CHRONICLE

* September 22, 1515 in Düsseldorf ✝ July 18, 1557 in Richmond House, London

Second daughter of Johann III, Duke of Cleves and Maria von Geldern ANNE 4th wife of King Henry VIII October 4, 1539 marriage was signed Anna January 6, 1540 marriage OF CLEVES July 9, 1540 divorce

King Henry VIII * June 28, 1491 in Greenwich ✝ January 28, 1547 in London

The six wives of King Henry VIII Catherine of Aragón marriage was annulled Anne Boleyn beheaded Jane Seymour died Anne of Cleves divorced Catharine Howard beheaded Catharine Parr survived

Kleve Marketing Werftstraße 1 · 47533 Kleve Tel. 0049. 2821.89509-0 [email protected] · www.kleve.de ANNE OF CLEVES

Over the border in Kleve lies the story of Anne of Yet Anne was ill-prepared for her duties as Queen Cleves, who was married briefly to King Henry the of England. She knew how to handle needle and VIII of England. string, but reading, writing and the fine arts were not subjects which she had been fully educated in. After the death of his third wife, King Henry VIII In addition, she could not sing or play an instru- was searching for a new wife in the hope of ment and stood in financial opposition to her bolstering his political position against the direct predecessor. Catholic coalition of France and the Holy Roman Empire. The vote finally fell on the Kleve-Jülich- Futhermore, the King Berg-Ravensberg-Mark House, which was at that soon wanted to be time, a conceivably important territory in freed from Anne, as northwest Germany. the political grounds

King Henry VIII, The Swan Castle bevore it was partly Portrait by Hans Holbein destroyed in the 18th century.

for the marriage (the threat of the Emperor and King of France) was no longer an issue. Anne agreed gladly to a divorce and was happy that she survived the marriage with her head still attached, unlike her predecessors.

Anne of Cleves, On July 7th, 1540 the divorce was finalised. The Portrait by Hans Holbein King, pleased with the unproblematic and quick ending of his 4th marriage, was more than happy On the other hand, a strong to compensate Anne and approved conditions that ally in the fight for a long- included a residence at Richmond House and term duchy was an attractive Bletchingley. She was not allowed to keep the title opportunity for the German city. The marriage “Queen of England”, but was made a princess of between Anne and King Henry VIII was seen as an England and was called “Sister” by her former hus- attempt to purify political connections. Henry’s band. artist Hans Holbein, was sent to paint a portrait of Anne outlived her divorced husband by ten years. Anne, which he took to quite liberally. Finally on After her death, on July 28th, 1577, her body was October 4th, 1539 the marriage between Anne and laid to rest in a chapel in Westminster Abbey in King Henry VIII was signed. London, where her tomb can still be found today.