ANNE OF CLEVES MARRIAGE AND ANNULMENT (Flanders Mare) Flashcards
1
Q
WHY DID HE MARRY ANNE OF CLEVES?
A
- England needed allies as they had no friends after the pact was signed at Toledo in January 1539, stating that they wouldn’t enter into an agreement with England AND there was rumour that Spain and France were planning an invasion of England. ALSO BECAUSE OF TRUCE OF NICE on January 18 1538
- A pact with a small state like Cleves showed how England had no intention of reversing their decision to break
- Henry was still scared about his lineage, and he actually took a liking to her portrait
2
Q
REASON 1 FOR ANNULMENT - Breakdown of Alliance
A
- Henry had no need for the relationship with Cleves as the alliance between Francis and Charles V broke down, so he had no need to prove the extent of isolationism he experienced
3
Q
REASON 2 FOR ANNULMENT - Anne’s personality
A
- Firstly, she wasn’t from England, and due to Henry’s exceedingly large ego, she would’ve made for a horrible trophy wife to show off.
- She was very shy, and Henry didn’t like this aspect. She was also uncultured and not educated to Henry’s standard, as she was only taught needlework, and not singing and dancing
4
Q
REASON 3 FOR ANNULMENT - Henry’s dislike for her
A
- When she stepped off the ship, he instantly remarked to Cromwell that “I like her not”, and she soon gained the label “The Flanders Mare” for her horrible looks
- Henry tried to postpone the wedding for 2 days, but it was insisted upon him by Cromwell, so they got married on January 6, 1540
- Henry commented that “I left her as good a maid as i found her” meaning he didn’t consummate the marriage
- There was information to aid the annulment as she had a prior marriage to the Duke of Lorraine, and there was no consummation, so the annulment happened BY JULY 1540
5
Q
REASON 4 FOR ANNULMENT - Catherine Howard
A
- Henry had fallen for Catherine Howard, who was Anne of Cleves’ lady-in-waiting, as she was “young and flirty”, and he started pursuing her in Spring 1540
- Due to the annulment’s acceptance, Anne was gifted Hever Castle (Anne Boleyn’s previous residence), a large sum of money and a title of being the King’s Sister.
