Anne or Mary Boleyn...which one did Henry VIII love more?

Question

I've always been really interested in the relationship between King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. I was just watching The Other Boleyn Girl (finally! haha) and I'm a little confused. From everything that history has told us, up until the very end with Anne's treason and incest (who thinks that actually happened?) Henry and her were extremely in love and happy.

There doesn't seem to be one part, except for about 5 minutes in this movie, where they seem as in love as history says.

Also, I thought Mary was a little w***e haha, but in this movie it seems that King Henry is head over heels in love with her and cant get over her.

Does anyone know if this relationship between Mary and Henry was ever like this? From what I know, Mary did not come in contact with the King after he married Anne.

Answer 1

Jane Seymore was his favorite wife she was the one who gave him a son (who died when he was only 16)

Henry also requested that when he died he was to be buried next to Jane.  

Answer 2

I say actions speak louder than words and He proved he loved Mary more when he didn't kill her.

Answer 3

Well, remember that Henry was obsessed with getting a son, an heir.  He had already defied the Pope & an alliance with the strongest power in Europe (Spain) to get another chance.  The charges against his wives were manipulated or fabricated.  Maybe he thought 3rd time was the charm (and it was, he got a son from jane Seymour; but she died in childbirth).  He then divorced and beheaded one more time each, and wife 6 was the only to stay alive & married to him.

Also: that is Hollywood's take & is not to be trusted.  

Answer 4

I have seen the movie and I have read the book.  I can not say for sure that it was all true. I do know that the book is a lot better!  It tells the story better and goes into more detail about both relationships.  I think that you should read the book maybe it will answer some of your questions.

Answer 5

historians believe that the reason that mary was only considered a mistress by the king was because she was actually quite promiscuous, having spent much more time in the french court than anne.

anne's beauty was considered more exotic (for the time period) and so that may have played a part in henry's attraction to her. after all the turmoil that was caused over his divorce from kathryn and subsequent marriage to anne, her failure to produce a son led henry to feel a bit betrayed in the end.

it's all very complex. i saw the movie and was a little disappointed by it...and i am surprised to say that i didn't care for natalie portman as anne even though she's a terrific actress otherwise.  

Answer 6

First of all, remember that "The Other Boleyn Girl" was a work of fiction, not a historical recounting.   There are a LOT of things in the book that are stretched -- for example, there were YEARS between Harry meeting Anne and actually marrying her.  The movie makes it appear to be a few weeks, at most!

Well, he felt strongly enough about Anne to turn his nation upside down, break with the Catholic church and provide a toe-hold for Protestantism to take hold in England -- so I would say that he probably loved Anne more.

I think Harry was one of those guys who participated fully in the moment, so to speak, but once the girl was out of his bed, she was pretty much out of his thoughts.  Mary was a diversion, not an obsession.

The relationship between Harry and Mary was extremely romanticized in the movie -- for example, she never came and begged Harry for Anne's life.  Anne was a bit jealous of Mary's previous relationship with Harry, and since Mary married beneath her (according to her family), Anne made sure that Mary wasn't invited to hang around court, where she might rekindle old flames.  

Answer 7

I read the book and then the movie.

I think that Henry loved Anne with lust.

And he loved Mary like a sister and close friend.

PS I Liked the book better that the movie, but I thought that the girl who played Anne was exactly what I had imagined.