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to the Duke of Cleves and his two daughters Anne and Amelia. The Duke of Cleves could help Henry with his relationship with France and the Holy Roman Empire so he had a marriage contract drawn up for him and Anne.

Henry and Anne were married on January 6, 1540 and by the time of the wedding Henry was already considering this a mistake. Henry wasn't remotely attracted to Anne and she was certainly not raised for life at court. She had many domestic qualities but none that would befit a Queen of England. If this weren't enough the Cleves were now at odds with the Holy Roman Empire and Henry definitely didn't want to get caught up in political strife.

Anne confessed that the marriage had never been consummated and thus could legally be annulled. Henry, grateful that there was no animosity between the two of them, gave Anne the title of the King's Sister. She was provided with property in the country where she lived out the rest of her days in peace. When Henry's daughter Mary was crowned Queen Mary I in 1552 Anne rode out to greet her and Princess Elizabeth.

Kathryn Howard. Shortly before Henry's wedding to Anne, Kathryn Howard caught his eye. She was young and pretty...and a first cousin to Henry's second wife, Anne Boleyn. Henry and Kathryn were married on July 28, 1540, just over two weeks after his marriage to Anne of Cleves was nullified. Henry was suffering from an ulcerated leg, and with his vivacious appetite had managed to put on quite a bit of weight. This is the Henry VIII we all know from his portraits. Kathryn, all of 19 years old to Henry's seasoned 49, did a lot to brighten Henry's mood and bring life back to court.

It wouldn't be too long before Kathryn's own eye began to look elsewhere. As a young girl married to an older, unenergized king it was little wonder that she began to stray, however this is dangerous for a Queen. By November 1541 there was enough evidence against Kathryn and her infidelities to alert the king. Henry authorized a full investigation which led to the discovery of several affairs before and after her marriage to Henry. She was beheaded on February 13, 1542.

Katherine Parr. Katherine Parr's mother was a lady in waiting for Catherine of Aragon and named her daughter after her in 1512. As such Henry's last wife is actually named after his first! Katherine had been widowed twice before she came to court and was noticed by Henry. She was also noticed, however, by Jane Seymour's brother Thomas Seymour and had promised to marry him

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