Anne Boleyn
Q: Who was executed on May 19th 1536 in the tower of London?
A: Anne Boleyn
May 19, 1536: The Fall of Anne Boleyn
On this day in 1536, one of the most dramatic and tragic episodes in English royal history unfolded — Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII, was executed at the Tower of London.
Anne’s rise to power was as swift and controversial as her downfall. Her relationship with Henry VIII led to England’s break from the Roman Catholic Church and the start of the English Reformation. Their marriage, sealed in 1533 after Henry’s bitter annulment from Catherine of Aragon, was supposed to produce a male heir and secure the Tudor dynasty. Instead, it produced only one child — Elizabeth, the future Queen Elizabeth I.
Accused of adultery, incest, and treason, Anne was arrested, tried in a court that many historians believe was rigged against her, and sentenced to death. On May 19, she faced her fate with remarkable composure. She was executed by a French swordsman, brought in specially at Henry’s request, which many speculate was a calculated gesture of mercy.
Her death paved the way for Henry’s third marriage — to Jane Seymour — just 11 days later. Yet, Anne’s legacy lived on through her daughter Elizabeth, who would become one of England’s greatest monarchs.
Over 480 years later, Anne Boleyn remains a compelling figure: a queen, a political pawn, and ultimately, a victim of power struggles in the Tudor court. Her story is a powerful reminder of how ambition, politics, and personal desire can shape — and shatter — lives at the highest levels of history.