The Sciences

Anne Boleyn’s Letter May Have Been Written 70 Years After Her Death

A historian’s analysis of the British queen’s landmark letter could contribute to ongoing debates about whether the letter was forged or not.

By Lily CareyJun 17, 2024 11:00 AM
Portrait of Anne Boleyn
(Credit: Photos.com/Getty Images)

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British historian Amanda Glover says she loves a mystery.  

And according to a research article she published in February, she may be beginning to untangle one of the greatest historical mysteries of England's Tudor period, which lasted from 1485 to 1603.  

The mystery in question is that of Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of King Henry VIII who was accused of and executed for adultery by her own husband. While Anne was imprisoned in the Tower of London, awaiting execution, she wrote an impassioned letter to her husband in which she fiercely declared her innocence.  

But when analyzing the paper on which the letter was written, Glover discovered that the paper’s distinctive watermark was only used in the early 17th century — nearly 70 years after Anne Boleyn's execution — meaning that Anne could not have written the letter. 

Whether the letter contains the queen’s true words, or whether it’s a forgery, still remains unanswered.  

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