Natalie Dormer and Jonathan Rhys Meyers in The Tudors
The Investiture of Anne Boleyn as the Marquess of Pembroke on September 1st 1532 was a pivotal moment in English history, deeply intertwined with the broader narrative of the English Reformation and Henry VIII's efforts to secure a male heir. This event was not only a grand display of royal favour but also a strategic move by Henry to elevate Anne Boleyn to a status befitting the future queen of England. The title of Marquess of Pembroke, an ancient and prestigious one, had deep connections to the Tudor dynasty, adding layers of significance to Anne's elevation.
Background and Context
By 1532, Anne Boleyn had been in the spotlight for several years as the object of Henry VIII's affections. However, their relationship was fraught with complications. Henry was still married to Catherine of Aragon, and his attempts to annul the marriage had been met with resistance from both the Pope and Catherine herself. Despite this, Anne had become the focal point of the king's court, and Henry was determined to marry her.
The creation of Anne as Marquess of Pembroke served several purposes. First, it was a clear statement of Henry's commitment to Anne. By granting her a noble title, Henry could better justify his decision to marry her, as she would now hold a rank high enough to be queen. Second, it was a demonstration of Henry's independence from Rome. By investing Anne with such a title, he was effectively bypassing traditional ecclesiastical approval, asserting his authority as the sovereign of England.
The title itself was not chosen at random. The Marquessate of Pembroke had deep connections to the Tudor family. Jasper Tudor, the uncle of Henry VII and a key figure in the Wars of the Roses, had held the title. By granting Anne this title, Henry was linking her to his own royal lineage, further legitimizing her position.
The Ceremony
The investiture took place at Windsor Castle, a location of great symbolic and political importance. Windsor was one of the principal royal residences, and holding the ceremony there underscored the significance of the occasion. The ceremony was a grand affair, attended by many of the most powerful and influential figures in the kingdom.
The event began with Anne being led into the castle's great hall by a procession of nobles. She was dressed in sumptuous robes befitting her new status, adorned with jewels that reflected her new wealth and power. The hall itself was decorated to emphasize the grandeur of the occasion, with tapestries and banners displaying the royal arms.
The key figure in the ceremony, aside from Anne herself, was Henry VIII. The king personally oversaw the investiture, a testament to the importance he placed on the event. He presented Anne with the Patents that officially created her Marquess of Pembroke; the first of her title, outlined the lands and incomes that would now belong to Anne, making her one of the wealthiest women in England. The patents detailed the specific rights and privileges that came with the title; she was granted lands in Wales and the West Country, which had been part of the earldom of Pembroke. These lands included some of the most lucrative estates in the kingdom, further solidifying Anne's new status. The income from these lands made Anne not only the richest non-royal woman in England but also one of the most powerful.
Further, the illumination on the manuscript document decorated Anne’s insignia, the falcon, with the royal color of red, blue, and gold. This was an insightful representation of the role of queen consort that this document would facilitate.
The ceremony concluded with Anne swearing an oath of loyalty to the king, after which she was officially declared the Marquess of Pembroke. The assembled nobles then paid homage to her, recognising her new rank. This public display of loyalty was crucial, as it signalled to the court and the country that Anne was now a key player in the realm's politics – something unprecedented in England. The only other contemporary example of this kind of investiture was the honours granted to Marguerite of Angoulême by Francis I, her brother.
Significance of the Title
The significance of the title cannot be overstated. By making Anne Marquess of Pembroke, Henry was elevating her to a rank that was virtually unprecedented for a woman who was not of royal blood. The title of Marquess was relatively rare in England, and it was even rarer for a woman to hold it in her own right. This move effectively made Anne a peer in her own right, independent of her relationship with Henry.
Furthermore, the title connected Anne to the Tudor dynasty in a very direct way. The original holder of the title, Jasper Tudor, had been a key figure in the establishment of the Tudor regime. By granting Anne this title, Henry was not only elevating her status but also linking her to the very origins of his family's power.
This connection to the Tudor lineage was important for another reason: it helped to legitimise Anne's potential offspring. Should Anne bear Henry a son, that child would be able to claim descent not only from the king but also from a noble lineage connected to the Tudors. This was a crucial consideration for Henry, who was obsessed with securing the succession.
Preparing for Marriage
The investiture also served as a prelude to Anne's marriage to Henry. Although the couple would not be formally married until January 1533, the creation of Anne as Marquess of Pembroke was a necessary step in preparing for that union. By granting Anne a noble title, Henry was ensuring that she would be a suitable match for a king. This was particularly important given the ongoing dispute over the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon. By the time of the investiture, it was clear that Henry would not receive papal approval for the annulment, and thus he needed to bolster Anne's status in other ways.
Moreover, by making Anne the richest woman in England (outside of the royal family), Henry was ensuring that she would be seen as a fitting queen consort. The wealth and power that came with the title of Marquess of Pembroke made Anne a formidable figure in her own right, independent of her relationship with Henry. This was important not only for the court's perception of Anne but also for the broader public.
Aftermath and Impact
The investiture of Anne as Marquess of Pembroke was a critical moment in the lead-up to her marriage to Henry VIII and her eventual coronation as queen. It demonstrated Henry's commitment to Anne and his willingness to break with tradition and the church to secure his objectives. The title of Marquess of Pembroke not only elevated Anne to a status befitting a queen but also tied her to the Tudor dynasty in a way that was meant to legitimise her future children.
In the broader context of English history, this event marked a turning point in the relationship between the crown and the nobility. By creating a new noble title for Anne, Henry was asserting his authority to shape the nobility according to his will, bypassing traditional mechanisms of power. This move would have lasting implications for the English aristocracy and the structure of power in the kingdom.
In summary, the investiture of Anne Boleyn as Marquess of Pembroke was a carefully orchestrated event that served multiple purposes. It solidified Anne's status as the future queen, connected her to the Tudor dynasty, and prepared the way for her marriage to Henry VIII. In doing so, it also underscored the changes that were taking place in the English monarchy and the broader political landscape.
Resources:
In agreement with the unpublished findings of Postgraduate research by Ashlie Newcombe.
Eric Ives, The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn, 2005.
Edward Hall, Hall’s Chronicle, 1548.
TNA State Papers Online.
David Starkey, Six Wives of Henry VIII, 2003.
Charlotte Bolland, Six Lives, 2024.
BL Harley MS 303 f.1.
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