personal favorites to depict the British monarchs!   It is obvious that I am a lover of the Plantagenet and Tudor dynasties, so the period pieces here are all from the late medieval period and the Tudor era! Number 10: Mary Queen of Scots (2018) ~Margot Robbie…

  • Doomed Tudor Queens

     In the Tudor age there are four queens who were beheaded.    The first was Anne Boleyn, the second was Katheryn Howard, the third was Lady Jane Grey, and the final was Mary Queen of Scots. These queens would be sentenced to death for various reasons during three separate reigns of Tudor monarchs.    All…

  • Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn

    The love story of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn is an iconic one.     This love story quite literally changed the fate of a nation!   Henry fell in love with Anne likely sometime early in 1526, and at this point he had already become determined to divorce his current wife Katherine of Aragon.…

  • My Top 10 Favorite Historical Lovers

    My final Valentine’s Day, and Love Week, love list this year is about historical lovers!   Here are my ten favorite historical lovers! Number 10: Marc Antony and Cleopatra VII ~In time of ancient Egypt and Rome Cleopatra famously seduced Marc Antony.    She had already fallen in love with and bore a son to…

  • My Top 5 Anne Boleyn Portrayals

    In this post I will count down my top five actresses to have portrayed Anne Boleyn in films and television.   I am very particular about how my favorite wife of Henry VIII is portrayed. Number 5: Claire Foy in Wolf Hall ~Claire Foy starred in the miniseries that centers on the life of Thomas…