Digging up a Tudor Queen | Why was Anne Boleyn Exhumed? 

While I don’t have any evidence, and it is only my own opinion, although Elizabeth might have wanted to do something about it, I don’t think it would have been very wise to do so. Her own position was shaky, even though she was very good at holding onto it. Elizabeth needed stability, and bringing up the controversy related to the victims of her father and their executions would not have helped her cause (especially considering how the matter was intimately related to religion). It would have meant taking an opposing stance to her father (and his godly-approved decision), in a situation where there was no proof of her mother’s innocence, and there would have been several protests at the respectful reburial of a convicted adulteress. In the end, she would have known that future monarchs would make changes to the Tower and may have placed her faith there. I believe that she was forward thinking enough to realise that although it would not have happened in her time, gender equality would eventually become important to society (although the decline of religion and of the right to rule are a different matter). There were so many strong females figures at the time. Katherine Parr as an example. Certainly it is only with the hindsight of several centuries that women’s rights had improved enough to look back on Anne Boleyn and others with a degree of sympathy and without triggering the powder-keg that was their political situation at the time. In addition, Elizabeth was very young when her mother died, and her own life was incredibly busy. I think it would have been too sore a wound to touch until times moved on. Although I’m sure that Elizabeth may have regretted it.

Elizabeth I might not have known that her mother was just thrown in an arrow box. I'm sure nobody dared tell her anything she didn't want to hear.

@@RosinaEmilyW wonderfully stated. I agree that with all she had too protect during her rule Elizabeth would have wisely felt it not too any advantage to move her mother.

I'm fairly sure Elizabeth could not have reburied Anne quietly. I also suspect she couldn't have cared less about Henry's other 'victims'.

Elizabeth was advised to leave matters alone so as not to call attention to her own illegitimacy...........but she did honour her mother in many subtle ways......

Super, glad you enjoyed it. Cheers 👍🏻

Wow, that's great to hear Victoria, thank you for watching and your very kind comment. It's my pleasure 👍🏻

She had a shaky grasp on the throne 2 begin with(as each Tudor monarch did)& she knew it. Being a woman wasn't helping her confidence either. She COULD NOT afford to show allegiance (@least publicly ) 2 any certain group. She was way too smart for that. She was, after all, both her father & her Mothers daughter. She learned, I think, a lot of lessons from each of them.

Theyndid it to Diana

I honestly dont think she wished for it. I think he forced it on her.

No, not really....

Anne Boleyn resisted a relationship with the most powerful man in England for several years before finally being worn down and also used as a pawn in her father's political machinations. There were lots of letters that are still extant of her rebuffing his advances.

She tried to stop Henry from looting the monastery. He killed her, she should have known he had no mercy for Moore or Fisher or poor monks. I believe she had options but thought she was destined to have a Tudor prince.

Many courtiers would have been ordered to be there by Henry or Cromwell to show loyalty and to try to convey some legitimacy on the disgraceful proceedings.

He wasn’t a fat slob at the time. Very handsome.

It's one early form of public entertainment since there was no TV or Cable. Though I'm sure there were many people who looked away.

@@warrengwonka2479 and very formidable too, I am guessing he was quite attractive to Ladies of the day akin to a top football player or rugby chappie.

@@MickRiley or a certain red-haired Prince Harry…

Thanks for your comment Rhys. I can't imagine what it would have been like to walk to my execution like that 👍🏻

I agree with you, my History teacher smoked cigar’s and smelled gross and was boring. I barely passed. I love History and have done a lot of reading now I am older 😊

Grik god

@@djordjekaljevic5725 Unlike most Greeks I don't believe in Gods of any sort.

Great comment Neil, thanks 👍🏻

Deposed.

Neil of Longbeck - I remember learning that.

St. Peter ad Vincula wasn't a prison: it was, and still is, a CHURCH. You're not paying attention.

@@perniciouspete4986 the feast of Saint Peter ad Vincula was being celebrated on the day that Roger Mortimer escaped from the Yower of London, whic contains the Royal Chapel dedicated to this saint and has been there for the best part of 1,000 years. It is the ad Vincula part of his name that is appropriate to the Tower of London in its use as a prison..

Thanks Alexander, it really is my pleasure!

Thanks Lesley, will do!

Glad you enjoy it!

Yes I agree. I think she should had been at least placed in Westminster Abbey with her daughter Queen Elizabeth the first. Henry VIII reign was not our finest period in history.

Not knowing what was said about her on the altar stone, it's hard to judge, but it seems to me that her daughter should have made sure that the full interpretation was given, not just the prejudicial Henry version.

Good question. I'd have thought Elizabeth I would have

Elizabeth didn't care about any member of her family anymore than her father or grandfather did. She imprisoned her own sister in the very same tower for gods sake. Just a nobody named Mary queen of scots

I was just questioning that myself

Cheers Tom, I appreciate that 👍

The way he tells it is the thing. A rare gift. A master story teller can turn a simple picnic into an adventure! "I'll tell you a tale! Oh the Sun, oh the bees and flowers and the wine and cheese! If only you were there!" He has that gift of wordsmithing. Weaving a thought.

Then this gentleman has done his job excellently in teaching History!

I felt nothing but suffocation as we queued for our tickets. I was struggling for air, and I had to walk away, leaving my husband to get the tickets, as I turned I saw the place of death of either Anne Boleyn or Mary Queen of Scots. That explained everything. We only went on to see the Crown Jewels. Super- hypersensitive. At Hurst Castle I saw the ghost of one of Charles I soldiers, walking beside me. In Scotland we were going to visit a castle. I pulled the car up, but had bad feelings about it. I drove off. In a documentary about 2 years later, I read that it was haunted by several unfortunate beings who were believed to walk there.

My pleasure!

I will, thank you, and thanks for the SUPER, it's much appreciated. I'm glad your children are enjoying the videos too, history shouldn't have to be dull 👍🏻

Cheers Richard!! Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

😃 Happy Days!!

Thanks, will do!

Cheers Buddy - hope you're keeping well!

You're very welcome Jerry, I'm glad you enjoyed this one.

Brilliant channel

Wow, that's great to hear Elizabeth, I'm glad the quality is good as I never quite get to watch them on a high def tv, just a computer monitor. 👍🏻

Glad you enjoyed it 👍🏻

Cheers Peter, & thanks for your support over on Patreon too. I'm busy painting up some more figures for my next battle 👍🏻

@@thehistorysquad do a video on Frank Kitson soon

My pleasure 👍🏻

Thanks for the visit 👍

Cheers 👍🏻

Thank you Arthur, you're so very welcome!

Anne was anointed Queen, a Monarch. and was so in her own right. she was the last Queen of England.

But what about the bodies of executed traitors? Under the Treason Act of 1351 (long before Tudor times), both Anne Boleyn and Katharine Howard were guilty of high treason.

@@allenjenkins7947 I think most of us are aware that where his two wives were concerned, Henry V111's answer to get rid of them was to accuse them of high treason. Like Putin, you didn't oppose the King or else you were accused of high treason yourself.

@@Boogledigs Adultery by, or with, the King's wife, his unmarried daughter, or the wife of an heir to the throne were defined as high treason. The reason for this seemingly harsh definition was that it could place doubts on the legitimacy of any offspring and cloud the line of succession to the throne. Civil wars had been fought for this reason in the past.

Glad you enjoyed it

Exactly what I thought I also was waiting and looking forward to maybe a line drawing at least of her bones, but with so much pressure under royal orders and so many bodies skeletons to have to deal with I guess they didn't have the time nor temerity do this.

All the remains found had their heads cut off. They were all executed. It would be a bit like stating the obvious.

I'm guessing it might not have been possible. These bodies were prisoners and traitors to the crown. They wouldn't have been embalmed. Over two hundred years had passed. Decomposition would have been complete. Just lifting the box would have shifted the bones and most likely the skull would have moved within the box. Plus, weapon impacts on bone wasn't truly studied until the 1940s. He might not have known what to even look for.

How do you mean? Most buried there had been beheaded

they all have been decapitated

😜 cheers Joseph 👍🏻

😜 Please do!

Thank you & welcome. 👍🏻

How lovely, thank you Peter 👍🏻

I'm curious... was she black?!?

Thank you very much!

Not morbid very factual history!

Cheers both 👍

Yes, but it was quite simple really. The priory where Richard III was buried was sold off and demolished after the reformation and the dead were left where they lay. There's more under the car park than the king. It was the same at Bisham Abbey 👍🏻

@@thehistorysquad Wow that is so sad. You would think the Priory would say... "Oh and by the way, you remember Richard III?" but... they may have not even known at that point I suppose. Thanks for the added info!

Us too!!

Wow, thanks very much for your sub. I hope you get a chance to look at some of the back videos too 👍🏻

Me too, and I did my Ancestry and I am 68% British. I studied for 3 years,so great…

Thanks Mike, I appreciate that 👍🏻

Thanks for subbing! Welcome 👍🏻

Oh wow!

Wow, what a treat behind the scenes - brilliant 👍🏻

Thank you kindly 👍🏻

Thanks Lars, I appreciate it. Cheers!!

at least it was quick ( if done properly)......would you prefer to watch them starve to death or burnt alive or boiled alive. Given various options i would prefer the head coming off or if a option drowning maybe less horrific.

@@antonyjones4259 quick and painless if the execution was done properly. It took 15 wacks to see off Mary Queen of Scot’s and this was normal

That's not exactly rocket science, Helen! If I had to have my head chopped off, I'd be glad when it was over, too!

Cheers buddy 😉

Sorry Stephen, I'm not sure.

Good! 😜

Hi Dennis, thanks so much for the 'SUPER' I really appreciate it. In answer to your question, there was never any evidence on the skeletal remains that she had 6 fingers 👍🏻

Gosh, thanks mate!! I've got some of my videos on Shaw, I guess it's a start 😉

@@thehistorysquad You explain things in a very personable way. I think I speak for fans of the history squad when I say it feels like you just speaking to just one person. That's a rare talent. Keep up the excellent commentary!

@@chocothemagnificent1019 thanks mate, will do. 👍🏻