The Birth of Elizabeth I: The Beginning of a Royal Legacy

Elizabeth I prided herself on being the daughter of Henry VIII, who, although a tyrant, was nonetheless revered for the better part of the 16th century.

During Elizabeth's lifetime, she rarely discussed her mother, Anne Boleyn ¹ who was executed for high treason, incest, and adultery when Elizabeth was only 2 years old.

However, it was in part thanks to her mother's infamy that Queen Elizabeth would go on to become such an iconic historical figure.

This article focuses on the very beginning of Elizabeth's life, starting with the marriage of her royal parents and her birth and christening.

The goal is to give a better understanding of how the Tudor monarch's early years shaped her reign.

Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn's Marriage & the Conception of Elizabeth

On January 25, 1533, Henry VIII defied the Pope and married his 'mistress' of seven years, Anne Boleyn, at Whitehall Palace. 

The ceremony, witnessed by only a select few, was kept secret from the rest of the court as the King was still legally married to his first Queen, Katherine of Aragon. 

Despite the clandestine union, rumors quickly spread in England and abroad that the two had wed and that Anne was pregnant.

Historian Mickey Mayhew places the date of conception sometime between November and early December of 1532 ², shortly after Henry and Anne returned to England from a diplomatic mission in France. 

It is also highly probable that the royal couple had a marriage ceremony on November 14, 1532, according to the reports of the English chronicler Edward Hall. ³

While Henry's councilors worked tirelessly to annul his previous marriage, the ever-boastful Anne couldn't help but allude to her longed-for pregnancy. 

In a letter written by the Imperial Ambassador Eustace Chapuys to Charles V of Spain in February 1533, Anne proudly proclaimed before spectators, "I have a furious desire to eat apples, such as I have never had in all my life. The King says it must mean I am with child, but I say no, not at all." ⁴

Henry officially announced his marriage to Anne and her pregnancy that following April. 

However, it wasn't until the end of May that the newly elected Archbishop Thomas Cranmer proclaimed that Henry's first marriage to Katherine was null and void and his marriage to Anne valid, thus legitimizing the heirs born in their union.

Although they were forced to consent to the judgment, the news was met with disfavor from many at court and the English people, most of whom disliked Anne and adored Katherine of Aragon.

Despite the grumblings, a dazzling coronation procession in London followed in late May, and Anne, who was already visibly "big with child" ⁵, was later declared Queen consort of England at Westminster Abbey on June 1.

Henry VIII's Desire for a Son & Anne Boleyn's Pregnancy Struggles

After Katherine of Aragon's numerous pregnancies, which resulted in only one surviving child, a daughter named Mary, later declared illegitimate, Henry VIII became focused on the offspring he would have with his new Queen.

Henry desired more than anything for a son; the reason behind this obsession can be found in a letter that the then Lord Chancellor Thomas More wrote in 1530, "The King, in his sorrow, is consumed by the thought that his line will end and that without a son to succeed him, the kingdom will be at risk." ⁶

In the Tudor era, people were ignorant about modern medical facts, such as that it is the man who determines the gender of a baby. Thus, Henry trusted the physicians who attended Anne and the astrologers they consulted, most of whom declared the unborn child male.

In his zeal for a son, historian David Starkey notes that Henry proclaimed that the baby's name would be Henry or Edward months before the birth. ⁷

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As it was common practice for a King to take a mistress during the time of his wife's pregnancy lest relations harmed the fetus, Henry VIII began wooing an unknown but beautiful lady at court sometime in early August 1533. 

Anne Boleyn later found out about the flirtations and became jealous. From there, a row ensued.

In his recording of the event, Chapuys said that Henry told the Queen to "shut her eyes and endure as more worthy persons have done" and that "she ought to know that he could lower her as much as he had exalted her." ⁸

It was futile for Anne to protest the mistreatment; at any rate, the affair quickly fizzled out.

By late August, Anne's receiver general, George Taylor, wrote that "The Queen is in good health...and is merry." ⁹

The news of a healthy pregnancy starkly contrasted to the events of June, wherein the Venetian Ambassador reported that there were genuine concerns for her health. So much so that Henry stated that he wished the Queen would miscarry if that meant she lived. ¹⁰

The court later abruptly relocated to Windsor Palace so that Anne could recuperate.

The Preparations of a Tudor 'Prince'

On August 25, the court officially moved to Greenwich Palace, where Anne Boleyn attended mass and began the customary laying-in period.

Inside Anne's confinement walls, where she would birth the next heir to the throne, was entirely regimental albeit lavish.

The room, which Anne herself chose, had an ornate French bed with gold emboss work etched into the frame, crimson curtains, and a bedspread made of ermine; the King had gifted this bed just for the occasion until she transferred to a smaller bed in which she would give birth. ¹¹

Not to be outdone, the hoped-for prince-to-be, according to historian Lissa Bryan, had a gilded cradle that was carved and painted. Bryan also notes that according to the Tudor treasury reports of the time, Anne ordered red damask covers and crimson fringes for the head of the cradle. ¹²

Surrounding the room were rich tapestries that depicted the story of St Ursula and her 11,000 virgins; in addition, thick carpets covered the floorboards, gold and silver plates were displayed on the mantlepiece, rich furnishing made of satin and gold provided comfort for the Queen and her attendants, an alter and other religious regalia were present for prayers safeguarding the child's arrival.

Birthing equipment was concealed in a cupboard; the room was clouded in darkness with just a sliver of lighting from the window lest airborne diseases trickled in, and there was even a unique table for eating on and playing card games. ¹³

As only women were allowed in the room, Anne was catered to by her ladies-in-waiting and the midwife who would deliver the baby.

But despite the rich surroundings and ceremony accompanying the impending birth, the actual birthing part was far from glamorous in Tudor times.

In the absence of advanced medicine and equipment to ease the pain of birth as well as complications with mother and child afterward, it's no wonder that in the 16th century that nearly one out of every 40 women died in childbirth ¹⁴ and 14% of babies died before they reached their first birthday. ¹⁵

While there was no doubt that Anne, like most Tudor mothers, experienced some trepidation before the birth, the mood around the court nevertheless centered on Henry VIII, who, according to courtier John Russell, "never saw the King merrier" ¹⁶ than as he anxiously awaited the arrival of his son.

The Birth & Christening of the Virgin Queen

At 3 pm on September 7, 1533, on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin and nearly a fortnight after Anne Boleyn had withdrawn from court, the royal baby was born.

However, the baby was not the longed-for boy but a girl.

According to historian Alison Weir, the baby had the customary Tudor red hair but resembled her mother in terms of facial features.  ¹⁷

Conflicting reports exist concerning Henry VIII and Anne's reactions to the gender. For example, one Elizabethan courtier claimed that the King and Queen had publicly rejoiced at the news. 

However, Chapuys alleged that the birth of a daughter was "...to the great regret both of him [Henry VIII] and the lady."

Another contemporary account states that Anne was told by the King, "You and I are both young and by God's grace, boys will follow. "¹⁸

In light of the events, the joust commemorating the birth of a son was canceled ¹⁹ , and the document prepared in advance that announced a 'prince' was hastily changed to the word 'princess'. ²⁰

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On September 10, the baby was given a lavish christening at the Church of the Observant Friars in Greenwich.

As royal doctrine decreed, neither of the parents were in attendance. However, according to the chronicler Edward Hall, who documented the event, the mayor, his brethren, and over 40 chiefs of the citizens were present.

Following a grand procession led by torches, the baby was carried inside the church by her great-grandmother, the dowager Duchess of Suffolk, under a company held by four lords of the realm, as other lords and ladies carried relics germane to the ceremony.

The baby was then led to a platform hung with a crimson satin canopy that was edged with gold. 

The Bishop of London baptized the infant in warm water in an ornate silver font from Canterbury lined with fine linen as her godfather, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, presided over the affair.

She was then declared princess of England and France, thus usurping her half-sister Mary's title as heir to the throne.²1

Historian Lissa Bryan notes that the baby wore an intricate christening gown that her mother, Anne Boleyn, had hand-embroidered herself. ²² 

A public celebration followed the event, and Thomas Wriothesley, then clerk of the signet, later wrote, "...fires were made in London, and at every fire, a vessel of wine was made for people to drink for the solemnity."  ²³

Chapuys reported that the baby would be "...called Mary, like the Princess; which title, I hear in many quarters, will be taken from the true princess and given to her." ²⁴

However, due to Chapuys' disdain for Anne, the news appears to have been idle gossip.

The name ultimately given to the baby by her parents was Elizabeth, an ode to her paternal grandmother of the same name, which coincidentally was also the name of her maternal grandmother. ²⁵

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Image Source: 

iStock.com/Artist's Luisa Vallon Fumi

References:

1 Borman, T. (2020, July 8). Elizabeth I and Anne Boleyn: The Tudor queen’s undying love for her mother.HistoryExtra.https://www.historyextra.com/period/tudor/elizabeth-i-anne-boleyn-mother-daughter-relationship

2, 10 Mayhew, M. (2023). The Anne Boleyn Bible. (n.p.): Pen and Sword.

3 Boleyn Files, T. A. (2018, November 14). 14 November 1532 – The marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn? The Anne Boleyn Files. https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/14-november-1532-the-marriage-of-henry-viii-and-anne-boleyn

4 Wertman, J. (2015, February 15). February 15, 1533 – Anne Boleyn has “a furious desire to eat apples”. Janet Wertman. https://janetwertman.com/2015/02/15/february-15-1533-anne-boleyn-has-a-furious-desire-to-eat-apples/

5 Cranmer, T. (1533). Letter of Thomas Cranmer on Henry VIII's divorce. Fordham University.https://origin.web.fordham.edu/halsall/source/cramner-hen8.asp#:~:text=Letter%20of%20Thomas%20Cranmer%20on,Henry's%20next%20Queen%2C%20Anne%20Boleyn

6 More, T. (2020). The English correspondence of Sir Thomas More. Thomas More Studies. https://thomasmorestudies.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/EnglishCorrespondence-etext.pdf

7 Starkey, D. (2003). Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII. United Kingdom: Chatto & Windus.

8, 16, 17, 18 Weir, A. (2007). The Six Wives of Henry VIII. United Kingdom: Grove Atlantic.

9, 11, 13 Borman, T. (2023). Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Forever Changed British History. United States: Grove Atlantic.

12, 22 Bryan, L. (2010, September 10). On this day in 1533, Elizabeth I was christened. The Tudor Trail. https://onthetudortrail.com/Blog/2010/09/10/on-this-day-in-1533-elizabeth-i-was-christened/

14 CCRenfaire. (n.d.). Pregnancy and childbirth in Renaissance England. CCRenfaire. https://ccrenfaire.com/pregnancy-and-childbirth-in-renaissance-england/

15 BBC. (n.d.). How could you survive in Tudor England? BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/articles/znvmkmn#:~:text=Life%20in%20Tudor%20England%20was,the%20risks%20posed%20by%20childbirth

19, 20 Childs, J. (2007). Henry VIII's Last Victim: The Life and Times of Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey. United States: St. Martin's Press.

21, 23 The Anne Boleyn Files. (2022, September 10). September 10 – The christening of Elizabeth I at Greenwich. The Anne Boleyn Files. https://www.theanneboleynfiles.com/september-10-the-christening-of-elizabeth-i-at-greenwich/

24 Tudor Treasures. (n.d.). Naming Princess Elizabeth: The name Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn almost chose. Tudor Treasures. https://tudortreasures.net/naming-princess-elizabeth/

25 Norton, E. (2017). The Hidden Lives of Tudor Women: A Social History. United States: Pegasus Books.