May 19th

On May 19, 1536, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII of England, was executed at the Tower of London. Anne Boleyn had been convicted of charges including adultery, incest, and treason in a trial that many historians believe was politically motivated. Her execution marked a significant event in English history, as it was the first time that an English queen had been publicly executed. Anne's downfall paved the way for Henry VIII to marry his third wife, Jane Seymour, just days after Anne's execution, altering the course of English politics and religion.