George Boleyn brother-in-law of Henry VIII
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George Boleyn brother-in-law of Henry VIII

Born in 1504, George was the only surviving son of the Boleyn family. He served as a courtier and nobleman for King Henry VIII.

George Boleyn brother-in-law of Henry
George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford

George Boleyn, with his good looks and talent, made a place for himself in King Henry’s court at a very young age. His sister Anne Boleyn was married to King Henry and also served as the Queen of England from 1533 to 1536.

Biography

Contents

George Boleyn, also known as Viscount Rochford was born in Blicking Hall, Norfolk in England to Sir Thomas Boleyn and Lady Elizabeth Howard. It is said that he was very close to both his sisters Anne and Mary. George did quite well in his career as a diplomat and also could also speak French.

He was a member of the privy council and was executed on tower hill. George’s sister, Mary Boleyn, was the mistress of King Henry VIII.

George’s niece, Catherine of Aragon, was the first wife of Henry VIII. George’s nephew, Thomas Boleyn, was the Earl of Wiltshire.

Who was George Boleyn’s wife?

George was married to Jane Parker in 1525 at the age of 20. Very little is known about his personal and family which is eclipsed by his highly celebrated public life as a diplomat. It is also not certainly known if the couple had any children.

Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn

It is said that he wasn’t very happy and Jane used to be jealous of the close relationship that George had with his sister Anne. George was convicted of incest for which Jane was the one who supplied evidence of “undue familiarity” between Anne and George Boleyn to Thomas Cromwell that was used at the trial.

Siblings

George used to spend most of his time with his sisters Anne and Mary. He had an unhappy love life and was only married to Jane Parker because of his family. He would spend many nights with his sisters in Anne’s rooms since he refused to sleep with his wife.

George Boleyn brother-in-law of Henry VIII
George Boleyn portrait

At times even Mary used to be jealous of the close relationship that George and Anne had. Hence she stayed out of all the controversies that surrounded her siblings and focused more on her family.

George Boleyn's wife, Jane Parker
George Boleyn’s wife, Jane Parker

Death

When did George Boleyn die?

George Boleyn, along with his four companions – Henry Norris, Francis Weston, William Brereton and Mark Smeaton – were beheaded on 17th May 1536. Geroge was a great diplomat and courtier and his execution caused a significant stir among people.

A large crowd had gathered around to watch the bloody act of his death including many courtiers and noblemen.

Why was George Boleyn killed?

Anne Boleyn, in 1536, suffered a miscarriage. Henry had married Anne with the hope of having a male heir and her inability to provide him with one, along with his newfound infatuation with Jane Seymour, made him want to get rid of Anne Boleyn.

Henry VIII along with his advisor, Thomas Cromwell, thus hatched a plan of accusing Anne of adultery with five meant among which her brother George was also included. They were thus accused of adultery and incest and plotting to kill the king. Henry managed to charge them of treason and on 2nd May 1536, Anne and George were arrested.

There was no evidence found against any of the men and yet they were condemned to death. Thomas Boleyn himself sat on the jury and gave the verdict of death against his own children.

George Boleyn family tree
George Boleyn family tree

George Boleyn Speech

Most courtiers and ordinary people as well believed that George and Anne were innocent. There was no evidence against them, nor could any evidence be produced against any of the other men that were accused. George, despite knowing he was going to be executed made a marvellous speech in his defence on the day of his execution.

Every single person hearing admitted that it was a pleasure to hear him speak and present arguments in his defence. George apparently said among others this, “Trust in God, and not in the vanities of the world, for if I had so done, I think I had been alive as ye be now.”

The Execution

It is often said that Anne witnessed the execution of her beloved brother and of the other men accused alongside her. The highest-ranking, being George Boleyn, faced the axe first but only after he had delivered a very long speech.

What happened to George Boleyn’s wife?

Lady Jane Boleyn was also executed. At her own execution, Lady Jane Rochford claimed that “God has permitted me to suffer this shameful doom as punishment for having contributed to my husband’s death. I falsely accused him of loving in an incestuous manner, his sister, Queen Anne Boleyn. For this, I deserve to die.”

Where is George Boleyn buried?

George Boleyn was buried at St Peter Ad Vincula Royal Chapel in London.

 

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