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8:39 pm
January 31, 2013
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It has been suggested many times by different authors/lecturers that Jane Seymour was the love of Henry’s life. Methinks a big NO. When one takes into account that within days if not weeks of their wedding he sinisterly told her to ‘remember Anne Boleyn,’ when she dared to try and fight his daughter Mary’s cause. Also, one can only imagine her fate had Edward been a girl. And had she lived, I feel certain he would have pushed for more boys; a spare at the very least, and what if she could only manage the one? I say if ever there was a love in Henry’s life, it was Anne Boleyn.
10:22 pm
November 18, 2010
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Henry also noted that there were prettier women at court a few days after their wedding….
Henry loved Jane simply because she gave birth to a living son…and that he’d removed all possible obstecules to their union so it was 100% legal.
Plus for the most part Jane was able to act as a submissive Tudor woman so there was total adoration and no nasty quarrels. Henry was content with that in a wife since his previous 2 showed that they were capable of besting him in their quarrels.
But I totally agree with you about Anne being the real love of his life. What he had for Jane was less love and more gratitude but as he aged and subsequent wives failed him then he looked back to that time with a lot more affection for Jane’s sacrifice.
It's always bunnies.
1:28 am
June 7, 2010
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Henry’s affection for Jane was based in posterity. She gave him the longed for son and heir. She would forever, in death, be remembered as the love of his life. Had she followed her predecessors, and birthed a daughter, I believe Henry would be getting rid of her too. Jane’s security was (like Anne) based upon Henry’s love and affection. A son and an early death ensured her a place in his affection forever.
Jane portrayed herself as the ideal Tudor wife. I think there was more to her than her sweetness, submissiveness, and quiet solitude. This exterior belied an intelligence and toughness she rarley gets credit for. I onced harboured a dislike for Jane (and I admit wrongly and ill-considered). But, after learning more about her, I’ve grown to view her in an alternative light.
I cannot accept Henry ever truly loved anyone. He held a romantic view of love; one that would always end in disappointment and disaster. None of his wives, would ever live up to these unreachable ideals. The only true love of Henry’s life was Henry.
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
7:16 pm
February 24, 2010
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Henry bestowed that affectionate phrase, “true wife” to Jane after she was dead. While she lived…not so much. A man in love with his wife doesn’t make remarks about how he should have waited to marry because there were so many prettier women at court that he hadn’t seen until it was too late. If he loved and respected his wife, he wouldn’t have made such remarks. Funny way of showing his love. When she died, after giving him a son, he discovers he loves her. I don’t dislike Jane either. The culprit here is Henry.
I wish I could believe Henry loved Anne, but I don’t. He was a romantic, he loved the chase, and he was good at it. I agree with Duchess. His true love was himself. Whatever made Henry happy, and when he stopped being happy…look out!
11:51 pm
January 3, 2012
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Nah Henry didn’t love Jane, in the fullest sence of the word. He loved her because she gave him a son, but to be honest Henry had the same sort of feelings for Bessie Blount. Anne was his only true love, apart from himself that is.
Sharon is quite right As long as Henry was happy and got what he wanted, he was ok, but when he wasn’t run like hell.
The trouble is that Henry wanted to be loved, and when someone did love loved him resented it.
Semper Fidelis, quod sum quod
6:50 pm
January 18, 2013
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It depends what you mean by love since I don’t think he is capable of real love in which you are selfless when it comes to that person…I don’t tink Henry knew hte meaning of that haha. He never loved Jane properly when she was alive. I would definitely say he loved Anne Boleyn the most, however I would also say the same for Catherine of Aragon. It wasn’t as passionate as with Anne Boleyn but I definitely think he loved her, of course that love is always dependent on if that person gives him what he wants, COA and AB obviously didn’t and so lots his love.
Woohoo I'm normal...gotta go tell the cat!
11:01 pm
June 15, 2012
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I don’t think Henry really loved anyone apart from himself. He was obsessed with Anne because he desired her and she resisted, but I don’t think it was really love. Once he possessed her she needed to provide a son. When she didn’t he threw her to the wolves without a second thought. I don’t think he loved Jane either. She was manouvred into his path by scheming relatives after she showed a bit of interest in her, but his behaviour towards her was not that of a man really in love.
5:20 pm
Henry’s big love was Henry.
Though I think that he seemed to have had some romantic feelings at some point for KOA, AB and KH.
KOA was said to have been attractive in her youth. The relationship with Henry went on well for a long time. She also turned away regarding mistresses and Henry seemed to trust her. The only downside for Henry was that she didn’t produce a son.
For AB he had strong romantic feelings. The reasons for her downfall came together like ingredients (no son, new girl Seymour, Henry tired of her since she seemed to have been the only wife who talked back to him and she didn’t turn away regarding mistresses).
KH was his midlife crisis. I believe that she probably had some similar traits of Anne.
KOA, AB and also KP were well educated thus at least interesting conversation partners. Similar to KOA Henry seemed to have trusted KP (she was very close to being arrested though).
AOC was arranged. He also had his eyes set on KH already.
Jane isn’t even close to being Henry’s true love. Henry only looked back at her fondly since she had a son and died before he could tire of her. She was neither highly educated like KOA, AB or KP nor vivacious like KH.
I believe that if Jane wouldn’t have had a son he wouldn’t have been buried next to her. If she would have had a daughter and died it would have “just been another girl” in Henry’s eyes. If she would have had a daughter and lived he would have put her aside as well.
If she would have survived Edward’s birth he would have respected her as the mother of his son and would have tried to get a second son with her as a spare but he would have surely had mistresses (he wasn’t even faithful to AB. I believe the only reason that no potential new mistresses or new queens around KH’s time were in sight was since he was too old. There were rumors of KP being put aside for other girls however that seems to be spread by people who didn’t agree with her religious views).
8:21 am
January 3, 2012
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But then equally so he remembered Bessie Blount in a roundabout sort of way. He often toasted Bessie with the words “God bless ye Bessie” again I think this was all down to her son by him.
Henry loved Jane and had respect for Bessie purely because they had a son, other than that P.B one and only true love was himself.
Semper Fidelis, quod sum quod
