Eventually Henry must have been feeling unsure of Anne’s ability to produce children but even after Anne’s January miscarriage she was treated reasonably well by Henry. Henry believed his first two marriages were invalid so God punished him by not giving him Sons. The harder he tried, the more distant Edward VI became, and he could never gain the level of influence he desired. Did she love him, or was she unable to say ‘no’, and terrified of going the same way as Anne?
Not only did he reportedly wear black for months after her death, but he also waited until 1540 to remarry. I’d like to think she could have run to a nunnery if Jane had so desired.
As for her wanting to marry the king, I don’t think she had any such aspirations. You cannot say its the same if someone leaves you alone to live by your own (as catherine of Aragon), and if someone manage to kill you..moreover the affair between Jane and Henry started when Anne was pregnant, which is very different to the Catherine’s case. And,if Henry really told that Jane was her true love, it was just because she gave birth to a son. I also think Henry began looking for wife number four fairly quickly. Despite what you think the marriage negotiations between Henry and other possible brides started a few months after Jane’s death. However, I think a good deal can be inferred about her from the family she came from by considering the well-documented actions of her brothers, specifically Thomas Seymour. On the other hand, Anne would not have flinched if Katherine had been executed.Of course Jane was Henry’s one true love: her son lived! They had known each other for less than two years and before Henry could find any serious faults in Jane, she went and died while giving birth to Henry’s dream; a living heir. He attempted to oust the new council leader, and was beheaded for his crimes in January 1552. Though it took 7 long years for Henry to finally divorce Katherine at the end it was speeded up because we now know that Anne Boleyn was pregnant with what the king hoped was his longed for son and heir. She could have at least endured the child had clothes that fit her…She was betrhothed to Henry and preparing her wedding dress the same day Anne was heading to the scaffold. After all, what the king wanted he got.Great article! he was in control every step of the way.I came into this conversation a year or 4 from the original post too late.
Jane took a risk to plead for the monastic houses and showed bravery in doing so. Jane died early and after birthing his only living male heir. And there was quiet Jane, who was no great beauty and no great wit according to those who ‘knew her.’ If Anne had been sent to a nunnery, what was there to stop Henry wanting her back? Both positions were very desirable for they allowed personal access to the king. If CoA was still alive i doubt Mary would have complied so easily with Henry’s wisdes. And he had spent years maintaining he was never truly married to Catherine of Aragon so could hardly expect to be buried next to a woman who was not his wife. that at any moment, he could have her head. He did have a big ego but I think he was a real romantic and his major fault was that he had such high and unrealistic expectations of his wives and friends.Same as he loved Anne, who he pursued for a decade and then executed?
She followed a controversial and contentious queen in Anne Boleyn and most importantly, produced a male heir. But that’s not a reflection on his love for Jane. Had she not given Henry a male heir she would definitely had gone the way of her predecessors. We must remember that AB wasn’t liked at court OR by the English people. King Henry and Anne’s marriage was already broken and King Henry was more than willing to leave.The main difference is that Catherine of Aragon wasnt to be executed. Perhaps Jane should be given the benefit of the doubt because we know so little about her and her time as queen was so short.