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Anne of Cleves: Character and Appearance. Until recently, Anne of Cleves was one of the least-known of Henry VIII’s wives. That Henry found her physically unattractive, which, paradoxically, made her ‘ the lucky one ’ whom he divorced, was about the sum of knowledge. Now, however, she is the focus of more interest, and as her life is ...
Mar 19, 2024 · For the first time in nearly 400 years, the public can see Anne of Cleves as Henry VIII first saw her: resplendent in red velvet against a brilliant blue backdrop, her hazel eyes framed by a...
- Meilan Solly
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Chapter 1: Cleves. Anne (whose given name was Anna), was probably born in the ancient fortress of Düsseldorf, in the duchy of Cleves-Jülich-Berg, usually shortened to ‘Cleves’. The duchy had been created by the marriage of Anne’s mother, Maria, Duchess of Jülich-Berg, and her father, Johann III, Duke of Cleves, and the states were ...
Mar 20, 2024 · Previously, the portrait portrayed a doll-like Anne of Cleves in front of a muted green background. The details of her dress were apparent, but they lacked luster, and the colors were dull and faded. The recent restoration unveils a masterful work of color and detail that pays credence to its rumored enchanting powers.
- Anne Was A Political Pawn
- The Cleves-England Match Was Purely Political
- History Has Focused Most on Anne’s Looks
- The Match Did Not Have An Auspicious Start
- She Had A Very Short-Lived Marriage
- She Left Court in June 1540
- Anne’s Attitude Was Rewarded
- Anne’s Father Tried to Get Her to Remarry Henry
- Anne Survived to See Mary on The Throne
- She Died Peacefully in 1557
Anne’s early life is relatively obscure, but she was born in Düsseldorf in 1515 to the Duke and Duchess of Jülich-Berg. Her family had Protestant sympathies in the Reformation, and opposed the Catholic Emperor Charles V. As a daughter, Anne would always have been expected to marry whomever her parents chose for her. In the turbulent religious lands...
Europe was divided by religion by the late 1530s, and Henry VIII, King of England, was keen to make a Protestant alliance with his next marriage. Thomas Cromwell, Henry’s Chief Minister, was keen on a match between Henry – now a bloated, overweight 48 year old – and the 24 year old Protestant Anne of Cleves, primarily for political reasons. Whilst ...
Whilst Cromwell was negotiating the marriage, Hans Holbein the Younger, one of the prominent portrait painters of the time, was dispatched to paint both Anne and her younger sister Amalia. Henry was said to be pleased with the resulting portrait, and copies of it can be seen in Paris and London today. However, Henry later accused of Holbein of flat...
Anne and Henry had not met before the match, and there is no record of how Anne responded to the betrothal. She travelled to London with a retinue of her ladies to meet the king in late 1539, and en route, Henry decided to surprise his bride-to-be in the true tradition of chivalric love. Along with several of his men, Henry burst into Anne’s apartm...
Anne and Henry were married in January 1540 in Greenwich: however, Henry declared to Cromwell the following day that he could not bring himself to consummate the marriage (implying he found Anne so unattractive he could not rouse any desire). History does not record how Anne felt about the prospect of consummating a marriage with Henry, who by this...
Henry was said to be furious with Cromwell, and just 6 months after they were married, Henry ordered Anne to leave court. She was asked to consent to an annulment of the marriage, which she agreed to. Cromwell, on the other hand, was imprisoned on trumped up charges of treason and later executed. The marriage was formally annulled in July 1540.
Henry was grateful that Anne did not contest the annulment: she was awarded the title of ‘The King’s Beloved Sister’, and awarded precedence over all ladies in the land except the King’s family. Anne was also given a number of properties, including Richmond Palace and Hever Castle and a generous annual income. Anne was well received at court, and f...
Anne’s status had become complex. As ‘The King’s Beloved Sister’ and one of the wealthiest women in England, it would be difficult for Anne to remarry elsewhere, and the alliance between Cleves and England was somewhat rocky following the failure of the marriage. Following Catherine Howard’s execution, Anne’s brother William petitioned Henry to rem...
Anne outlived Henry and his final wife, Catherine Parr. She had initially met Maryas her step-mother (although the two only had a few years between them) and despite religious differences, the two were said to have got along remarkably well. Anne took part in Mary’s coronation procession, and wrote to congratulate her on her marriage to Philip of S...
Anne never left England following her arrival in 1539, and she lived her last years in Chelsea Old Manor until she died in July 1557. Her will remembered her family and her step-family, as well as her servants, whom she asked Mary and Elizabeth to employ in their households. She was buried in Westminster Abbey with full pomp by Mary, showing that d...
- Sarah Roller
Considering that the portraits identified as Anne of Cleves and Sybilla show very stately costumes, I highly doubt this picture is Amelia. She looks like a commoner to me. It is true that Holbein has some sketches showing their sitters in less than regal costumes ( example: the questionable Anne Boleyn sketch) but the whole purpose of painting ...
Mar 31, 2015 · The History Learning Site, 31 Mar 2015. 5 Apr 2024. Anne of Cleves was Henry VIII’s fourth wife. Anne was from the small north German state of Cleves. Her brother, William, ruled Cleves but realised that his sister’s marriage to the king of England would greatly enhance his status. After the divorce of Catherine, the execution of Anne and ...
