The Six Wives of Henry VIII

by B. Alison Weir

The guests departed amidst much mirth and ribaldry, leaving Arthur and Katherine alone behind the closed curtains. Thus began one of the most controversial wedding nights in history.

Anne Boleyn was only the second commoner to be elevated to the consort's throne in England - the first had been Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV. Anne's origins were uninspiring, although, like all Henry VIII's wives, she could trace her descent from Edward I. She was well-connected on her mother's side, but her father's origins were in trade.

That's a bit misleading. Her father was related to titled nobility as well, and even wound up inheriting a title. She wasn't royalty, but to say she was a commoner as if she were a milkmaid was a bit far of the mark!

Before very long, the rumours spread across the Channel to France and beyond. Mendoza told the Emperor that Henry was `so swayed by his passions, that if he can obtain a divorce, he will end by marrying a daughter of Master Isic] Boleyn'.

He was a Knight of the Garter by 1523, so was already part of the nobility by the time Mendoza was getting snarky.

a very late age to remain single in an era when most girls were married by fifteen or sixteen.

No. Some nobility married young. It was more common to marry in ones twenties.

Thus, if she was born in 1525, she was twelve when she became sexually active, and we must remember that many girls were married at that age in the Tudor period.

It wasn't really common.