| Anne of Cleves | |
| Queen Consort of England | |
 Anne of Cleves, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger |
|
| Born | 22 September 1515 |
|---|---|
| Birthplace | Düsseldorf, Cleves |
| Died | 16 July 1557 (aged 41) |
| Place of death | London, England |
| Consort | January 6, 1540 - July 9, 1540 |
| Consort to | Henry VIII of England |
| Father | John "the Peaceful," duke of Cleves |
| Mother | Maria von Jülich-und-Berg |
Anne of Cleves (22 September 1515–16 July 1557) (German: Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg) was the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England from 6 January 1540 to 9 July 1540. A queen consort is the title given to the wife of a reigning king. Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Düsseldorf (ˈdʏsəldɔɐf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The Duchy of Cleves (Herzogtum Kleve was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in present Germany (part of North Rhine-Westphalia) and the Netherlands Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The Kingdom of England was a State (927-1707 located in Western Europe dating from the ninth or tenth century to the early eighteenth century when it was legally Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of John III "The Peaceful", Duke of Kleve - Mark (John III Duke of Cleves John I Duke of Jülich-Berg ( German: Johann III "Der Maria of Jülich-Berg ( 3 August 1491 - 29 August 1543) was born in Of Jülich the daughter of Wilhelm IV Duke of Jülich-Berg and Sibylle Events 66 - Emperor Nero creates the Legion I Italica. 1236 - The Lithuanians Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and The German language (de ''Deutsch'') is a West Germanic language and one of the world's major languages. The six wives ( queens consort) of Henry VIII of England were in order Catherine of Aragon (annulled Anne Boleyn (beheaded Jane Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire.
Contents |
Biography
Anne was born at Düsseldorf[1], the daughter of John III, ruler of the Duchy of Cleves, who died in 1538. Düsseldorf (ˈdʏsəldɔɐf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. John III "The Peaceful", Duke of Kleve - Mark (John III Duke of Cleves John I Duke of Jülich-Berg ( German: Johann III "Der The Duchy of Cleves (Herzogtum Kleve was a state of the Holy Roman Empire in present Germany (part of North Rhine-Westphalia) and the Netherlands After John's death, her brother William became Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, bearing the promising epithet "The Rich. William “the Rich” (I of Cleves V of Jülich-Berg (Wilhelm der Reiche July 28, 1516 &ndash January 5, 1592) was a Duke of " In 1526, her elder sister Sybille was married to John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, head of the Protestant Confederation of Germany and considered the "Champion of the Reformation. Sybille of Cleves ( ( January 17, 1512, Düsseldorf — February 21, 1554, Weimar) was the eldest daughter of John III John Frederick I Elector of Saxony (Johann Friedrich I b Torgau, 30 June 1503 – d This article lists Dukes Electors and Kings ruling over territories named Saxony from the beginning of the Saxon Duchy in the 9th century to the end of the Saxon Kingdom in 1918 The Schmalkaldic League (Schmalkaldischer Bund was a defensive alliance of Lutheran princes within the Holy Roman Empire during the mid- 16th " At the age of 12 (1527), she was betrothed to Francis, son and heir of the Duke of Lorraine while he was only 10, so the betrothal was considered 'unofficial. Francis I ( August 23, 1517 – June 12 1545) was briefly Duke of Lorraine from 1544 until the following year Antoine ( June 4 1489 &ndash June 14 1544) known as the Good, was Duke of Lorraine from 1508 until his death in 1544 ' While her brother William was a Lutheran, the family's politics made them suitable allies for England's King Henry VIII in the aftermath of the Reformation, and a match with Anne was urged on the king by his chancellor, Thomas Cromwell. Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time Chancellor or chancellour (archaic ( Latin: cancellarius) is an official Title used in countries whose civilization has arisen Thomas Cromwell 1st Earl of Essex (c 1485 &ndash 28 July 1540) was an English statesman who served as King Henry VIII 's chief minister
Wedding preparations
The artist Hans Holbein the Younger was dispatched to paint portraits of Anne and her sister, Amelia whom Henry was considering for the role of his fourth wife. While it was usual for court painters to be flattering in their portrayal of important people, the only truly important person here was the King: Henry hired the artist to be as accurate as possible, not to flatter these sisters. The portrait is currently displayed in The Louvre in Paris. The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre located in Paris is the world's most visited art museum a historic monument and a national museum of France
Negotiations with the Cleves Court were in full swing by March 1539. Cromwell oversaw the talks and a marriage treaty was signed on 4 October of the same year. Events 610 - Heraclius arrives by ship from Africa at Constantinople, overthrows Byzantine Emperor Phocas While Henry valued education and cultural sophistication in women, Anne lacked these in her upbringing; she received no formal education as a child, and instead of being taught to sing or play an instrument, she was skilled in needlework. She had learned to read and write, but in German only. Nevertheless, Anne was considered gentle, virtuous, and docile, qualities that made her a realistic candidate for Henry.
Motivated by the flattering painting he had received, Henry was quite impatient to see his future bride. He went to meet her at the water's edge when she arrived by boat. Their first night as husband and wife was not a happy one; within a few hours he came from the room and announced: "I like her not. " Henry urged Cromwell to find a legal way to avoid the marriage but, by this point, evading the marriage was impossible without offending the Germans.
A doomed marriage
| The Six Wives of King Henry VIII |
|---|
 Catherine of Aragon |
 Anne Boleyn |
 Jane Seymour |
 Anne of Cleves |
 Catherine Howard |
 Catherine Parr |
The two were married on 6 January 1540 at the royal Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, London by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, despite Henry's very vocal misgivings. Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of Catherine of Aragon (16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536 also known as Catharine, Katherine or Katharine ( Castilian Infanta Catalina Anne Boleyn (1501 or 1507 – 19 May 1536 was the Queen of England as the second wife of Henry VIII of England. Jane Seymour (1508– 24 October 1537) was Queen Consort of England and the third wife of Henry VIII. For other Catherine Howards see Catherine Howard (disambiguation Catherine Howard (between 1520 and 1525 – 13 February 1542 also called Catherine Parr ( c 1512 &ndash 5 September 1548 also known as Katherine or Katharine Parr(e, was the last of the six wives of Henry Events 1066 - Harold Godwinson is crowned King of England. 1205 - Philip of Swabia becomes King The Palace of Placentia was an English Royal Palace built by Humphrey Duke of Gloucester in 1447 in Greenwich, on the banks of the Greenwich ( ˈɡrɛnɪtʃ GREN-itch /ˈɡrɛnɪdʒ/ GREN-idge or /ˈɡrɪnɪdʒ/ GRIN-idge is a district in south-east London, The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the If his bride had objections, she kept them to herself. The phrase “God send me well to keep” was engraved around Anne’s wedding ring.
Anne was commanded to leave the Court on June 24 and on July 6 she was informed of her husband's decision to reconsider the marriage. Events 972 - Battle of Cedynia, the first documented victory of Polish forces takes place Events 1044 - The Battle of Ménfő takes place 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England In a short time, Anne was asked for her consent to an annulment, to which she agreed. The marriage was annulled on July 9, 1540, on the grounds both of non-consummation and of her pre-contract to Francis of Lorraine. Annulment in the Catholic Church See also Annulment (Catholic Church In the Roman Catholic Church, a marriage is considered to be a valid contract Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. She received a generous settlement, including Hever Castle, home of Henry's former in-laws, the Boleyns. Hever Castle, in Kent, England (in the village of Hever) was the seat of the Boleyn, originally 'Bullen' family Anne of Cleves House, in Lewes, Sussex, is just one of many properties she owned; she never lived there. Anne of Cleves House is a 16th century timber-framed Wealden Hall-house in Southover High Street in Lewes, East Sussex, England. Lewes (ˈluːɨs Lewis) is the County town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it Made a Princess of England and called "the King's Beloved Sister" by her former husband, Anne remained in England for the rest of her life.
Death
Anne died at Hever Castle on July 16, 1557. Hever Castle, in Kent, England (in the village of Hever) was the seat of the Boleyn, originally 'Bullen' family Events 622 - The beginning of the Islamic calendar. 1054 - Three Roman legates fractured relations between the Western and According to her wishes, she was buried in what is described as a "somewhat hard to find tomb in Westminster Abbey". The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, which is almost always referred to by its original name of Westminster Abbey, is a large mainly Gothic church Her tomb is on the opposite site of Edward the Confessor's shrine, and slightly above eye level. King Edward the Confessor (c 1003 &ndash 5 January 1066 son of Ethelred the Unready, was the penultimate Anglo-Saxon King of England and the last
In fiction
Philippa Gregory's novel, The Boleyn Inheritance, is told from the viewpoint of three prominent women at the Tudor court of Henry VIII: Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn. Philippa Gregory (born 9 January, 1954) is an English Historical novelist Biography Early life and academic career The Boleyn Inheritance is a novel by British author Philippa Gregory which was first published in 2006. The Tudor dynasty or House of Tudor was an English royal Dynasty that lasted 118 years from 1485 to 1603 a period known as the Tudor period Henry VIII (28 June 1491 &ndash 28 January 1547 was King of England and Lord of Ireland, later King of Ireland and claimant to the Kingdom of For other Catherine Howards see Catherine Howard (disambiguation Catherine Howard (between 1520 and 1525 – 13 February 1542 also called Jane Boleyn Viscountess Rochford (c 1505 &ndash February 13 1542) was an English noblewoman who lived in the reign of Henry VIII.
Margaret Campbell Barnes's My Lady of Cleves describes what Anne's life might have been like between the time her portrait was painted by Hans Holbein and when King Henry VIII died.
Historiography
Sir Horace Walpole, writing in the 18th century resurrected the myth which described Anne as "The Flanders Mare" — a monument to ugliness. Horace Walpole 4th Earl of Orford ( 24 September, 1717 &ndash 2 March, 1797) more commonly known as Horace Walpole, was a politician This view persisted, and it is still a popular stereotype. Most modern historians, however, disagree with it, and the Holbein portrait certainly contradicts Walpole. Another point of view is that Anne found Henry repulsive because of his obesity, and set out to make him dislike her.
Another theory suggests that they agreed that they simply did not get along well with each other — Anne had been raised in the small provincial court at Düsseldorf and shared none of the musical and humanistic literary tastes of Henry's court. Another theory suggests that shifts in a threatened Catholic French-Spanish alliance removed any diplomatic motivations for their union. Henry and Anne split on amicable terms. This theory is supported by the fact that she received a good settlement.
Finally, there is the theory that the marriage was politically inconvenient because of the growing hostility between Henry and the Duke of Cleves [2].
Lineage
References
- ^ At the time, the area was in the Duchy of Cleves.
- ^ Biography Channel
- ^ a b c d e f Lundy, Darryl, thePeerage, <http://www.thepeerage.com/p341.htm#i3409>. Retrieved on 27 October 2007
- ^ Lundy, Darryl, thePeerage, <http://www.thepeerage.com/p10150.htm#i101499>. Retrieved on 27 October 2007
- ^ a b c d e f Lundy, Darryl, thePeerage, <http://www.thepeerage.com/p341.htm#i3410>. Retrieved on 27 October 2007
- ^ a b Lundy, Darryl, thePeerage, <http://www.thepeerage.com/p10150.htm#i101500>. Retrieved on 27 October 2007
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lundy, Darryl, thePeerage, <http://www.thepeerage.com/p10309.htm#i103089>. Retrieved on 27 October 2007
- ^ a b Lundy, Darryl, thePeerage, <http://www.thepeerage.com/p343.htm#i3428>. Retrieved on 27 October 2007
External links
- A quick overview of Anne's life, including a very good portrait gallery
- A more in-depth examination of Anne's political career
- More information on Anne's life after her annulment
- A Google Earth biography tour of the Six Wives of Henry VIII on the Google Earth Community
- A biography on her life
| English royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jane Seymour |
Queen Consort of England 6 January–9 July 1540 |
Succeeded by Catherine Howard |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Anne of Cleves |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | Queen Consort of Henry VIII |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 22, 1515 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Düsseldorf, Duchy of Cleves (now Germany) |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 16, 1557 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | London, England |
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