Anne Boleyn and Mary Boleyn: Were they close?

In this latest edition of Questions about Anne Boleyn, Claire Ridgway, author of several books on the Boleyns, considers the question she's often asked "Were Anne and Mary Boleyn close?"

What do we know about the Boleyn sisters' relationship?

Was it close?

Do the historical sources give us any insight into it?

Find out more about Anne and Mary Boleyn in this talk.

[Tabroxfcc]

I think the fact that Anne fostered Mary's son Henry, paid for his education and basically turned him into a future gentleman, probably speaks to at least a friendly relationship between them

[daniellemusella]

Mary Boleyn died in 1543, when her niece, the future queen, was ten years old. I wish she'd lived another fifteen years to see Elizabeth's coronation. I can only imagine the pride she would've had, the happy tears that she would've been choking back.

[susandelorme]

I never get tired of the Tudor history! It is fascinating!

[annalisette]

The striking thing about Mary is she got out of Henry's court and apparently married beneath her station and for love. The rest of the family stayed in the royal circle, fatally so for George and Anne. I am curious what kind of relation Anne and Mary had with their mother. After the demise of Anne and George, was Mary a comfort to her mother for example? I am sure we will never know.

[korinajordan]

I'm surprised. It sounds like Henry VIII really went out of his way to help Mary out when her first husband died. He always comes across as pretty apathetic toward his past lovers. Maybe he actually liked her.

[playme]

I feel that a person who really knows what he/she is talking about is not afraid say, "I don't know.".
Another great presentation, Claire. Thanks for posting. Virginia

[margaretsieger]

This video was so interesting. Wish Anne kept some record of her relationship with her sister Mary. Wow both sisters were in the play. Thank You Claire.

[glorialange]

What I have always liked best about you, Claire, is your honest research and it really shows in this video. It also makes for debunking some of the more outlandish claims of some novelists and lets us get a true picture of currently known history. As always, thank you

[michellerhodes]

Just brilliant, Claire. Down the years I have read and seen various representations of their relationship and it is great to have the facts as are available. Who knows; in a lost diary or court record we may one day learn more? I was amused at a marriage being described as 'misconduct' though I accept the permission of one's seniors was a very important thing back then.

[janicegaypowers]

Thanks so much, Claire Ridgeway, for your detailed research regarding the relationship between Anne Boleyn and her Sister Mary.🤗❤️

[amyrat]

Mary’s statement about being willing to beg her bread with Stafford verse being queen and that he would rather be with Mary than be king really sends my imagination into overdrive. If her siblings are any indication, then we can guess that Mary had a better education than the majority of her peers. Also by the time she wrote that letter she had been Henry’s mistress, married Carey, had children, became a widow, been in dire finical straights, married a man she truly loved, and faced her family even though she knew they’d be far less than thrilled with that choice. What I’m saying is that she was hardly the ingenue The Other Boleyn Girl portrays her as and she wasn’t a fool, either.

Mary saw that Anne was in the middle of the dangerous, high stakes politics of Henry VIII's court and decided the price of being involved with them had become too costly for her. We know Thomas Boleyn was against Anne and Henry’s relationship, did Mary also caution Anne against it? Was Mary always wary of the drama of the court? I think maybe that could be the big reason why Mary and Anne weren’t as close as George and Anne, also maybe Mary wasn’t as passionate a reformer as the two of them were. Anne was a very prideful, ambitious person and Mary wanted unconditional love more than anything, very much including power and influence. Mary made a show to her family of caring about love over everything.

[TheTam]

I always feel like Mary was the smart one-she wasn't executed and may have married for love.

[londonmusicmum]

Thank you for doing a longer video !! Love your channel ❤️

[greybeardcanadian]

I am amazed at how much information you are able to relate while at the same time repeatedly conceding "I don't know"

[pegpeg]

Elizabeth Boleyn, the mother is rarely spoken of. When her daughter Anne was queen and husband at court, did Elizabeth live at court?

[joalexsg]

That was actually very interesting! Thank you so much (liked and shared for sure)!

[beth]

Would it have been Anne's choice not to have Mary as a lady-in-waiting? It's tempting to read something into it, but I know nothing about how & why ladies were chosen- Anne might've had no say in it.
Very interesting point about Mary's letter! I've never thought of it that way, but I think I agree...
I've never heard Mary Boleyn called Lady Rochford before! George was Lord Rochford, & I thought his wife Jane was Lady Rochford??
So interesting about William Carey's sisters!

[DarkLadyJade]

I really like The Other Boleyn Girl (the book) because even though it's loose with historical accuracy it's a good read and fun speculation of what Mary was doing.

[kelseylogas]

I did not know that about William Carey's family, how interesting! I would love to learn more about them!

A nun who had 2 illegitimate children by 2 priests.... a loose woman or a nunnery where men were not kept from taking advantage? I have to say, I do wonder how much it is actually the latter. Women have always been blamed for such tings, but it takes 2 to tango, and men at the time definitely held the power.

As always, I really enjoy your videos!

[darlenefarmer]

I do like this format! Thanks so much.