Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife, gave birth to Elizabeth I.
Anne Boleyn was the second wife of Henry VIII and the mother of Elizabeth I, who would become one of England's most famous monarchs. Anne and Henry's marriage was controversial, as Henry sought to divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in order to marry Anne. When Anne failed to produce a male heir, Henry accused her of adultery and had her executed in 1536. Elizabeth was just two years old at the time, and her subsequent upbringing was marked by political instability and danger. Nevertheless, Elizabeth would go on to become a skilled and successful monarch, reigning for 44 years.