Queen Anne of Cleves: Dumped for being too ugly—but she outlived them all!
Remembered as the fourth bride of King Henry VIII, this German-born Queen of England ruled for only six months during 1540.
She was born on September 22, 1515, and grew up in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, as the daughter of Duke John III and Duchess Maria.
When she was just eleven years old, it was decided that she would marry Francis, the son of the Duke of Lorraine. Several years later, however, the arrangement was broken.
Henry VIII commissioned artist Hans Holbein the Younger to paint her portrait, along with that of her sister Amalia, so that he could choose, based on appearance, which young noblewoman would become his wife.
Her short reign in 1540 lasted only from January 6 to July 9 before she was dumped. Despite holding the title of queen during that brief period, Anne and Henry’s marriage was never consummated, and it was annulled on grounds of non-consummation and Henry’s claims of her lack of attractiveness. Anne did not contest the annulment and was rewarded with a generous settlement, including the title “The King’s Beloved Sister.” Talk about getting friendzoned.
She lived the rest of her life in England and remained in good standing with the royal family—remarkably outliving Henry VIII and all his other wives!
Before marrying Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII had already had three wives: Catherine Of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and Jane Seymour. When his marriage to Anne of Cleves ended, he wed Catherine Howard, followed by Catherine Parr.
How did Anne Of Cleves die?
Anne died at Chelsea Old Manor on 16 July 1557. The most likely cause of her death was cancer. She was 41.
Everyone who served her remembered her as a particularly generous and easy-going mistress.