Doomed Queen Anne {Young Royals Lit-Based Unit Study}

One of the most intriguing figures in English history, Anne Boleyn was Queen of England as the second wife of King Henry VIII. She is remembered for her execution by beheading for treason at the start of the English Reformation...but does history get it right?

Historic References from our Novel

• Thomas Cromwell was an English lawyer and statesman who served as chief minister to King Henry VIII.  He helped to engineer an annulment of the king's marriage to Catherine of Aragon so that Henry could lawfully marry Anne Boleyn, and he helped create the Church of England.  He arranged the king's fourth marriage, to Anne of Cleves, which ended poorly.  Cromwell was beheaded on orders of the king, who later decided Cromwell was innocent and blamed false charges for the execution.
• Thomas Wolsey was a Catholic bishop who became the controlling figure in virtually all matters of state during Henry VIII's rule.  The highest political position Wolsey attained was Lord Chancellor, the king's chief adviser.  During this time, he enjoyed great freedom and was often depicted as an "alter rex," "another king."  As with most of the king's closest, he eventually fell out of favor and was stripped of his power.  He was called up on charges of treason, but died of natural causes before he could be executed.
• Jane Seymour was the third wife of King Henry VIII.  She became queen following the execution of Anne Boleyn, but died of postnatal complications less than two weeks after the birth of her only child, the future King Edward VI.  She was the only wife of Henry to receive a queen's funeral or to be buried beside him in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle.
• Here's a helpful mnemonic:  King Henry VIII had SIX wives.  In order, they were: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.

The Medieval Church

Central to the medieval church was Monasticism, an institutionalized religious practice that required a life of service under specific laws and regulations, such as celibacy.  The role of the clergy, including priests, monks, and bishops, were recruited or filled voluntarily by those wanting to dedicate their lives to God.  Many families, particularly wealthy families, often groomed one of their children to join the church.  It was an honor to have a family member become a servant of God, especially if they were well-educated and climbed the church hierarchy.  The higher they climbed, the more powerful they and their families became.  

The medieval church regulated and defined every individual's life from birth until death, going as far as to dictate the afterlife.  The church held immense power over the people.  It had the power to tax, and its laws had to be obeyed.  Those who held contrary ideas were considered heretics and could be subject to various forms of punishment, including execution.  The Church in the Middle Ages was to be feared and obeyed, and its influence spread into every area of society.

Anne's Mysterious Ways

Anne talks about using her feminine wiles at court. If you look up the definition of wile, you'll see it defined as a trick or stratagem intended to ensnare or deceive, a beguiling or playful trick. In a more modern-day context, the 1934 film, It Happened One Night shows Claudette Colbert using ‘feminine wiles’ to call out Clark Gable’s cocksure chauvinism, and we can imagine this is what Anne was doing in her day.

Check out the royalty videos in this Renaissance post!

Our spine novel for this unit is Doomed Queen Anne

Get the entire unit in the Young Royals bundle!

Includes seven unit studies covering the entire series. Each unit addresses a historic era from the eyes of a young royal, and these are told in living history format.  Each unit has introductory text, which will give the student basic background information about the topic at hand.

• There are photographs and illustrations, and we have also included primary documents when available.
• After this text, there are featured videos, which augment the background information and help make the topic more accessible for more visual students.
• You will also find a short list of reading books, including a featured novel that the unit builds upon.
• There are vocabulary words, places, and people to identify.
• Reading comprehension, critical thinking questions, and writing assignments are included.
• We add fun with hands-on activities and extra videos to watch that will bring the era to life.

These studies are directed toward upper grades students, but some have resources for younger students so that the whole family can work together. Our family has used unit studies as curriculum for many years, and we hope that your family will enjoy these, too!

Product samples:   Mary, Bloody Mary

Includes:

• Mary, Bloody Mary
• Beware, Princess Elizabeth
• Doomed Queen Anne
• Patience, Princess Catherine
• Duchessina: Catherine De'Medici
• Wild Queen: Mary, Queen of Scots
• Bad Queen: Marie Antoinette