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| born September 22, 1515 - died July 16, 1557 Queen Consort January 6 - July 9, 1540 (6 months) Character's backstory: Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of Henry VIII, served the least amount of time as any of his queens. Cromwell promoted the allaince with a Protestant house as a counterbalance to the power of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V.Although Cleves was a member of the Schmalkaldic League of Protestant Princes under the sway of Saxony, Anne herself, raised by a strict Catholic mother, the Duchess Maria, may also have been Roman Catholic, although her father, Duke John had reformist tendencies and her brother, Duke William, was Protestant. At any rate, Anne was Roman Catholic at her death. Anne was suggested to Henry by Thomas Cromwell in hopes of creating a Protestant alliance. Anne was doomed after a disastrous first meeting with Henry (who came to meet her in one of his disguises), in which she did not rise to greet him because she did not recognize him as the King of England. It is rumored as well that he kissed her while in disguise and that she rejected his kiss. Whatever the insult, Henry claimed to find her unattractive and claimed that he was unable to consummate the marriage. Many historians agree that severe obesity, infirmity, and age caused Henry to be impotent and unable to perform the act. In exchange for agreeing to end the marriage, Anne was granted the manors of Hever, former home of Anne Boleyn) , and Bletchingly, 3,000 or 4,000 pounds a year, as well as precedence over all women of the court save only for his current and any future daughters and his wife, as a settlement. She also requested and was granted the privilege of having Elizabeth,for whom she had come to have a motherly affection, visit her. she outlived Henry and all of his wives and died honoured and loved in the reign of Mary I who commanded that she be buried as a Queen in Westminster Abbey. Gentility: Sister of the Duke of Cleves - a west German duchy. Position: Queen Consort of England & then Honorary "sister" to the King. Personality type: Ill suited to life in the English court since her upbringing has concentrated on domestic skills and not the music and literature which was so popular with the King & his court. But she enjoyed English ale and gambling. Signature look: Before Henry met her,the English ambassador, Christopher Mont reported that, ‘She excelleth the Duchess [Christina of Denmark, Duchess of Milan - a renowned beauty], as the golden sun excelleth the silvern moon.’ She was described by the French ambassador, Charles de Marillac, as tall and thin, "of middling beauty, with a determined and resolute countenance." She was dark haired, with a rather swarthy complexion, appeared solemn by English standards, and she looked old for her age. She had a full face, high forehead, brown, heavy-lidded eyes, a long, slightly bulbous nose, and a pointed chin. Though unfairly characterized by many as Henry's "ugly wife" because of his dismissal of her, Anne of Cleves was considered by many to be as handsome as other women. It may have been her shyness, her awkwardness, and inability to speak English as well as her ungainly German fashions that affected Henry's perception of her. *Legend has it that Henry called her the ‘Flanders Mare’ but in actual fact that title was devised around a century later by Bishop Gilbert Burnet. Three months after the divorce, it was reported by the French Ambassador that "Madame of Cleves has a more joyous countenance than ever. She wears a great variety of dresses and passes all her time in sports and recreations." (It is likely she found Henry as unattractive as he found her). She and the King remained friends, and she was close to his children. Endearing trait(s): gentleness & humility, kindness, especially to the little Elizabeth, good friend to Mary, prudence, (she knew to take the money, manors and status as the King's 'beloved sister' and keep her head.)There was a French report that the English valued her "as one of the most sweet, gracious and humane queens they had had." Annoying trait(s): barely could speak English ( although she did learn it pretty quickly) & could not sing or dance. Henry rejected her for amongst other things ...her "evil smells" (His ulcerated leg probably didn't smell too good, either.) | ‘a lady of right commendable regard, courteous, gentle, a good housekeeper & very bountiful to her servants’ [Ralph Holinshed] *Click here for an Historical Timeline of Anne's Life Click EasyEdit to update this page! | |
CHARACTER CONNECTIONSFamily members: Daughter of John III - ruler of the Duchy of Cleves ( died in 1539) Mother - Marie of Julich Brother - William, Duke of Cleves Sister - Amelia Sister - Sybille Romance(s): None are known of. Friends: Princess Mary Princess Elizabeth Enemies: | LINKS: |
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| | Holbein minature of Anne created for Henry VIII in the original carved ivory rose case. After Henry recieved this he requested a full length portrait. | ||
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theothertudorgirl |
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Keyword tags:
anne boleyn
anne of cleves
charles brandon
gabrielle anwar
henry viii
jane seymour
jeremy northam
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natalie dormer
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| SemperEadem | Will Anne of Cleves be made beautiful... (page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... last page) | 111 | Sep 25 2009, 12:31 AM EDT by Dovit | ||
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Thread started: May 30 2008, 2:49 PM EDT
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Posted by antoinette2 on the Tudor's prediction page:
Or will she be portrayed as Henry's "Flander's Mare"? Henry is left a widower, no doubt endowed with prodigeous self-pity and whinning. He craves Christina of Milan but doesn't get far with his suit. His fashion sense remains impeccable. Perhaps we shall be ffortunate onlookers to more sexual preying before his marriage to a foreign princess, Anne of Cleves, whom history has crowned "The Fanders Mare." However, her painting by Holbein is lovely and in my eyes, I see a woman much lovelier than poor, homely Jane. Alas, the chemistry will not be there and she is soon discarded, ending Henry's quest for the taste of something female and foreign, but at least she is not beheaded. In fact, it could be said that Anne of Cleves is the first ex-wife in history to get a great settlement and a membership in the "Third Wives Club". This marital disaster cinches forever Henry's predilection for "English Roses" and his future forays regarding the female sex remain solidly British. |
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| jrmslady09 | What A Change | 14 | May 27 2009, 6:29 AM EDT by XxKatixX | ||
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Thread started: May 15 2009, 4:40 PM EDT
Watch
I see that the last season of the show season 4 will have 10 episodes guess they're going to let the show go out with a bang but had to sacrifice 2 episodes of the season!!! HMMM What A Change!!!!!!!!!!
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| Neta07 | JOSS TO COME BACK FOR SEASON 4!!!!!!!!!! | 3 | May 14 2009, 7:29 AM EDT by karenofbethany | ||
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Thread started: May 14 2009, 1:24 AM EDT
Watch
an article from http://www.rte.ie/arts/2009/0512/stonej.html
Singer Stone is back in The Tudors Singer Joss Stone has agreed a deal to reprise her role as Anne of Cleves in the fourth and final series of 'The Tudors', which will begin shooting in Ireland next month.Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of Henry VIII (Jonathan Rhys Meyers).The fourth series of 'The Tudors' will consist of 10 one-hour episodes |
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