Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England. http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/Anne+of+Cleves She was born into German nobility on September 22, 1515 in Dusseldorf, Germany; her parents were John, Duke of Cleves, and Mary, Duchess of Julich. Anne had noble ancestral lineage as Edward I of England and John II of France were also counted amongst her ancestors. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-130052128.html Anne’s brother William, Duke of Cleves, was a Protestant leader. http://www.biography.com/articles/Anne-of-Cleves-9185883Henry and Anne's marriage was principally formed to create a political alliance; it was a tumultuous period between the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant England, and the threat of war loomed. http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/anne-of-cleves.html http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/26272/Anne-of-Cleves

Thomas Cromwell, minister to Henry VIII, wanted to form a union between Anne of Cleves and Henry VIII to strengthen England’s Protestant allegiances. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUDcleves.htmhttp://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Anne_of_Cleves.aspx Since Anne lived in Germany and they had never previously been acquainted, Henry commissioned Hans Holbein to paint Anne’s portrait so Henry could see her countenance. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/303500/11654/Anne-of-Cleves-portrait-by-Hans-Holbein-the-Younger-1539 http://www.emmetlabs.com/pair/King-Henry-VIII_109/Anne-of-Cleves_116 Henry VIII was satisfied with the portrait and consented to the marriage. http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/TUDcleves.htm However, upon their first meeting, Henry was disillusioned and unimpressed with his future Queen. http://www.britannia.com/history/monarchs/mon41.html http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/anneofcleves.htmDespite Henry’s reservations, they entered into marriage on January 6, 1540 at Greenwich Palace. http://www.britannia.com/history/londonhistory/grw-pal2.html The marriage was never consummated, and Henry grew enraptured with a lady in waiting named Katherine Howard instead of his newly appointed Queen. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/celebrity/henry_viii/5.html http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/AnneClev

Henry VIII’s marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled in July 9, 1540, due to the absence of consummation and her former betrothal to The Duke of Lorraine. http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/ANC_APO/ANNE_OF_CLEVES_1515_1557_.html Thomas Cromwell was executed on July 28, 1540 for encouraging Henry VIII to marry Anne. http://history.wisc.edu/sommerville/123/123%20232%20Henry%20&%20edward.htm http://www.emmetlabs.com/pair/King-Henry-VIII_109/Anne-of-Cleves_116 http://www.britannia.com/history/londonhistory/grw-pal2.html Anne’s title was changed from “The Queen Consort” to “The King’s Sister” and she was awarded an annual sum of 4,000 English pounds and Hever Castle. http://www.historytimes.com/historical-places-to-see/heritage/castles/285-hever-castle-henry-viiis-britain http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/anneofcleves.htm http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/ANC_APO/ANNE_OF_CLEVES_1515_1557_.html

Anne left court for Richmond Palace on June 20, 1540. http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/celebrity/henry_viii/5.htmlhttp://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-A-Bu-and-Obituaries/Anne-of-Cleves-Queen-Consort-of-Henry-VIII-King.htmlShe remained in England for the rest of her life. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Anne_of_Cleves.aspx She died at the age of 41 years on July 16, 1557 in London, England. http://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-A-Bu-and-Obituaries/Anne-of-Cleves-Queen-Consort-of-Henry-VIII-King.html She was buried in Westminster Abbey. http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/royals/burials/anne-of-cleves,-4th-wife-of-henry-viii Hans Holbein’s portrait of Anne of Cleves now hangs in The Louvre in Paris, France. http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/holbein.htm http://www.jstor.org/pss/885027