by Mayv 'SpearBourne' Amaia

Created on: April 05, 2010

Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of King Henry VIII of England.

She was born Anna von Julich-Kleve-Berg on 22 September 1515 near Dusseldorf, Duchy of Berg, in modern-day Germany.

Anne was the second daughter of Johann, Anglicised as John II, Regent of the United Duchies of Julich-Cleves-Berg, Count of Mark and Ravensburg, and his wife, Maria, Duchess of Julich-Berg.

She had an older sister, Sybille, who, in 1526, married John Frederick, Elector of Saxony, a younger brother, Wilhelm, or William, who inherited their parents' titles and estates, and a younger sister, Amelia, who never married.

Their family was unaligned religiously, with John following a moderate path between the two confessions of the Protestant Reformation, William was Lutheran, and Maria was described as a strict Catholic.

In 1527, at the age of twelve, Anne was betrothed to Francis, son and heir of the Duke of Lorraine. Because the potential bridegroom was only ten at the time of the agreement, two years shy of the youngest age nobles could enter such an arrangement, it was deemed unofficial and was cancelled in 1535.

Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's third wife, died that same year after giving birth to his only surviving son, the future King Edward VI.

It seems likely that Henry's chancellor, Thomas Cromwell, began making inquiries about foreign candidates for the King's new bride not long after this.

Henry's first marriage, to Catherine of Aragon, had been something of a political alliance, while the next two, to Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour, had been for love. After the split from Rome, England was isolated and needed an ally.

John's ongoing dispute with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V made his daughters suitable candidates.

He also wanted a bride who was attractive as well as intelligent. The artist Hans Holbein the Younger was sent to paint portraits of both Anne and Amelia. It was requested that he be as accurate as possible with no attempt to flatter their vanity.

John died 6 February 1539, and William inherited his late father's estates in addition to his still living mother's titles.

By the next month, negotiations for Henry to marry Anne had begun in earnest.

Cromwell oversaw these talks and the marriage treaty was signed 4 October of the same year.

Anne lacked the formal education and sophistication Henry admired in his women. She was, however, gentle and virtuous, and enjoyed needlework and card games. She was literate, though only in her native German, and had been taught more domestic skills and

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