Yes,I believe there is nowdays a Boleyn cult…Although,I think it has to do more with the urban legends around her (six fingers,the whole witch accusation,the ghost stories etc) than her real history…I mean,even those not interested so much in history recognise her and her story through myths,stories ,movies.So I guess,through her ambiguous reputation she has survived from history to pop culture.Anne,I think is on the same league with personalities such as Vlad the Impaler(who many think he was a vampire and not a medieval prince fighting against the Ottoman Empire) and Cleopatra,who are known in public more from myths and anecdotes than real history.But this way they had earned the fact that even now,they are considered iconic and legendary.So,there are more and more people getting interested in them and even are moved by their “bad” reputation.So movies are made,books are written and efforts to clean their name are made…For example,I believe I have read in one of Claire's posts that some people ask her and come to this site after they have read or seen the Other Boleyn Girl.Philippa Gregory has taken all the blacknaming Anne has suffered back then(that she was cruel,insanely ambitious,had a deformed baby with her brother) and turned them to a book.The result is people researching her and learn the true story,thus becoming part of this cult.Her story is one of the most tragic and known romances,has made it since silent movies 'till now at least ten times at big screen and tv series.Perhaps to Anne,Cleopatra,Marie Antoinette and others,applies the saying “Well-behaved women seldom make history”.Why there is not nowdays a Seymour cult or a Parr cult?It is not that they were not important figures,it is just that they lack what it takes to make history and that is some scandals and a lot of myths with no basis at all!!!If only Henry and the Catholic faction knew back then that the blacknaming against Anne would lead her to fame even 500 years after her death and that she people around the globe still support her!Anne is bigger than her name in history and I am amazed at how people around the world get so interested in her…

I agree. Perfectly stated!!!

Well put Anne!  Many historical figures have their own 'cults' and I think Anne's will only grow.  It's fantastic that people (such as Ives) are starting to do serious academic research on her and through that (along with this site!) I think her importance on history is only going to become more evident.

Again, well said. While we may not like the horrid myths that surround Anne, at least they paved the way for real historical queries about her.

Kool aid's good, it's Flavor Aid that was used by jim Jones's church!

Rochie said:

I wonder sometimes, in our secular driven society, whether Anne will kind of become a surrogate Christian saint some day – like a kind of Mary Magdalene type cult figure. Is this happening? Do people think of her at times of crisis? Do they ask her for assistance (what would Anne do). Do they ask her to intercede for them? Hope this is not offensive to anyone, but archetypes last the centuries, and have all sorts of different forms. Maybe Anne is just the latest in this tradition. Would be interested in thoughts of others on this.

Mmm,that's very interesting as a thought.I am not sure if she is going to get that much credit(I personally,admire Anne mostly because of her faults than her qualities because that makes me see her as an actual once living human being than a great name in history)but I am sure,that just like Mary Magdalene she follows the same path.For centuries she was perceived as a harlot and now has taken the form of an evangelical fighter with a martyrish end…And I believe that she is or was considered a saint for the Protestants but I am not sure if this was a form of flattery to Elizabeth.Mary Magdalene,for years,due to some wrong conclusion by a priest(during a preaching)was considered to be the wh*re who washed Jesus's feet during a meal begging for His forgiveness when it is now known that she was propably a wealthy widow who followed him as many other female students and carried out later His teachings(I am not going into the theory of her being His wife since there aren't any sufficient proof)…Anne may not take anytime a saint status(well,no matter the circumstances she still came between a married couple and in fact led a life full of luxury and power).She was religious,suffered a martyr's death,fought for her beliefs and reformed in her way England but in my opinion that counts as a very strong and admirable person,not a saint.Her personality is more to admire than to ask for assistance.In fact you feel a little intimated by her

Claire said:

Going back to how Anne is perceived today, Anne Boleyn Files visitor, Lyn, dressed up as Anne Boleyn for an event at the Mary Rose Museum recently and this is what she said about her experience as Anne for the day:-

“It is quite interesting to hear regional views about AB. As a historical dancer I have never played the role of AB before and was quite surprised with the public's reaction over the weekend. I was told many times that “I do not like you” or “Does the B stand for B***h? or being asked to move a side whilst they had thei…r photo taken with the King!!”

I know someone else who dressed as Anne for a festival and was abused all day so the public still see Anne as a “wh*re”. Grrr!

 

It

is quite interesting to hear regional views about AB. As a historical

dancer I have never played the role of AB before and was quite surprised

with the public's reaction over the weekend. I was told many times that

“I do not like you” or “Does the B stand for B***h? or being asked to

move a side whilst they had thei…r photo taken with the King!!

Wow,this is almost hysterical,ridiculus!!!Holding such a grudge against a for centuries dead person and on top of that someone you know from fictional portrayals(someone has seen Portman or Dormer)…But just to make your day,the other day,a friend of mine saw a picture in my mobile(actually my avatar)and (having seen Portman and Dormer again) he said:”B necklace?Anne Boleyn?”and I said yes and he said “Wow!She must have been hot as hell this woman…Wish there were many like that,to drive us crazy!”.Although he referred to the Tudors mostly,I think it is funny how men still find her alluring(Morbid joke by my father,after he saw Jane's portrait”Did he cut her head?No?And he beheaded the other,the pretty one?”) …I guess it is up to how you perceive things.I,for one,get more interested in not so well-behaved women(I love those snide little remarks Anne made,her dry humor).Others,especially older women tend to still see her as a temptress who had it coming(usually these are the women who tend to call Angelina Jolie ugly and wish she breaks up with Brad Pitt,that mature),men tend to think her as hot(thanks Natalie)and there are us,people who tend to see behind the dirt and try to uncover the myth!

Sharon said:

As a slightly older woman, (I prefer the term more mature woman…lol) I believe Angelina Jolie is one of the most beautiful women of our time, and I hope she and Brad stay together forever; but if they don't I certainly wouldn't be the one to blame the failure of their marriage strictly on Angelina.  I have always tried to look past the reputations of people to find out who they really are and why they do the things they do.  That is what I have tried to do while delving into the lives of Henry's wives.   I do understand what you are saying Anne.   There are some women, older women as well as younger women, who see a woman like Anne or Angelina and think of them as wh*res, or temptresses..etc.   I do not agree.  They are survivors.  'Well-behaved' women tend to be boring, and they would be the first to call another woman names. I prefer women who are not afraid to speak their mind and to be a little on the sarcastic side now and then like Anne.  The women who told Lyn they did not like her when she was playing Anne, need a good history lesson.  I'll bet none of the men told her that.  Venus and Mars!

I agree with you that people should see beyond reputations and attitudes.People tend to judge usually with no justice but with their own measures and meters(mega example,Chapuys who was willing to see and accept Anne as a Jezebel and evil concubine).Also,sometimes by not being an uptight well-behaved person,you show more your real character.Well actually by saying older woman,mainly I referred especially to a friend of my grandmother(and some of my aunts too,you wouldn't want to be caught in their mouths!!!)who is very strict and judgemental,especially towards younger women(you wouldn't believe what she says about a girl in her building or her grandson's girlfriend)but I must say that I have met a lot of women,even younger than me who tend to call other women(mega example Angelina) names,sometimes strictly out of jealousy.An example is,when I was in high school,we had this girl who was very into gossips,inhibited and jealous of the majority of the other girls(for no reason actually).She spoke bad of prettier girls(called them sl..s,as she did with Angelina too),uglier girls(call them ugly,sometimes in their faces,very cruel),slimmer girls,plumper girls,girls who had a boyfriend(although she had one too,she call all the other girls into relationships as stupid or easy),girls who didn't have one,good students,bad students…Once,in graduation year our class has organised a trip,6 days.She,had opted instead for a 2 days trip in London with the theater club(she wasn't in but she managed to tag alone for the trip).They went in February and we went in April.When we return,she was really pissed at us and bitter(for no reason again since she choose not to come)and us usual she spoke bad of the rest of us.In class and in the precense of a teacher she said that we went to this tour in order to drink and have sex freely with people from other schools.And although this earned her a scold both from us,her classmates and the said teacher(who felt offended since there were teachers with us),she spread rumors for many people,including my best friend.What I wanted to say with this stupid story is that,the majority of women (unfortunately)tend to speak ill of other women for no apparent reason other than jealousy and perhaps guilty admiration.Women are very judgemental and if they tend to be and strict or uptight,then they speak bad of every woman they meet.Many women speak bad of Anne or nowdays Angelina and yet in truth they are actually jealous of their bolder attitude and more passionate character.If you call another woman ugly,that doesn't mean you are prettier.If you call her fat you don't get any thinner.And if call her temptresses,wh*res,sl*ts,it doesn't make you more ethical,actually you are worse because you speak evil of someone who actually didn't do anything to you.And although I believe that no one should come in between a couple,I daresay that it is immoral as a woman to say,that the blame is on the second woman rather on the man,who was unable to keep his relationship or marriage.This,in my opinion is highly immoral as if saying that adultery can be forgiven on the man,the temptation is the one to be punished.Life is full of temptations byt it is us who must keep them at bay,both men and women.If my boyfriend right now,decides to leave me for an other or to cheat on me,I would be bitter and angry at HIM.The cheater is the one who deserves the blame.And just a reminder for those who spoke bad of Lyn:”GET OVER IT PEOPLE,IT IS SO LAST CENTURY…THIS IS HOW IT WAS.THIS WOMAN IS IN CUSTOME.IF YOU DRESS AS A BEE,IT DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE ONE.STOP INSULTING PEOPLE WHO NEVER DID ANYTHING TO YOU.AND JUST A REMINDER,ANNE BOLEYN IS DEAD FOR 500 YEARS.GIVE IT A REST,AFTER ALL ANNE DOESN'T EVEN CARE ABOUT YOU”…This is inspired by the famous “Let them grumble,this is how it is going to be”…It speaks volumes of Anne's attitude,an attitude we should all adopt in our lifes

Rochie,  Mary Magdalene is in a very different category than Anne Boleyn.  Mary walked with Jesus.  Anne walked with Henry.  Huge difference.  I think of Mary as more ethereal.  I cannot think of her without connecting her to religion.  Now Anne seems more…I don't know…more on a human, down-to-earth level.  I admire her, and even find her a person to emulate, but I don't see her taking the place of a religious icon.