The sword that beheaded Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn was executed by sword on 19 May 1536. Why a sword? It was considered a cleaner, faster, and more dignified method of execution for a queen consort than the traditional English beheading with an axe. Anne was not the only one of Henry VIII’s wives who was beheaded, but she was the only one who was beheaded by sword.
Executioner from Calais or from St. Omer?
What do we know about the executioner himself? A near-contemporary Spanish Chronicle states that Henry VIII “sent a week before to St. Omer for a headsman who could cut off the head with a sword instead of an axe, and nine days after they sent he arrived.” St Omer lay within the Holy Roman Empire, suggesting that Henry deliberately chose one of Charles V’s subjects to execute Anne—as if to make a calculated political statement. Mary of Hungary, Regent of the Netherlands, implied this when she wrote to her brother Ferdinand, King of the Romans: “You have no doubt heard that she has been beheaded, and in order that vengeance should fall on her from the subjects of his Majesty the Emperor, the King sent for the headsman from St. Omer’s to do the work.”
However, in England the executioner was referred to as “from Calais”. In one of his letters to Thomas Cromwell, Anne’s gaoler Sir William Kingston wrote: “I am very glad to hear of the executur of Cales, for he can handle that matter”. When her execution was postponed, Anne told Kingston: “I heard say the executor was very gud, and I have a lytel neck”, putting her hands around her neck and laughing. Finally, the “executioner of Calais” was paid for his duty, making it clear that he really came from Calais.
It has often been incorrectly stated that the name of Anne’s executioner was Jean Rombaud, because a man of this name was recorded as executioner in St. Omer in the 1530s.
The sword that beheaded Anne Boleyn
In his book entitled The Anne Boleyn Bible, Dr Mickey Mayhew uncovered the identity of the executioner and traced his descendants who now live in Italy. The executioner, whose forename was Bartholomew, “was of English descent, although born in Calais to a long-standing trading family. As an adult, he was simply a well-trained English (speaking) executioner versed in the art of beheading in the French style for offenders in Calais and the surrounding area.”
The executioner’s family lives in Italy and the story of how Bartholomew beheaded Anne Boleyn is passed down from generation to generation as part of the family tradition.
The family owns the sword that they believe beheaded Anne Boleyn, albeit it is broken in two parts. The remnants of the sword are owned by two families that remain anonymous in Mayhew’s narrative. In an email interview I conducted with Dr. Mayhew, he told me that he is not yet able to reveal the family's identity, but confirmed that he is in contact with them. Dr Mayhew says, “I’m still weighing up which is the more pressing task - to trace the family genealogy or get the sword fragments examined and dated?” There are plans to subject the sword to archaeometallurgical analysis in order to determine its age. “I’ve been told that because I’m disabled - because I have autism - that I’m not competent to carry out this kind of research”, says Dr Mayhew and adds; “I’m not going to be silenced like that, I’m afraid.”
If you are interested in Dr Mayhew’s book, The Anne Boleyn Bible, you can read the sample and buy it here or in your local bookstore.
—
If you like my posts, you’ll love my books! This article was based on Ladies-in-Waiting: Women Who Served Anne Boleyn.
Dr Mayhew has fallen out with just about the entire Tudor history community and it has nothing to do with his being disabled. He made some unfortunate remarks in a long comments thread on x that later imploded. That doesn't mean his research isn't interesting or without value. I would have loved more contemporary sources in his book on Anne which I have read but it's challenging and it's got some really good ideas. Like most people I was hoping to see the sword but it's very understandable if the blade is in a delicate condition and the family value their privacy. It was still a fascinating part of the book. I don't think one would expect that a 500 years old blade (maybe older) would be in perfect condition and I can understand the need to be careful to preserve it. The research to find and trace the family of the real Swordsman of Calais is a remarkable achievement in itself. It makes me sad when authors get themselves locked into mud slinging back and forth as the community should be supporting each other's work and be open to new research and new ideas. Historical people, like Anne Boleyn, were neither saint or sinners, they were human beings who did both extraordinary and ordinary things, had good moments and bad and we also have to cut through a lot of myth surrounding them. This blog does a good job of cutting through a lot of that myth. I for one hope Mickey does find out more scientific information about the sword and publish his findings.
Very interesting! I love hearing about how others were talking about the situation. It brings that period to life more.