Bo ‧ leyn, Anne /bəˈlɪn/ BrE AmE
(1507–36) the second wife of the English king ↑ Henry VIII , who was the mother of Queen Elizabeth I. Henry wanted to end his first marriage in order to marry Anne Boleyn, but the Pope would not allow it, and this led to the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church. Henry later had Anne's head cut off.