Anne of Cleves' Six-Month Marriage to Henry VIII: A Political Alliance Gone Awry
To strengthen alliances with Protestant leaders against Catholic forces, King Henry VIII wed Anne of Cleves, a German noblewoman, in 1540. This union, orchestrated by Thomas Cromwell, was influenced by a flattering portrait, but Henry was let down when he first met her on January 1, 1540. Their marriage ceremony occurred on January 6, 1540, in Greenwich. Henry asserted that the marriage was never consummated and sought an annulment shortly after, placing the blame on Cromwell. Anne, born in 1515 to John III, Duke of Cleves, received an annual settlement of £4,000 and estates upon the annulment granted on July 9, 1540. She and Henry remained on amicable terms until her death on July 16, 1557, and she was interred in Westminster Abbey.
Key facts
- King Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves on January 6, 1540.
- The marriage was arranged by Thomas Cromwell for a political alliance with Protestant German states.
- Henry chose Anne based on a portrait by Hans Holbein the Younger.
- Henry claimed the marriage was never consummated and sought annulment within six months.
- Anne was born in 1515 in Düsseldorf, Germany, and raised at Schloss Burg in Solingen.
- The marriage was annulled on July 9, 1540, due to non-consummation and Anne's prior betrothal.
- Anne received an annual income of £4,000 and estates including Hever Castle after the divorce.
- Anne died on July 16, 1557, at Chelsea Manor and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Entities
Artists
- Hans Holbein the Younger
- Bartholomaeus Bruyn the Elder
Institutions
- Holy Roman Empire
- National Portrait Gallery
- Louvre
- St. John’s College, Oxford
- Barberini Gallery, Rome
- Royal Museums Greenwich
- Hever Castle & Gardens
- Westminster Abbey
Locations
- Düsseldorf
- Germany
- Solingen
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Greenwich
- London
- England
- Thames
- Richmond
- Bletchingly
- Chelsea Manor
- Rome
- Italy
- Saxony