Difference between revisions of "Anne of Cleves" - New World Encyclopedia
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==Life after the annulment== | ==Life after the annulment== | ||
| − | Anne adamantly desired to stay in England after her annulment. She thus fully cooperated with Henry, supporting his claims, and probably testified that her marriage had never been consummated, as well as that her previous betrothal to the son of the Duke of Lorraine had never been legally broken. She gratefully accepted Henry's offer of several houses, a princely income, and the honorary title of "the King's Beloved Sister" | + | Anne adamantly desired to stay in England after her annulment. She thus fully cooperated with Henry, supporting his claims, and probably testified that her marriage had never been consummated, as well as that her previous betrothal to the son of the Duke of Lorraine had never been legally broken. She gratefully accepted Henry's offer of several houses, a princely income, and the honorary title of "the King's Beloved Sister." She also accepted the condition that having been the King's wife, she would not be permitted to remarry. |
| − | She did not wish to return to her home | + | She also did not wish to return to her home and risk being married off to another ally of her brother. Like a number of women of her time, she may have tired of being a political pawn through marriage. She returned her wedding ring to Henry, requesting that he break it in half to symbolize that the bond between them as husband and wife was broken. |
| − | Anne consented to the annulment only after the king allowed her to have access to the | + | The was one matter, however, on which she insisted. Anne consented to the annulment only after the king allowed her to have access to the royal children. She had formed strong attachments to all three of them, particularly [[Elizabeth I|Elizabeth]]. As she could never remarry and was thus denied the chance to have children of her own, Henry agreed. As a tribute to her prudence and good sense, even allowed Prince Edward, the royal heir, to visit her on occasion. |
| − | Anne happily retired to the various country homes that Henry had given her and occupied herself with refurbishing them and the domestic occupations that were her chief interest. She eventually converted to Catholicism, to her step-daughter, Mary's delight. She founded an orphans' school on one of her estates, and she was frequently at | + | Anne happily retired to the various country homes that Henry had given her and occupied herself with refurbishing them and the domestic occupations that were her chief interest. She eventually converted to Catholicism, to her step-daughter, Mary's delight. She founded an orphans' school on one of her estates, and she was frequently at court—where she became one of her "brother," King Henry's favorite visitors. It seems they had much in common, particularly an interest in upgrading and modernizing their houses. They frequently exchanged cooks and household gadgetry. |
| + | |||
| + | Anne died peacefully in 1557, aged 42, surviving both Henry and and his son, Edward VI. Meanwhile, her fellow Catholic, [[Mary I of England|Mary]], had become queen. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Of all of Henry's wives, Anne of Cleaves was probably the most fortunate. Though a failure as a wife, she earned the king's respect and affection, and was able to live out her life in relative happiness. <ref>[http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Studios/1344/cleves.html?200725 Geocities' article on Anne of Cleves] ''www.geocities.com''</ref> | ||
| − | |||
==Annes' influence== | ==Annes' influence== | ||
Anne's influence was much less than her predecessors. She managed to make good personal relationships and influence with each of the Royal children, who had up until that time, been raised largely in isolation by servants. Mary had loving memories of her mother, but Edward never knew his mother. Elizabeth had a short relationship with her mother and the painful shame of her "betrayal" and death. Anne developed a very important relationship with all three of Henry's children, which was invaluable, especially in trying to reconcile Mary with her father. She loved them sincerely which gave them affection and support when they had little. <ref>Ibid.</ref> | Anne's influence was much less than her predecessors. She managed to make good personal relationships and influence with each of the Royal children, who had up until that time, been raised largely in isolation by servants. Mary had loving memories of her mother, but Edward never knew his mother. Elizabeth had a short relationship with her mother and the painful shame of her "betrayal" and death. Anne developed a very important relationship with all three of Henry's children, which was invaluable, especially in trying to reconcile Mary with her father. She loved them sincerely which gave them affection and support when they had little. <ref>Ibid.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 20:53, 12 May 2008
| Anne of Cleves | ||
|---|---|---|
| Queen Consort of England | ||
| ||
| Anne of Cleves, painted by Hans Holbein the Younger | ||
| Born | September 22 1515 | |
| Düsseldorf, Cleves | ||
| Died | 16 July 1557 (aged 41) | |
| 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 (September 22, 1515–July 16, 1557) (German: Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg) was the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England from January 6 , 1540 to July 9, 1540.
Biography
Anne was born at Düsseldorf[1], the daughter of John III, ruler of the Duchy of Cleves, who died in 1538. After John's death, her brother William became Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, bearing the promising epithet "The Rich." 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."
At the age of 12 (1527), Anne was betrothed to Francis, son and heir of the Duke of Lorraine while he was only 10, so the betrothal was not considered official. 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 after the death of Henry's third wife, Jane Seymour.
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. Henry hired the artist to be as accurate as possible, not to flatter these sisters. Holbein was a superb portrait painter, and there is every reason to believe his attractive portrayal of Anne was true, since Holbein remained at court and continued to win royal commissions. His portrait of Anne is currently displayed in The Louvre in Paris.
Negotiations with the Cleves' court were in full swing by March 1539. Cromwell oversaw the talks and a marriage treaty was signed on October 4 of the same year. A possible obstacle may have been that Henry valued education and cultural sophistication in women, but 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. Moreover, Henry's previous wife, Jane Seymour, also lacked a sophisticated education, but this had proved no barrier to her success as a companion to Henry or to provide him with an heir.
Henry, impatient to see his future bride, journeyed to [[Rochester, Kent on New Year’s Day 1540 and walked in on Anne unannounced. Without the benefit of a portrait of Henry to prepare her for his appearance, she did not realize that "this man" was to be her future husband, so she did not curtsy or even rise from her chair when Henry entered the room. The king reportedly took an immediate dislike to her because of this and announced: "I like her not." Henry urged Cromwell to find a legal way to avoid the marriage but, by this point, such an outcome 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 January 6, 1540 at the royal Palace of Placentia in Greenwich, London by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, despite Henry's vocal misgivings. 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.
Henry was frustrated, and he took out his feelings on Anne. He was described as trying repeatedly to upset her by sending away her personal ladies-in-waiting from Cleves and replacing them with Englishwomen instead. However, Anne made friends quickly and soon enjoyed the lively company of the English maids of honor who attended her.
Henry also ordered that she put aside her traditional and cumbersome Germanic clothing and adopt more streamlined English styles. She liked this idea and immediately ordered a large, lavish wardrobe, straining Henry's finances. He commanded that she speak only English and arranged for her to be tutored intensively. She learned English with amazing speed, so much so that the king was reportedly shocked.
Anne's life in Cleves had focused only on homemaking and domestic skills, and she was untutored in the artistic and musical pursuits so dear to Henry. But he refused to to find a way for them to enjoy something together.
Considering her virginity, which Henry had questioned because of her supposedly sagging belly and breasts, she answered with a naivety that betrayed a basic ignorance of the facts of life. "I surely cannot be [a virgin], because every night when the King comes to bed, he kisses me on the cheek and says 'Good-night, sweetheart'. Then he goes to sleep. In the morning, when he rises, he kisses me on the cheek again, and says 'Have a good day, sweetheart'. So you see, I cannot still be a virgin."
When Anne heard about real sexual relations as described by her maids, she was amazed, and stated that nothing like that had passed between her and the King, or between her and any other man. This news, rapidly spread, made Henry a laughing stock to his people. [2]
Anne was commanded to leave the king's court on June 24, 1540 and on July 6, she was informed of her husband's decision to reconsider the marriage. In a short time, Anne was asked for her consent to an annulment, to which she agreed. The marriage was annulled on July 9 on the grounds both of non-consummation and of her previous contract to Francis of Lorraine.
She received a generous settlement, including Hever Castle, home of Henry's former in-laws, the Boleyns. Anne of Cleves House, in Lewes, Sussex, is just one of many properties she owned, but she never lived there. 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.
Life after the annulment
Anne adamantly desired to stay in England after her annulment. She thus fully cooperated with Henry, supporting his claims, and probably testified that her marriage had never been consummated, as well as that her previous betrothal to the son of the Duke of Lorraine had never been legally broken. She gratefully accepted Henry's offer of several houses, a princely income, and the honorary title of "the King's Beloved Sister." She also accepted the condition that having been the King's wife, she would not be permitted to remarry.
She also did not wish to return to her home and risk being married off to another ally of her brother. Like a number of women of her time, she may have tired of being a political pawn through marriage. She returned her wedding ring to Henry, requesting that he break it in half to symbolize that the bond between them as husband and wife was broken.
The was one matter, however, on which she insisted. Anne consented to the annulment only after the king allowed her to have access to the royal children. She had formed strong attachments to all three of them, particularly Elizabeth. As she could never remarry and was thus denied the chance to have children of her own, Henry agreed. As a tribute to her prudence and good sense, even allowed Prince Edward, the royal heir, to visit her on occasion.
Anne happily retired to the various country homes that Henry had given her and occupied herself with refurbishing them and the domestic occupations that were her chief interest. She eventually converted to Catholicism, to her step-daughter, Mary's delight. She founded an orphans' school on one of her estates, and she was frequently at court—where she became one of her "brother," King Henry's favorite visitors. It seems they had much in common, particularly an interest in upgrading and modernizing their houses. They frequently exchanged cooks and household gadgetry.
Anne died peacefully in 1557, aged 42, surviving both Henry and and his son, Edward VI. Meanwhile, her fellow Catholic, Mary, had become queen.
Of all of Henry's wives, Anne of Cleaves was probably the most fortunate. Though a failure as a wife, she earned the king's respect and affection, and was able to live out her life in relative happiness. [3]
Annes' influence
Anne's influence was much less than her predecessors. She managed to make good personal relationships and influence with each of the Royal children, who had up until that time, been raised largely in isolation by servants. Mary had loving memories of her mother, but Edward never knew his mother. Elizabeth had a short relationship with her mother and the painful shame of her "betrayal" and death. Anne developed a very important relationship with all three of Henry's children, which was invaluable, especially in trying to reconcile Mary with her father. She loved them sincerely which gave them affection and support when they had little. [4]
Historiography
Sir Horace Walpole, writing in the 18th century, resurrected the myth which described Anne as "The Flanders Mare" — a monument to ugliness. 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.
Henry described her as "monstrous", probably exaggerated, but may have done so due to her failure to give him the necessary respect at their first spontaneous meeting and he was determined that the match would be dissolved. Portraits other than the famous Holbein miniature portray the same face — strongly featured, with a large nose. For the public, they saw her covered with a black veil when she arrived in England and people who saw her from a distance assumed that her hair was black, and thus she gained the nickname "blackamoor." Anne's hair was actually light brown and curly!
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. [5].
It is believed that Anne never resented Katherine Howard, but actually was fond of her, both as her maid of honor and then when she became Henry's fifth Queen. She was genuinely distressed by Katherine's fall from grace and execution. But she didn't care for Katherine Parr, Henry's sixth wife, whom, it was reported, she considered far less attractive than herself.[6]
Notes
- ↑ At the time, the area was in the Duchy of Cleves.
- ↑ Geocities' article on Anne of Cleaves www.geocities.com Retrieved may 11, 2008.
- ↑ Geocities' article on Anne of Cleves www.geocities.com
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Biography Channel www.thebiographychannel.co.uk Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- ↑ Ibid.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- PBS handbook on "The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Jane Seymour 1508-1537"
- Fraser, Antonia. The Wives of Henry VIII, Vintage 1993. ISBN 978-0679730019
- Starkey, David. Six Wives: The Queens of Henry VIII, Harper Perennial, 2004. ISBN 978-0060005504
- Weir, Alison. The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Grove Press; 1st Grove Press Paperback edition, 1991). ISBN 978-0802136831
External links
All retrieved May 11, 2008.
- A quick overview of Anne's life, including a very good portrait gallery. tudorhistory.org
- A more in-depth examination of Anne's political career. englishhistory.net
- More information on Anne's life after her annulment www.tudorplace.com.ar
- A Google Earth biography tour of the Six Wives of Henry VIII on the Google Earth Community. bbs.keyhole.com
- A biography on her life www.geocities.com
| English royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Jane Seymour |
Queen Consort of England 6 January–9 July 1540 |
Succeeded by: Catherine Howard |
George, Duke of Cumberland (1702-1707) · Mary of Modena (1685-1688) · Catherine of Braganza (1662-1685) · Henrietta Maria of France (1625-1649) · Anne of Denmark (1603-1619) · Philip II of Spain (1554-1558) · Lord Guildford Dudley (1553) · Catherine Parr (1543-1547) · Catherine Howard (1540-1542) · Anne of Cleves (1540) · Jane Seymour (1536-1537) · Anne Boleyn (1533-1536) · Catherine of Aragon (1509-1533) · Elizabeth of York (1486-1503) · Anne Neville (1483-1485) · Elizabeth Woodville (1464-1483) · Margaret of Anjou (1445-1471) · Catherine of Valois (1420-1422) · Joanna of Navarre (1403-1413) · Isabella of Valois (1396-1399) · Anne of Bohemia (1383-1394) · Philippa of Hainault (1328-1369) · Isabella of France (1308-1327) · Marguerite of France (1299-1307) · Eleanor of Castile (1272-1290) · Eleanor of Provence (1236-1272) · Isabella of Angoulême (1200-1216) · Berengaria of Navarre (1191-1199) · Eleanor of Aquitaine (1154-1189) · Matilda of Boulogne (1135-1152) · Geoffrey V, Count of Anjou (1141) · Adeliza of Louvain (1121-1135) · Matilda of Scotland (1100-1118) · Matilda of Flanders (1066-1083)
| 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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