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4:07 am
June 21, 2009
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This is just something I was pondering today, and I was curious to hear what the rest of you think!
If Jane Seymour hadn't died after Edward's birth, would she have \”survived\” marriage to Henry? We know that he always thought of her as his true and most beloved wife, but what about after the novelty had worn off? She was the only one of Henry's wives who wasn't disposed of or – in Katherine Parr's case – had a close brush with it. I just wonder, knowing Henry's track record, how their relationship would have progressed if she had lived. If he grew bored and restless with Jane, would his mistresses have kept him happy, or would he find a way to toss her while keeping Edward first in line to the throne?
We can't ever know for sure but I would like to know what you all think. 🙂
Noli me tangere
10:11 am
June 30, 2009
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Yes I think she would because she provided him with the son he wanted so had that crossed off her list. She kept her mouth shut and I think if Henry had taken mistresses she would have put up with it. Perhaps Henry would have expected her to have a few more sons though so if she only managed the one then he might have gotten rid of her I suppose
4:41 pm
February 16, 2009
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I think she would have survived marriage to Henry as long as Edward lived. The fact that she provided Henry with a son would have kept her safe BUT I don't think it would have been a happy marriage. Henry made comments shortly after the marriage, when he saw some pretty ladies at court, that perhaps he shouldn't have married Jane so I'm sure he would have had mistress after mistress after mistress and not really bothered with Jane. I'm sure she would have lasted if she kept her mouth shut, her head down and just accepted her lot in life.
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
6:45 pm
June 20, 2009
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Their marriage would've lasted, but it would've ended up like Katherine's, living in separate apartments. They would've been publicly happy, but living their own lives. That's not the kind of marriage I would want.
Let not my enemies sit as my jury
3:38 am
June 21, 2009
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That's kind of along the lines of what I was thinking – that the submission of Jane would allow her to live, but wouldn't guarantee happiness. Her dying so young (after bearing his son) is probably what preserved her in Henry's heart and memory.
Noli me tangere
7:46 am
June 20, 2009
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The fact that she would have to be that submissive to live.. UGH.. that disgusts me.
Let not my enemies sit as my jury
9:39 am
February 16, 2009
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It's quite funny that Henry looked back on her with his rose-tinted glasses and called her his \”true wife\”! When she was alive, he spoke of how he wished he hadn't married her and threatened her, he did not treat her as his true love or true wife. The fact that she gave him a son and died doing so (well, shortly after) made Henry sentimental over her memory, AB was definitely the love of his life.
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
10:35 am
June 24, 2009
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Claire said:
It's quite funny that Henry looked back on her with his rose-tinted glasses and called her his “true wife”! When she was alive, he spoke of how he wished he hadn't married her and threatened her, he did not treat her as his true love or true wife. The fact that she gave him a son and died doing so (well, shortly after) made Henry sentimental over her memory, AB was definitely the love of his life.
Yes, that word 'sentimental' is interesting. It sustained the Seymour brothers for quite a while after Henry's death – being uncles to the King, yes, but also from the family of Jane Seymour, the only lady to bring forth the male heir and so, in her absence, celebrated and sentimentalised by Henry himself. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.
7:02 pm
July 28, 2009
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Really this is an excellent question to ponder….we all know how fondly Henry looked back on his third wife, but I truly think that is soley because she gave him what he so wanted, an heir. If she had lived I think she would have remained queen, and have been honored for the gift she gave the kingdom, but i truly beleive it wouldnt have stopped Henry in his lusty ways, he would have kept mistresses and continued playing the game of courtly love despite having a wife. (but really how is that different from how he continued living his life?) But alas, no matter the fact that Jane gave him a son, and he called her his \”true wife\”, the love between Jane and Henry is nothing compared to the passion, lust, love etc etc between Henry and Anne.
*Autumn*Star*
le plus heurex
7:14 pm
June 20, 2009
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She would've said nothing about his affairs, just pretended everything was fine, like Katherine. Anne did not like it, and nor she she have. I wouldn't like my husband running around after women like a dog.. LOL
Let not my enemies sit as my jury
2:28 am
June 23, 2009
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I'm going to go against the grain here (when don't I? lol) and say that no, she wouldn't have survived a marriage to him. The reason? Henry was always pursuing the grass is greener theory and that theory pretty much says that at some point he would have found a new girl who he fancied to be his queen and Jane would have suffered the same fate as all the rest. He was impossible to please even for a subservient (so we believe) woman like her. She probably would have poisoned at some point and it called the will of 'God'. Fate probably saved her from a miserable fate from being married to such a horrific monster such as him.
Diem et animus scire cupio: I desire knowledge of the soul.
2:29 am
June 23, 2009
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Well I worded that wrongly..she was married to him of course, but fate saved her from being married to him for very long.
Diem et animus scire cupio: I desire knowledge of the soul.
3:15 am
June 21, 2009
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That's also a good point Gwenne, because Henry was learning that marriages could be undone… he had that power. If Jane hadn't died, then Anne of Cleves wouldn't have entered the picture. What would happen then when Henry first laid eyes on Katherine Howard? It seemed there was nothing he believed himself incapable of!
Noli me tangere
1:56 pm
July 2, 2009
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In giving birth to Edward and therefore the Heir and hope of England, Jane would not and could not be \”touched\”. Her position as Queen and wife to Henry would have been secure.
Even Henry could not have \”got rid\” of Jane by divorce/anullment or execution if she had survived. She would have been expected to produce at least another son – much safer with an Heir and a Spare. Henry himself was the \”Spare\” so he would have been very much aware of the Spare's value!
He would probably have had mistresses and would have expected Jane to turn a blind eye. I wonder if his \”love\” for her would have faded. I do not think he was particularly keen on her in the way he was with Anne but he would have respected her for being the mother of his son.
England would probably have become a very different place had Jane Seymour survived.
Bess
4:51 pm
June 30, 2009
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yes if he got rid of Jane through divorce, execution etc then Edward would I presume have to be labelled a bastard and Henry would be back to square one, so she was secure in that sense. Suppose there are always other ways of gettin rid of a wife, poison etc but from what happened to his others wives I think he liked to look like he was always the 'good' guy and the wives deserved it
2:30 am
October 13, 2009
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The marriage would have deffinatley lasted, in a way. Remember, all Henry wanted was a son. He accused Anne of witchcraft for not being able to bear a son. Since Jane bore a son, he would've left her alone and just had his fun with mistresses. As much as I hate to say it, but Jane was smart enough to keep her mouth shut and not make any problems.
7:22 pm
October 11, 2009
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Henry would have found a way to get rid of \”dear Jane\” if he had wanted. He would have put her aside, just being at her side for public occasions and having mistresses for the rest of his life. Imagine the fact that Edward was highly taken care of, not being approached by sick people and so on. Hoping for more sons, his father wouldn't have acted like that. And if he had died without a brother, Henry would have searched another wife. What I wonder is what he would have done if he had needed a foreign alliance, and if he would have kept his English wife? He surely would have find a way to declare their wedding invalid, but their son legitimate, since children conceived in invalid wedding but in good faith were seen as legitimate.
8:29 pm
October 14, 2009
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I think Henry would have eventually tired of her and gotten rid of her. She was very quiet and submissive, which he liked because Anne was so agressive. I think he would have gotten really bored. He was head of his own church what would be the need to keep her? I also think if she didn't have any more sons that would probably have been a bad thing for her. I do believe though, that Anne was probably the only woman who ever had such a strong hold on the king-before they were married of course. But part of me feels like she was the one and only for him, although he never said that-it seemed like she was his match.
8:49 pm
February 16, 2009
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I agree with you, Belle, about Anne Boleyn, she was definitely Henry's match. Anne was Henry's equal in so many ways and the two of them were very alike, too alike probably.
I think that with Anne you probably knew where you stood – she said what she thought – whereas I think Jane was a consummate actress and a snake in the grass. I love the fact that even Chapuys wonders if “no scorpions lurk under the honey” – she's just too good to be true and Weir talks of \”her tacit – and cilling – complicity in Anne's destruction\”. Perhaps Henry would have got to know the real Jane and not liked her one bit, perhaps the guilt that he had got rid of Anne to marry her would have eaten away at him and destroyed the relationship. I'm not sure but I'm convinced that even if their marriage had lasted it would not have been happy for either of them.
Debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn
2:05 am
October 3, 2009
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I don't think that King Henry would have gotten rid of her because she did give him a male heir, his hearts deepest desire! I do think that he would have tired of her and treated her very similiarly to the way that he treated Catherine of Aragon. I read somewhere that he made mention shortly after he married her that he had wished that he had chosen a “fairer” mate, alluding to her plain looks. I definately believe he woulda have taken on a mistress (or three or ten!)
I think that her obvious ability to conform to the will of the king would have protected her. The only way that I think she would have been in serious trouble would be if she tried to force her will regarding the Catholic Church or maybe her family may have caused her trouble (especially her two brothers.)
