On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn’s life was ended with a single blow from an expert swordsman at the Tower of London.
Last night, viewers watching the BBC’s new series of Wolf Hall were left horrified when Anne’s execution was gruesomely depicted just minutes into the first episode.
Claire Foy’s Anne nervously awaited her fate before an impassive French swordsman dealt the death blow.
Watching on was Mark Rylance’s Thomas Cromwell.
But, just how accurate is the sequence showing the execution of King Henry VIII’s second wife? Below, the Mail separates fact from fiction.
Anne doesn’t give a speech – Inaccurate
Just moments before she was beheaded, Anne made a final speech, in which she left the massed spectators in no doubt that she still adored her husband.
She said: ‘I am come hither to die, for according to the law and by the law I am judged to die, and therefore I will speak nothing against it … I pray God save the King … for a gentler nor a more merciful prince was there never.’
However, in last night’s episode of Wolf Hall, Claire Foy’s Anne is only seen breathing heavily with fear before she is put to death.
Thomas Cromwell is watching – Accurate
Seen observing Anne’s execution is Thomas Cromwell himself, played by Mark Rylance.
Henry VIII’s chief minister really was present to see his nemesis die.
Having orchestrated false charges of treason against her, he was there along with Anne’s other enemies – the Duke of Suffolk, Henry Fitzroy and Thomas Audley.
Anne is blindfolded – Accurate (but she said prayers too)
Claire Foy’s Anne is fitted with a blindfold in the final moments before she meets her end.
The real Anne had a blindfold put on her just seconds before she was killed, but she was also saying her prayers as the sword fell.
As she knelt in the straw, she said: ‘O Lord have mercy on me, to God I commend my soul. To Jesus Christ I commend my soul; Lord Jesu receive my soul.’
Foy’s Anne is not seen saying anything when she meets her maker.
The executioner is French – Accurate (but the real one acted with more compassion)
The BBC production rightly depicts the executioner as being French, but he is impassive before he deals the final blow and in the moments afterwards.
The real swordsman, Frenchman Jean Rimbaud – who was regarded as the best swordsman in Europe – begged Anne’s forgiveness for what he was about to do.
The executioner was also left shaken by the atmosphere and Anne’s courage – but in the BBC show he is seen to be unmoved.
Anne’s execution is performed in a single blow – Accurate
The BBC show depicts Anne as being beheaded in one single blow – and that really is what happened.
It was a stark contrast to the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots.
When Mary died in 1587, the executioner missed her neck and instead struck her on the head. It took several blows to finish the deed.
Anne’s ladies gathering up her head and body – Accurate
Last night’s episode of Wolf Hall also shows Anne’s sobbing ladies gathering up her head and body after her death.
The real Anne’s remains were collected by her bereft ladies and taken to be buried in an unmarked grave
Henry marrying Jane Seymour at the same time as Anne’s execution – Inaccurate
Wolf Hall gives the impression that Henry married his third wife, Jane Seymour, as Anne was being executed.
Although Henry was betrothed to Jane the day after Anne’s execution, the couple did not marry until May 30.