A portrait of Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the Younger. (Photo by © Historical Picture Archive/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Anne of Cleves

Anne of Cleves (1515–57) was the fourth wife of the Tudor king Henry VIII. She was married to the king for just six months and had the shortest reign of all Henry's six queens. Anne, who was born on 22 September 1515 in what is now Germany, had first been mooted as a potential wife for Henry VIII in 1537, soon after the death of his third wife, Jane Seymour. It was thought that an alliance with the Cleves family would provide a major boost to the Reformation in England. But when Anne arrived in England from Germany Henry was reportedly repulsed by her appearance. Their wedding took place on 6 January 1540, but the marriage was annulled six months later. Just three weeks after the annulment Henry married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Anne lived comfortably in England until her death in 1557

A collage of Tudor figures. Each square shows a different monarch or noble figure in 16th‑ or early‑17th‑century dress, including ruffs, jewelled headpieces, and richly decorated garments. Recognisable figures such as Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Mary I, Elizabeth I, and James I appear among the portraits. The grid highlights variations in artistic style, clothing, and facial depiction across the period.

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Replicas of necklaces belonging to Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII's fourth wife (Photo by Angela-Treasures For A Queen - Etsy)

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Portrait of Anne of Cleves

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Rye House in Hertfordshire, which became the Parr family home in 1517, when Katherine was around five years old. (© James Schutte/Alamy Stock Photo)

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A 19th-century depiction of the first meeting of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. (Photo by Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images)

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