2006-10-15 23:31:50 · 17 answers · asked by Emma B 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Sounds more like you are looking for debating points than a straight A or B answer.
She was certainly executed on a charge of witchcraft (along with treason, incest and adultery - adultery by a queen was deemed to be treason). But the trial was seen as highly suspect even by the standards of the day. Henry had replaced his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in order to marry Anne, and broken with the Pope in the process. Anne failed to provide him with sons and so Henry is supposed to have thought the marriage cursed. Since he was King and thus appointed by God he believed himself to be beyond blame - so his actions could only be down to one thing. Witchcraft. (A modern interpreter might re-read this as Henry thinking with his penis rather than his brain). So by the crazy, superstitious standards of the day - some people might have genuinely thought she was a witch. I don't think there is any evidence at all that she tried to practice such a craft (regardless of whether one believes such a thing to be effective).
As for 'religious matyr', I'm not aware of anything to suggest that her actions were motivated by religion, spirituality or anything elevated. She was certainly considered a Protestant Saint - but I don't think that was anything to do with dying for her faith. She is however traditionally described as facing her death with great dignity and composure.
She simply played a dangerous political game using the power at her disposal (sexuality and family connections) and in the end lost. But maybe she understood the game far better than we do, and enjoyed it while it lasted.
2006-10-16 00:03:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you're interested in a view (albeit a ficticous one) on this you should read The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory. Its very good and portrays her as neither witch nor martyr. Simply as an extremely ambitous woman who tried to play politics in a man's world.
2006-10-16 10:06:21 · answer #2 · answered by tired and grumpy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neither. She was an attractive woman who married an older man who happened to be an absolute monarch. When he didnt get his own way his distorted faith in God allowed him to feel better about executing his wife that divorcing her.
Once he had declared himself head of the church of England and no longer under the jurisdiction of the Pope in Rome he could have allowed himself to divorce her and put her in a convent for the rest of her life.
She paid a very high price for her adultery and indirectly caused many other people paying the same price for their religious views.
As far as I am aware she was neither a witch nor did she have any great religious zeal. She was definately not a martyr- she did not volunteer her life for God, she was punished for adultery against the King.
2006-10-16 05:18:33 · answer #3 · answered by cate 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the witch business was just propaganda against her. Henry was desperate to get rid of her, and get the next wife down to the alter.
Silly things, like she had birthmarks on her body, which where proclaimed; "The teats of the Devil" (like those birthmarks where nipples in disguise or something) and the extra finger business as well.
The fact that her lips kept moving after her head was chopped off didn't work in her favor either.
In the end medical science explained all of that, but despite that, I feel she was destined to die with that reputation, her husband being the womanizer that he was.
2006-10-15 23:43:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anria A 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ann Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII was certainly not a witch. The king had her beheaded because she could not bear him son.
2006-10-15 23:52:35 · answer #5 · answered by 3810trebor@sbcglobal.net 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Neither, she was a victim in a predominantly male world.
The charges of witchcraft were really just a way for Henry to be rid of her. He always found a way to get what he wanted. Her reputation was built up after her death by people who hated her so it's hard to judge now.
She wasn't a religious martyr as she never wanted to die for her faith, not like someone like Mary Queen of Scots who was happy to give up her life in the name of Catholicism.
2006-10-16 04:03:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Neither. She was ambitious, but her husband was fickle, and that was her downfall more than anything. If Elizabeth had been a male heir, I wonder if Anne would have been treated so harshly. I don't believe she was unfaithful as there has never been really strong evidence. She was careless, however, as are most people when they gain power. The charges were trumped up against her.
2006-10-16 00:18:23 · answer #7 · answered by just browsin 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Neither, just a loose woman and a social climber who caused the deaths of thousands of innocent people in the UK due to the Reformation and the persecution of millions in England and Ireland for more than four hundred years.
2006-10-16 00:27:57 · answer #8 · answered by Telynor54 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
She was not a witch, but she was not a saint either. She was someone who took a big gamble but in the end lost.
2006-10-16 03:47:58 · answer #9 · answered by Sakura ♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religious Martyr, no such thing as a real witch
2006-10-15 23:32:57 · answer #10 · answered by High On Life 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋