George Boleyn, 2nd Viscount Rochford, faced execution alongside four other men including Francis Weston, William Brereton, Mark Smeaton, and Henry Norris. They were charged with treason, primarily due to their alleged conspiratorial actions against King Henry VIII and supposed incest with Anne Boleyn, George's sister. The accusations were largely fabricated, stemming from the intense political strife surrounding Anne Boleyn, who had recently been arrested on charges that would eventually lead to her own execution. The trials were heavily influenced by the political machinations of Thomas Cromwell, who sought to consolidate power under the king by removing potential rivals.

The executions occurred at the Tower of London, a historic fortress and prison that has witnessed numerous high-profile executions throughout its history. On the day of their execution, the men professed their innocence to the end, and following a quick trial, were beheaded, with George Boleyn's death being particularly shocking due to his noble birth and the public nature of the spectacle. This grim event was part of a wider campaign against perceived enemies of the state under Henry's rule, contributing to the atmosphere of fear and suspicion in Tudor England.

The aftermath of these executions was significant not only for the immediate political landscape but also for the fate of Anne Boleyn. Her downfall was accelerated by the execution of her brother, exemplifying the brutal reality of Tudor politics where personal vendettas played out in a deadly game of power. The executions marked a stark example of how swiftly the shifting tides of favor could result in death, altering the course of English history in the early 16th century.