HENRY VIII AND HIS SIX WIVES. PART 3: JANE SEYMOUR

3. JANE SEYMOUR

BORN: c. 1509
MARRIED: 30 MAY 1536
DIED: 24 OCTOBER 1537


BOUND TO OBEY AND SERVE
Jane Seymour may have first come to court in the service of Queen Catherine, but then was moved to wait on Anne Boleyn as she rose in the King’s favor and eventually became his second wife. In September 1535, the King stayed at the Seymour family home in Wiltshire, England. It may have been there that the king “noticed” Jane. But, it isn’t until February of 1536 that there is evidence of Henry’s new love for Jane. By that point, Henry’s disinterest in Anne was obvious and Jane was likely pegged to be her replacement as Queen.
Opinion is divided as to how Jane felt about being the new object of Henry’s affections. Some see Jane’s calm and gentle demeanor as evidence that she didn’t really understand the position as political pawn she was playing for her family. Others see
it as a mask for her fear. Seeing how Henry’s two previous Queens had been treated once they fell from favor, Jane probably had some trepidation, although Anne Boleyn’s final fate had not been sealed at that time. One other view was that Jane fell into her role quite willingly and actively sought to entice the King and flaunt her favor even in front of the current Queen.
Within 24 hours of Anne Boleyn’s execution, Jane Seymour and Henry VIII were formally betrothed. On the 30th of May, they were married. As queen, Seymour was said to be strict and formal. Jane would form a very close relationship with Mary Tudor. The glittering social life and extravagance of the Queen’s Household, which had reached its peak during the time of Anne Boleyn, was replaced by a strict enforcement of decorum. For example, the dress requirements for ladies of the court were
detailed down to the number of pearls that were to be sewn onto each lady’s skirt. The French fashions introduced by Anne Boleyn were banned.
Unlike Henry’s previous two Queens, Jane never had a coronation. Perhaps the King was waiting to Jane to “prove” herself by giving him a son. It wasn’t until early 1537 that Jane became pregnant. During her pregnancy, Jane’s every whim was indulged by the King, convinced that Jane, whom he felt to be his first “true wife”, carried his long hoped for son. In October, a prince was born at Hampton Court Palace and was christened on 15th of October. The baby was named Edward. Mary, daughter of Catherine of Aragon, was godmother and Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn, also played a role in the ceremony.
There has been much written over whether or not Jane gave birth to Edward by cesarean section. It seems unlikely that if she had, she would have lived as long as she did after the birth. Jane attended her son’s christening, although she was weak. She died on October 24th, just two weeks after her son was born. Henry had already been preparing his own tomb at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, which was where Jane was buried. In the end, she would be the only of Henry’s six wives to be buried with him. Painters continued to include Jane Seymour in pictures of King Henry VIII years after she was dead, because Henry continued to look back on her with favour as the one wife who gave him a son.

DIRECTOR: MARCUS GAAB
FASHION: SARAH COBB
MAKE UP: DEANNA MELLUSO
HAIR: JOHN RUGGIERO
PRODUCTION: JAMES JOLLY (AFG MANAGEMENT)
MODEL: MEGAN (WILHELMINA)


TEXT: LARA E. EAKINS


VIDEO EDITING: THALIA DE JONG
TEXT: LARA E. EAKINS
SOUND: "If Love Now Reigned as it Hath Been" by King Henry VIII

dress OSMAN