Nothing is known about Jean Rombaud, the executioner of Anne Boleyn. Neither his early years or his entire life, only that he lived in St Omer near to Calais and he was acknowledged as being the best executioner in Europe. Henry VIII paid 100 crowns to bring him to England to dispatch Anne Boleyn and that is about all we know.
Jean Rombaud must have been good at what he did and must have executed a good number of notable figures of the time to gain his reputation. Europe was then full of various wars, political intrigues and troubles from religious intolerance which would have given him plenty of victims.
If he had become so well known, especially executing the former Queen of England and Henry VIII’s wife, surely that reputation would have increased his career, bringing about more commissions. But nothing further has ever been heard about him. It is almost as if he had disappeared completely after 19 May 1536. Did he retire on his 100 crowns? Or, after the execution of Anne, who was most likely innocent of all charges, did he question himself and the motives and principles of the law makers and rulers of that time. From a stance of morality, remorse or of guilt, perhaps he did decide to retire his sword.