Which of Henry VIII's wives was the odd one out?
The fact that Henry VIII had six wives is one of the few historical ‘facts’ that nearly everyone knows.
However, new research by historian Dr Eurt Ton from the Swedish University of Historical Research shows that Henry never actually married wife number four, Anne of Cleeves. Their ‘union’ was blessed during a ceremony in the chapel at Hampton Court, but the marriage service itself was postponed indefinitely.
Legal documents setting out Anne’s rights to English land and an income from Parliament clearly state that the wedding would only take place “at such a time as lady Anne shall deem her rights and lands in England settled to the satisfaction of her Lord King Henry and the Duke and Duchess of Cleves”.
Famously dubbed ‘The Mare of Flanders’ by Henry, Anne was actually the luckiest of all the King’s female companions. She met Henry socially on regular occasions, and was dubbed by him “The King’s Beloved Sister”. She was given swathes of land including Richmond Palace, Hever Castle and a large chunk of Sussex. Narrowly avoiding marrying Henry when his fifth (or fourth) wife Catherine Howard was beheaded, Anne outlived the King’s final wife and widow Catherine Parr by nine years.
Dr Eurt Ton will be releasing a full transcription of the document containing details of the marriage-that-never-was later this week. Meanwhile, several thousand history books will need rewriting...
Admittedly, this isn't entirely true. Anne of Cleeves did marry Henry VIII but was never actually confirmed as the Queen Consort. Anne was certainly from the correct lineage to be queen. She claimed King Edward I as an ancestor... as did Henry's first two wives, and also the three that followed Anne. And although she was never actually Queen, Anne certainly seems to have been welcomed by everyone within the wide circle of Henry’s Court. The former servants of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn (wife number two) received her gladly as their mistress at Anne’s estates in Norfolk; as did Catherine Parr’s staff (wife number six… or five), when Anne of Cleeves moved into the former Queen’s Chelsea palace towards the end of her life. She was also a great friend of Henry’s daughters and queens-to-be, Mary and Elizabeth. Mary, ascending the throne as Mary I in 1553, asked Anne to reconvert to Catholicism, which she willingly agreed to. Had she not died before Elizabeth’s reign, Anne would surely have agreed to convert back to the Anglican faith too.
For more fascinating snippets of little-known history please check out Odd One Out: The Devilish Quiz for History Lovers by Paul Sullivan. Happy April Fool's...