Marquis or Marchioness? Analysing BL, Harley MS 303 and Other Previously Unpublished Sources about Anne Boleyn’s Elevation to the Marquisate of Pembroke

Abstract

In the context of Anne Boleyn’s ascent to power, a pivotal moment occurred on 1 September 1532 when Henry VIII elevated her to the peerage by bestowing upon her the marquisate of Pembroke. According to the traditional narrative, the title Anne received was masculine. However, this interpretation relies heavily on secondary sources rather than primary, resulting in the perpetuation of an inaccurate narrative. This paper challenges the established view by delving into the original wording of patents of creation and an overlooked description of the ceremony of ennoblement preserved in the British Library, including MS Harley 303 and Add MS 6113, which will be used to demonstrate that the title was that of marchioness rather than marquis. Intriguingly, the notion of the title being in the male form was first introduced in 1972 by Marie Louise Bruce in her biography of Anne Boleyn. This essay contends that subsequent authors uncritically adopted Bruce’s perspective. By revisiting primary sources, this study seeks to offer a more accurate understanding of Anne Boleyn’s elevation to the peerage.