Anne (Cleves) of Cleves (1515 - 1557)

Born 22 Sep 1515 in Düsseldorf, Duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg

Ancestors

Wife of Henry (Tudor) of England KG — married 6 Jan 1540 (to 7 Jul 1540) in Palace of Placentia, Greenwich, London, England

Died 16 Jul 1557 at age 41 in Chelsea, London, England

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Biography

Anne (Cleves) of Cleves is Notable.

Anne was born 22 September 1515, in Düsseldorf, Duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg to Johann (Kleve) von Jülich-Kleve-Berg and Maria (Jülich-Berg) von Jülich und Berg of Kleve. She had three siblings, two sisters, and one brother. Anne received quality instruction in reading and writing German. Anne's younger years became an uncertain time of betrothal's made and broken. Like many young women of nobility she was a political pawn. In 1527, at the age of twelve, she was betrothed to François, heir to the duchy of Lorraine. In 1528, the previously arranged betrothal was broken and revived again in 1530. In 1535 the marriage was rejected, that rejection was reaffirmed in 1538.^[1][2]

Her father died in 1539, and her brother succeeded him, and became Wilhelm Duke of Jülich-Kleve-Berg. Wilhelm's now as the head of the family, gave him the power to approve and negotiate all decisions in Anne and her sisters' lives. Wilhelm began negotiations to form a treaty with England by arranging a marriage between Anne and the King of England Henry VIII in 1539. A marriage between the two had been suggested in 1537, King Henry declined at the time. Now, Wilhelm with a threat of loss of power and lands, had King Henry reconsidering his previous reservations, and the England King now believed that an alliance would be most beneficial for England.^[1][3][4][5] The treaty was concluded on 4 September 1539. ^[6] The young Duke offered a dower of 100,000 florins (25,000 English marks sterling) as part of the marriage treaty to be paid upon Anne's arrival in England. Henry knew the Duke could ill afford it and waived the dower. ^[7]

On 2 January 1539/40 the King was in London. He ordered an announcement by public crier in London and Greenwich. The people were to be present in Greenwich upon the arrival the next day of Anne of Cleves, who would soon be their queen. Citizens from merchants to Knights were ordered to be in attendance upon her arrival. On 5 January 1539/40 the King patent a vast amount of properties and manors to Anne. Later that day she was accompanied by both the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk to Greenwich to meet the King.^[8]

Marriage

On 6 January 1539/40 Anne married King Henry VIII.^[9] The King was not attracted to Anne and felt that her painting had misrepresented her appearance. The commission asked the clergy to examine the marriage between Anne and the King. The marriage had not been consummated and was annulled on 7 July 1540 at St. Peter's, Westminster, just six months after the marriage.^[10][11]

Life in England

Anne and the King had a friendly relationship and he was very generous with her. They shared a lifelong friendship and referred to each other as brother and sister. The King welcomed Anne at all the royal events as if she were a family member. Although not attracted to her physically he appreciated her personality, friendship, and loyalty.^[1][12]

Anne handled her demotion from queen to 'sister' with great dignity.^[12] She had no desire to return to Cleves. In 1540/1 in consideration of her acceptance of the annulment and agreement to remain in England, and accept the laws of the land, the King rewarded her amply. The list of lands, manors, and messuages was extensive. One manor that she received the King had previously acquired from Sir Nicholas Carew.^[13]

She quickly established a pre-eminent place in the Queen's household. She became the chief confidant and mother of the German maids. In spite of her short reign, Anne was loved and admired as the sweetest, most gracious, and kindest queen the people could desire.^[12]

Anne continued the hope that one day the King would change his mind about their relationship. Each new marriage brought her more heartache, and the King attempted to console her with more land and manors. She was treated well throughout the King's lifetime. When the King died his children were not as kind and generous. Her last public appearance was at the coronation and banquet for Queen Mary I, which she attended with Princess Elizabeth on 29 September 1553.^[1]

Death

Lady Anne never remarried, and remained in England for sixteen years until her death on 16 July 1557 at Chelsea Manor in London. On 4 August she was transported to Westminster Abbey. She was buried at Westminster Abbey on the south side of the High Altar. Her large free-stone monument was neatly carved and adorned with the Arms of Cleves and the letters A C knit together for Anne of Cleves.^[1][9][14]

Anne's Will was probated on 2 September 1557 in London.^[15]

Research Notes

• In 1752 the calendar in England changed from old style to new style. Previous to 1752 the new year began on March 25th in 1752 it was changed and began January 1st. Dates prior to 1752 occurring between January 1st and March 24th will be recorded as dual years to reflect the change.

• Her birth location was Düsseldorf, Duchy of Jülich-Cleves-Berg a part of the Holy Roman Empire the name became extinct in 1521. It is currently a part of Germany.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Retha M. Warnicke. Anne of Cleves (1515–1557). Published 23 September 2004. ODNB, oxforddnb.com. Accessed 21 Nov 2021.
2. ↑ FRANCONIA - LOWER RHINE, NOBILITY, C. DUKES of JÜLICH-BERG-KLEVE, Anne. Projects Medlands, fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands. Accessed December 19, 2021.
3. ↑ "Preface," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 2, August-December 1539, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1895), i-xlix. British History Online, accessed December 3, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol14/no2/i-xlix.
4. ↑ "Letters and Papers: August 1539, 1-15," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 2, August-December 1539, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1895), 1-15. British History Online, accessed December 3, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol14/no2/pp1-15.
5. ↑ "Letters and Papers: September 1539, 1-5," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 2, August-December 1539, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1895), 34-39. British History Online, accessed December 3, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol14/no2/pp34-39.
6. ↑ "Letters and Papers: August 1539, 1-15," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 2, August-December 1539, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1895), 1-15. British History Online, accessed December 3, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol14/no2/pp1-15.
7. ↑ "Letters and Papers: October 1539, 6-10," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 14 Part 2, August-December 1539, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1895), 108-117. British History Online, accessed December 3, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol14/no2/pp108-117.
8. ↑ "Henry VIII: January 1540, 1-10," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 15, 1540, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1896), 1-19. British History Online, accessed March 21, 2022, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol15/pp1-19.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Sandford, Francis, 1630-1694. A genealogical history of the kings of England, and monarchs of Great Britain : from the Conquest, anno 1066, to the year 1677. Published Savoy [London] : Printed by Tho. Newcomb, 1677. archive.org. Accessed 17 Nov 2021.
10. ↑ "House of Lords Journal Volume 1: King's marriage with Lady Anne of Cleves called into question," in Journal of the House of Lords: Volume 1, 1509-1577, (London: His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1767-1830), 153. British History Online, accessed December 31, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/lords-jrnl/vol1/p153.
11. ↑ "Henry VIII: July 1540, 1-10," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 15, 1540, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1896), 412-436. British History Online, accessed March 21, 2022, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol15/pp412-436.
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Starkey, David. Six wives : the queens of Henry VIII. Published by Queens, 2003. archive.org. Accessed 17 Nov 2021
13. ↑ "Henry VIII: January 1541, 21-31," in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 16, 1540-1541, ed. James Gairdner and R H Brodie (London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1898), 229-246. British History Online, accessed March 22, 2022, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol16/pp229-246.
14. ↑ 'Cleves, Lady Anne of: London', 25 July 1557-05 July 1558. Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series II, and other Inquisitions, Henry VII to Charles I. Date: 4 & 5 Ph. & M. Reference: C 142/113/64. The National Archives, Kew, discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
15. ↑ Will of Dame Anne Cleves of London, 2 September 1557. PROB 11/39/368. The National Archives, Kew, discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk
16. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=United_Duchies_of_J%C3%BClich-Cleves-Berg&oldid=1066216824 (accessed March 23, 2022).

See Also

• "Royal Ancestry", by D. Richardson 2013 Vol. V pp. 212.
• Wikipedia: Anne of Cleves
• "Parishes: Preston Candover," in A History of the County of Hampshire: Volume 3, ed. William Page (London: Victoria County History, 1908), 371-377. British History Online, accessed November 8, 2021, http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/hants/vol3/pp371-377.
• "Tudor England" - Anne Of Cleves Portrait
• This WikiTree profile is referenced from Wikidata: Item Q57126, en:Wikipedia
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1967/anne_of_cleves : accessed 22 March 2022), memorial page for Anne of Cleves (22 Sep 1515–16 Jul 1557), Find a Grave Memorial ID 1967, citing Westminster Abbey, Westminster, City of Westminster, Greater London, England ; Maintained by Find a Grave . Find A Grave: Memorial #1967
• US and British Isle, Joseph Thomas Biographical dictionary, 1890