Elizabeth Howard

1480 - April 1538. Countess of Wiltshire. Mother of Anne Boleyn, Mary Boleyn and George Boleyn. Wife of Thomas Boleyn. Grandmother of Elizabeth I.

Elizabeth Howard, later Elizabeth Boleyn, was the daughter of Thomas Howard, Earl or Surrey and a nobleman of England, and Elizabeth Tilney. She was sent to court by her family, where she then met and married her husband Thomas Boleyn around the year 1500.

Elizabeth was an entourage for the mother of Henry VIII, Elizabeth of York and later for his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Even though only three of her children survived childhood, she is said to have had at least two deceased children named Thomas and Henry.

While the relationship she had with her eldest daughter Mary was a rather cold one, the relationship to her younger daughter Anne was very close and friendly. Elizabeth taught Anne embroidery and familiarised her with poetry.

The rumor that Elizabeth used to be the mistress of King Henry VIII circulated but was quickly denied by the King himself. Most likely Elizabeth Boleyn was confused with Elizabeth Blount, the actual mistress of Henry VIII.

After the execution and humiliation of her daughter Anne and her son George, Elizabeth and her husband went to live at Hever Castle. Elizabeth died in April of 1538.