Anne of Cleves

Anne of Cleves (German: Anna von Kleve; 28 June or 22 September 1515 – 16 July 1557) was a German princess who briefly became Queen of England in 1540 as the fourth wife of Henry VIII, from their marriage on 6 January until its annulment on 12 July.

Born in Düsseldorf to John III, Duke of Cleves and Maria of Jülich-Berg, little is known about Anne before 1527. She was betrothed to Francis I, Duke of Lorraine, but the marriage did not take place.

In March 1539, Henry started negotiations with the German Protestants to form an alliance against the Kingdom of France and the Holy Roman Empire. He sought to marry Anne, the sister of William, Duke of Jülich-Cleves-Berg, and ordered Hans Holbein the Younger to paint him a portrait of her. Once Henry found it flattering, he agreed to the marriage. Anne arrived in England in December 1539, and met Henry in January, where he surprised her by wearing a disguise.

The difference in Henry and Anne's personalities made them incompatible with each other, and the marriage was annulled on 12 July 1540 following six months with no consummation. Anne received a generous settlement from Henry after the annulment and came to be known as "The King's Beloved Sister". She lived out the rest of her life in England and witnessed the reigns of Edward VI and Mary I, who were both Henry's children. She attended the coronation of Mary I on 1 October 1553, outliving all of her husband's other wives. Anne was interred as a queen at Westminster Abbey following her death in 1557.