Anne of Cleves, Queen of England

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2016

Anne of Cleves, Queen of England; Credit – Wikipedia

Anne of Cleves was the fourth of King Henry VIII of England‘s six wives and is often considered the most fortunate of Henry’s wives. Born on September 22, 1515, in Düsseldorf in the Duchy of Berg, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, she was the second of the four children of Johann, Duke of Cleves and Count of Mark and Maria of Jülich-Berg, daughter of Duke William IV of Jülich-Berg, who became heiress to her father’s estates Jülich, Berg and Ravensberg.

Anne had three siblings:

Anne grew up in Schloss Burg in Solingen, Duchy of Berg, now in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and received a limited education that focused on embroidery and sewing, and not on learning foreign languages (she could read and write only in German), singing, or playing a musical instrument. At the age of ten, Anne was betrothed to Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, but the betrothal was later canceled.

Schloss Burg, Anne’s childhood home; Credit – Wikipedia

Jane Seymour, the third wife of King Henry VIII of England, died in 1537 due to childbirth complications, after giving birth to Henry’s long-awaited son, the future King Edward VI. The search for a fourth wife began shortly after Jane’s death, with Henry’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, taking the lead. Cromwell wanted an alliance with a European royal house, so all English ambassadors were instructed to look for possible brides.

In 1538, it was suggested that Henry marry a daughter of Johann, Duke of Cleves, who was a powerful supporter of the Protestant Reformation. Henry requested a portrait of Anne, the elder of the two unmarried daughters and so Hans Holbein, Henry’s court painted was dispatched to Cleves. Holbein used his artistic license and painted (the portrait above) what he saw as an artist: a delicate girl in her twenties, quiet and content wearing the unflattering headdress fashionable in Cleves. He did not show her strong frame or her pock-marked skin. Henry was delighted with the portrait and Anne’s brother William, who had succeeded his father in 1539, sent an emissary to England to negotiate the marriage contract.

Anne arrived in Deal, England on December 27, 1539, and proceeded to Rochester on New Year’s Day. Henry was so eager to see Anne, that he went to Rochester incognito. Henry was terribly disappointed by his new bride. He found Anne humorless and boring. She looked unimpressive in her German costume, acted shy, and did not speak English. Henry postponed the wedding for two days and regretted that he could not withdraw from the marriage contract. Reluctantly, Henry married Anne on January 6, 1540, at the Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, London, England.

Thomas Cromwell hoped that the wedding night would bring the couple closer together, but the marriage was never consummated, and it was said that the couple spent the night playing cards. Henry told Cromwell, “I liked her before not well, but now I like her much worse.” Anne told Eleanor Manners, Countess of Rutland, one of her ladies-in-waiting, “When he comes to bed he kisseth me, and he taketh me by the hand, and biddeth me ‘Good night, sweetheart’; and in the morning kisseth me and biddeth ‘Farewell, darling.'” Lady Rutland responded, “Madam, there must be more than this, or it will be long ere we have a Duke of York, which all this realm most desireth.” Meanwhile, Henry was showing an interest in one of Anne’s maids-of-honor, Catherine Howard, who would become his fifth wife.

On June 24, 1540, Anne was sent to Richmond Palace for “her health, open air and pleasure” and on July 6, 1540, she was informed that Henry wanted to end the marriage. Anne agreed to an annulment, finalized on July 9, 1540, on the grounds of non-consummation and Anne’s pre-contract to Francis of Lorraine. Thomas Cromwell, the scapegoat for the failed marriage, was arrested on June 10, 1540, under a bill of attainder and executed for treason and heresy on Tower Hill on July 28, 1540. Henry married Catherine Howard that same day and later regretted having Cromwell executed.

Although Anne’s mother and brother wanted her to return home, she remained in England. Henry gave her a generous settlement and the use of Richmond Palace and Hever Castle. Anne was frequently at court, had a cordial relationship with Henry and his children, and was referred to as “the King’s Beloved Sister.” Anne of Cleves survived Henry and all his wives. Her last public appearance was at the coronation of her stepdaughter Queen Mary I. As the third lady in the land, she rode behind the new queen beside Mary’s sister Elizabeth.

In the spring of 1557, Anne became ill and died at the age of 41 on July 16, 1557, at Chelsea Manor, probably from cancer. Anne was buried with pomp and ceremony at Westminster Abbey on the south side of the altar. Her plain marble tomb has since been used for regalia and plate display at coronations and royal weddings.

Tomb of Anne of Cleves, Westminster Abbey

Tomb of Anne of Cleves; Credit – Westminster Abbey

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