9:12 pm
October 31, 2010
to describe each wife. And give your reasons.
KoA: Faithful. It is amazing to me how faithful KoA was to both God and Henry through everything. If Henry had seen how wrong what he was doing was and gone running back to KoA, she would have taken him back with her whole heart because she believed in her heart that she was Henry's rightful wife. And, through all of that, I don't know that I would have been able to maintain the level of faith to God that she somehow managed to the end of her life.
AB: Fiery. It's no wonder H8 fell head over heels for her.
JS: Misunderstood. We all love AB here so much, that I think for us (and a lot of AB lovers) it's tempting to point fingers at Jane and call her a homewrecker or what have you, but I don't think that was the case at all…nor do I think Jane had the gumption or ambition to organize a political coup the likes of which occurred to Anne all alone.
AoC: Ideal. If Henry had given Anne a chance, I think she would have been the best wife for him. I think she knew the politics of court, she knew how to keep her mouth shut when necessary, I think she honestly wanted to please Henry and tried to the best of her ability–it's not her fault she was inexperienced. She probably would have allowed him to have mistresses without saying a word.
KH: Naive. She was so worldly and, yet, so clueless about the things that were really important.
CP: Classy. There's something to be said for Catherine from the standpoint that she was a woman of means after the death of her second husband. She didn't need to marry Henry for the money or the prestige–granted, when the King of England asks you to marry him (especially a man like Henry VIII), you don't exactly say no. I don't know if she genuinely cared for Henry, but she was wiley enough to play the game and hang on to the end. I have to respect that.
"We mustn't let our passions destroy our dreams…"
11:18 am
December 5, 2010
KoA- Loyalty. She was loyal to the very bitter end.
AB- Witty. She knew exactly how to get her name in history books forever.
JS- Humble. It's just the first word!
AoC- Intelligence. The one who learnt from other's mistakes and got off quite well…
KH- Victim. She wasn't given the proper education for Queen and lacked the natural wit.
KP- Inspirational. I think she inspired a lot of people's lives. In my opinion both Jane Grey and Elizabeth benefited from her.
I wish to confess to you and tell you my secret, which is that I am no angel. -Queen Elizabeth I
11:49 am
February 24, 2010
KOA: Fighter: She loved Henry, believed in their marriage, and fought to save it. She fought to make him see that he was going down the wrong path by trying to divorce her. She was fighting for their souls. She was also fighting to preserve her daughter's rights.
Anne: Soul-mate: She was yin to Henry's yang. The two of them had an awesomely exciting love.
JS: Misunderstood: You said it Meg. I think Jane gets a bad rap because she followed our Anne. I doubt very much that she was in love with Henry, but how do you say no to a king who rid himself of his two previous wives? I don't think she had too much of a choice.
AOC: Free: I love this woman. Had Henry given her a chance, she would have been a great match for him. But he didn't. He set her free. She was allowed to live in a simple luxury. She made friends at court and with Henry's children. She was free of her brother. And she out-lived Henry.
KH: teenager: Big mistakes are made by teenagers when they have little or no guidance and poor Katherine was no exception. From her Grandmother, to her Uncle, to Culpepper and Jane Boleyn, there was no one who really seemed to care about her. And she really needed someone to watch over her and guide her. If the girl was guided at all, it was in the wrong direction. I feel for this girl.
CP: Intelligent: She helped guide Elizabeth and Jane Grey. She was a published author which was so rare for a woman in that time. She was intelligent enough to know when to give in to Henry and save her life.
WOW…one word was not easy. Each of these women had so much going for them. It was hard to pick just one word.
12:01 pm
June 7, 2010
KOA: Committed. KOA did her duty until the day she died. She believed in her committment to Henry, Mary, her faith, and England. Even on her death bed, her love for Henry did not wane.
Anne: Courageous. She stood up to the most poweful man in England, spoke her mind, and did not back down. Even on the scaffold, she spoke with dignity and courage in the face of her own death. A woman, taken into a man's world, on her own terms, with her own mind, and independence to make her own choices. Even though she lost, her life and Elizabeth are her greatest legacies.
Jane: Complex. I know this is more a word I would associate with Anne, but the true Jane is so elusive. There is more to Jane than the sweet, demure woman. She was intelligent, cunning, and determined. She succeeded where others faultered. Jane, a woman whose is often maligned, but who I have new found respect for.
AOC: Survivor. I know I use that word a lot when I write about Anne. I just cannot help it. For some strange reason, I feel a kinship with Anne. She used her intelligent to survive. She won. Even if not as Queen, she won Henry's affection and respect, and that should never be underestimated.
Katherine H: Victim. I agree with bethany.x. She was a sitting duck. There for the taking. I feel the most empathy for her. She never stood a chance. Katherine had no education, no real familiy dependence, and was completely unsuitable for Queen and Henry's wife. Henry's horomones got the best of him. Sadly, Katherine paid the ultimate price.
Katherine P: Dichotomous: Katherine was the best combination of KOA and Anne. She did her duty as Queen and paid Henry the upmost respect in public, but she kept her own council. There is two Katherines: the stately and regal Queen and the dedicated and fervent Protestant. I am not saying she was two differnt people, but she had this ability to separte the two. It showed splendidly when she convinces Henry her religious arguments were simply bantering.
"By daily proof you shall find me to be to you both loving and kind" Anne Boleyn
5:50 am
October 12, 2010
KoA: Faithful. As previously explained by Meg, it is amazing how faithful Katherine was to Henry and her beliefs till the very end.
AB: Passionate. I don't know if there is a person that could dispute that Anne was an incredibly passionate woman. I think that one of the many reasons that Henry fell in love with her was that he had finally found someone as passionate, fiery and intelligent(perhaps more so) than he was.
JS: __________. To be honest, I cannot find a word to describe Jane. I still struggle to find any kind of feeling for Jane, one way or the other. Where I have been able to find things to love about all of the other wives, Jane is still a complete mystery to me. As someone that loves Anne for her passion and fire, Jane is just so…. so dull and lifeless, almost maddeningly so.
AoC: Loving. Anne was so warm and loving to everyone around her. I have heard that she knew all of her servants by name, and address almost all of them in her will. She was very loving towards Henry's children, and was gracious and kind to Henry and the wives that came after her. I think she would have been the perfect wife for Henry if only he could have seen past her perceived imperfections.
KH: Naive. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.
KP: Intelligence. Katherine was right up there with Anne Boleyn and Katherine of Aragon in terms of intellect. She was also smart enough to know how to patch things up with Henry just in time to save her own skin. A very intelligent woman indeed.
2:53 pm
August 2, 2010
KoA: I would (like many of you have said) have to go with faithful or loyal.
Anne: Passionate, if we're talking personality. If we're talking relationship to Henry…I completely agree with Sharon. Anne and Henry were soul mates.
Jane Seymour: Distraction. Sorry, Jane, but all I see with her and Henry is that Henry wanted to distract himself from the horrible stuff with Anne, and he needed someone completely unalike from her. He didn't value her for her, he valued her for her unlikeness to Anne. That's just my opinion.
Anne of Cleves: I would agree with loving, probably. Or something along those lines–patient, warm, understanding. Yes, understanding is it. She took her dethroning and divorce will a heck of a lot more than just a grain of salt. And she was called ugly by a fat old man who was her husband…
KH: Yep, naive. No other way to say it.
KP: Intellectual. Not only was she intellignt, she was very well learned and had opinions that usually only academic, scholarly men would have. I very much admire her (though not of course as much as Anne B!!)
"Grumble all you like, this is how it's going to be"
9:06 am
February 10, 2010
What a fantastic question. Ok here goes…
KoA: Stubborn – says it all really!
AB: Paradoxical – so fiery she made all sorts of enemies but also good company and a skillful politician
JS: Obedient – coached in how to copy Anne then worked very hard not to annoy Henry (quite a trick if you think about it!)
AoC: Shrewd – the ultimate survivor
KH: Easygoing – to be fair to her she didn't have much time for court politics and factions, she just wanted everyone to have fun.
KP: Passionate – whether it was about religion, being married to Henry or racing into marriage with Tom Seymour, the lady lived life to the full.
11:41 am
May 19, 2011
KOA- I would have said dignified, but my opinion is changing of her… so bull headed- stubborn is already taken!
Anne- Passion. Anne had passion for all that she did and she polorized people perhaps as a result.
Seymour- Grey. Well she's a puppet… Thunderbirds are go!
Anne of Cleves- Wise. Well played AOC! Enjoy Hever and your delicious freedom- from your brother and from Henry!
Katherine Howard- Idiot. I'm sorry, kitty, but really- not a brain in your head.
Katherine Parr- Disturbed. Bi Polar? Personality disorder? Any way, there seem to be two of her; the one who plays with Thomas Seymour at Elizabeth's expense and the other, well educated, calm and caring Katherine.
"A fresh young damsel, who could trip and go"
Bringing this back because it’s fun!
Catherine of Aragon: Proud – in the way she persevered in resisting anullment, and in her style of rule, she showed a great deal of pride, and self-righteousness.
Anne Boleyn: Volatile – obviously, she was incredibly temperamental, and argumentative, but obviously not reining it in was a dangerous choice.
Jane Seymour: Ambitious – she knew what game she was playing (she played it so well that people still fall for it 500 years down the line.)
Anne of Cleves: Opportunistic – if she could see herself benefitting from something, she pursued it.
Katherine Howard: Potential – she did take her role as consort seriously and would have made a good queen consort if the Lascelles didn’t tattle on her.
Katherine Parr: Mysterious – I will never know how to analyse her. She is the wife I understand the least, because I research her the least.
No Other Will But Hers
10:43 pm
January 2, 2014
Catherine of Aragon – stubborn. Good for her.
Anne Boleyn – desperate. To be queen, to provide an heir, for her life.
Jane Seymour – lucky. She died before he tired of her.
Anne of Cleves – lucky also. She escaped a fate worse than death!
Katherine Howard – silly. For thinking she could act flightily with her husband’s track record.
Katherine Parr – saintly. For caring for him so tenderly even when he didn’t deserve it.