History Video Blog #11

Posted on February 11, 2010 by admin

Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, produced a male heir for the throne, but Jane died from complications related to childbirth. The King wanted to remarry, so Cromwell took charge and presumed to pursue a match with a Protestant princess from the continent to make a political alliance. The story goes that Henry was willing to make a match for diplomacy if the woman was good-looking. Cromwell produced a portrait by the great Hans Holbein the Younger that portrayed princess Anne of Cleves from a frontal view. Henry was pleased; she looked attractive so he gave Cromwell permission to make the match. What happened next made heads roll…

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  • http://twitter.com/culfinatan/status/8966225752 Dr. Liam Atchison

    Newest Post: Sweet, smelly, homely (in the American, not British sense) Anne of Cleves. http://is.gd/8adjN #hvb The Raft

  • Kelly

    Did great Hans Holbein the Younger paint a bad representation of Anne? I thought you were going to tell me that her foreshortened nose from the front wasn’t as attractive from the side! And now she’s gone down in history as stinky and ugly! Poor girl…I blame Hans. :)

    And poor Cromwell. Note to self: Avoid paranoid and reckless bosses.

  • http://www.emmahouse.org admin

    I think Hans actually made her look better. Henry’s olfactory senses and his eyes were what made her go down as stinky ugly. Now, saying someone was stinky in 1540 is making quite a statement since most people were BO plenty. But she was likable: Henry did not banish her from court and was known to refer to her as “my dear sister.” After Catherine Howard (#5) was unfaithful, Anne (#4) sent a message to Henry through an intermediary offering to remarry him, but he politely refused.

    And as to the comment about bosses: You weren’t talking about me were you? I’ll bet you were; after all they are all out to get me…Sorry, where was I? Oh yes, bye.

  • Kelly

    You’re hilarious!

  • http://marisd.wordpress.com maris

    Poor Anne of Cleves. Actually, she really did get the better end of the deal, but I wonder if she secretly wanted to be married and experience the love of a man, having children of her own, status, etc. you know? It was probably easy and safe for her to be a queens aid and confident, after experiencing rejection herself and believing that she was not desirable thus settling for taking care of those that were desirable…

    About Queen Elizabeth I, what a woman! She led such an intriguing life. I am curious about her relationship with Dudley. Also, what movie about her would you most recommend, if any? There was one in 1998 called Elizabeth (starring Cate Blanchett) and one in 2007 called Elizabeth: the Golden Age (also starring Cate Blanchett).

  • http://www.emmahouse.org admin

    Maris: You are such a kind person; and of course, you are right about Elizabeth.

  • http://www.readwithjoy.com Dee Anne

    I find Elizabeth I fascinating. The ways that she had to negotiate her gender (and her family) as Queen were fascinating. I remember a poem that she wrote when she was considering marrying the French prince. Of course, she ended up not going through with it, but the glimpse into her thoughts on the subject were interesting.