Biography of Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England 1515-1557
Paternal Family Tree: La Marck
1491 Birth and Christening of Henry VIII
1504 Henry Tudor created Prince of Wales
1509 Marriage of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
1533 Marriage of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn
1536 Marriage of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour
1539 Anne of Cleves Arrival at Calais
1540 Marriage of Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves
1540 Anne of Cleves Arrival at London
1540 Marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine Howard
1543 Marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine Parr
1547 Death of Henry VIII Accession of Edward VI
On 28 Jun 1491 [her future husband] Henry VIII was born to King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 34) and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England (age 25) at the Palace of Placentia, Greenwich [Map]. He was created Duke Cornwall.
In 1494 [her future husband] Henry VIII (age 2) was created 1st Duke York.
On 18 Feb 1504 [her future husband] Henry VIII (age 12) was created Prince of Wales and 1st Earl Chester. John Mordaunt 1st Baron Mordaunt (age 24) was created Knight of the Bath. Richard Empson (age 54) was knighted. 
On 21 Apr 1509 King Henry VII of England and Ireland (age 52) died of tuberculosis at Richmond Palace [Map]. His son [her future husband] Henry VIII (age 17) succeeded VIII King England. Duke York and Earl Chester merged with the Crown.
On 11 Jun 1509, one month after the death of his father, [her future husband] Henry VIII (age 17) and Catherine of Aragon (age 23) were married at the Church of the Observant Friars, Greenwich [Map]. She had, eight years before, married his older brother Prince Arthur Tudor - see Marriage of Arthur Tudor and Catherine of Aragon. She the daughter of Ferdinand II King Aragon (age 57) and Isabella Queen Castile. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England. They were half third cousin once removed. She a great x 3 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. 
On 22 Sep 1515 Anne of Cleves was born to John La Marck III Duke Cleves (age 24) and Maria Jülich Berg Duchess Cleves at Dusseldorf.
On 15 Mar 1521 [her grandfather] John "Babymaker" La Marck II Duke Cleves (age 62) died. His son [her father] John La Marck III Duke Cleves (age 30) succeeded III Duke Cleves.
On 25 Jan 1533 [her future husband] Henry VIII (age 41) and Queen Anne Boleyn of England (age 32) were married by Rowland Leigh Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield (age 46) at Whitehall Palace [Map]. Anne Savage Baroness Berkeley (age 37), Thomas Heneage (age 53) and Henry Norreys (age 51) witnessed. She the daughter of Thomas Boleyn 1st Earl Wiltshire and Ormonde (age 56) and Elizabeth Howard Countess of Wiltshire and Ormonde (age 53). He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England.
Sometime after the marriage Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 38) was appointed Lady in Waiting to Queen Anne Boleyn of England (age 32). She would go to serve Henry's next three wives.
On 30 May 1536 [her future husband] Henry VIII (age 44) and Jane Seymour (age 27) were married at Whitehall Palace [Map] by Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester (age 53). She by marriage Queen Consort England. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England.
Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 41) and Margaret Dymoke (age 36) were appointed Lady in Waiting to Queen Jane Seymour (age 27).
On 06 Feb 1538 [her father] John La Marck III Duke Cleves (age 47) died. His son [her brother] William La Marck Duke of Jülich Cleves Berg (age 21) succeeded Duke Cleves. Maria Habsburg Spain Duchess Cleves (age 6) by marriage Duchess Cleves.
Around 1539 Hans Holbein The Younger (age 42). Portrait of Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 23).
In 1539 Catherine Howard (age 16) was appointed Lady in Waiting to Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 23).
Holinshed's Chronicle 1539. 11 Dec 1539. The eleuenth daie of December at the turne pike on this side Graueling, was the ladie Anne of Cleue (age 24) receiued by the lord deputie (age 75) of the towne of Calis, and with the speares and horssemen belonging to the retinue there. When she came within little more than a mile of the towne of Calis, she was met by the erle of Southampton (age 49) high admerall of England, who had in his companie thirtie gentlemen of the kings houshold, as sir Francis Brian (age 49), sir Thomas Seimer (age 31), and others, beside a great number of gentlemen of his owne retinue clad in blue veluet, and crimsin satin, and his yeomen in damaske of the same colours. The mariners of his ship were apparelled in satin of Bridges, cotes & slops of the same colour. The lord admerall brought hir into Calis by Lanterne gate. There was such a peale of ordinance shot off at hir entrie, as was maruellous to the hearers. The maior presented hir with an hundred markes in gold, the merchants of the staple with an hundred souereignes of gold in a rich purse. She was lodged in the kings place called the Checker, and there she laie fifteene daies for want of prosperous wind.
On 13 Dec 1539 Anne of Cleves (age 24) arrived at Calais [Map]. She was met by George Tailboys 2nd Baron Tailboys 10th Baron Kyme (age 16), Thomas Seymour 1st Baron Seymour (age 31) and William Fitzwilliam 1st Earl of Southampton (age 49).
Chronicle of Greyfriars. 27 Dec 1539. This yere the 27th day of December came in lady Anne of Cleves (age 24) into England, ...
Between 1540 and 1546 William Goring (age 45) was appointed Lord Chamberlain of the Household to Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 24).
On 06 Jan 1540 Henry VIII (age 48) and Anne of Cleves (age 24) were married by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer (age 50) at the Palace of Placentia, Greenwich [Map]. Anne of Cleves (age 24) was crowned Queen Consort England. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of John La Marck III Duke Cleves and Maria Jülich Berg Duchess Cleves. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England.
Catherine Carey (age 16) and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 45) were appointed Lady in Waiting to Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 24).
On 30 Jan 1540 Anne of Cleves (age 24) arrived at Blackheath, Greenwich [Map]. Henry Grey 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 23) carried the Sword of State. William Holles (age 69), Charles Brandon 1st Duke of Suffolk (age 56), Robert Radclyffe 1st Earl of Sussex (age 57), John de Vere 15th Earl of Oxford (age 69), John de Vere 16th Earl of Oxford (age 24), Bishop Robert Parfew aka Warton and Catherine Willoughby Duchess Suffolk (age 20) were present.
Hall's Chronicle 1540. 29 Jun 1540. The morrow after Midsomer day, the king caused the Queen (age 24) to remove to Richmond, purposing it to be more for her health, open air and pleasure: but the sixth day of July, certain Lordes came down into the neither house, which expressly declared causes, that the marriage was not lawful, and in conclusion, the matter was by the Convocation clearly determined, that the king might lawfully marry where he would, and so might she: and so were they clearly divorced and separated, and by the Parliament enacted and concluded, that she should be taken no more as Queen, but called the Lady Anne of Cleve.
On 09 Jul 1540 [her husband] Henry VIII's (age 49) marriage to Anne of Cleves (age 24) was annulled. He gave her a generours settlement including Richmond Palace [Map] and Hever Castle, Kent [Map]. Bishop Robert Parfew aka Warton signed the delcaration. She was given precedence above all other women other than the King's wife future wives and daughters, referring to her thereafter as The King's Sister. She lived seventeen more years outliving Henry's two next wives Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 17) and Catherine Parr Queen Consort England (age 27), and [her step-son] King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 2).
On 28 Jul 1540 [her husband] Henry VIII (age 49) and Catherine Howard (age 17) were married at Oatlands Palace [Map] by Bishop of London Edmund Bonner (age 40). She by marriage Queen Consort England. The difference in their ages was 31 years. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England.
Catherine Carey (age 16) and Eleanor Paston Countess Rutland (age 45) were appointed Lady in Waiting to Queen Catherine Howard of England (age 17).
On 12 Jul 1543 [her husband] Henry VIII (age 52) and Catherine Parr (age 30) were married at Hampton Court Palace [Map]. She was crowned Queen Consort England. His sixth and last marriage, her third marriage; her previous husband had died four months before. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of King Henry VII of England and Ireland and Elizabeth York Queen Consort England. They were third cousin once removed. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England. 
Henry's two daughters [her step-daughter] Mary (age 27) and [her step-daughter] Elizabeth (age 9) attended, as did his niece Margaret Douglas Countess Lennox (age 27).
Catherine's sister Anne (age 28) attended with her husband William Herbert 1st Earl Pembroke (age 42).
On 28 Jan 1547 [her husband] Henry VIII (age 55) died at Whitehall Palace [Map]. His son [her step-son] King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 9) succeeded VI King England. Earl Chester merged with the Crown.
Thomas Wendy (age 46) attended the King. He was one of the witnesses to the King's last will and testament, for which he received £100.
On 07 Apr 1547 Thomas Cawarden of Bletchingly and Nonsuch came into the possession of Bletchingley, Surrey [Map]. Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 31) had formerly owned it.
On 06 Jul 1553 [her former step-son] King Edward VI of England and Ireland (age 15) died at Palace of Placentia, Greenwich [Map]. His first cousin once removed Lady Jane Grey (age 17) succeeded I Queen England.
Thomas Wendy (age 53) attended the King as physician.
On 19 Jul 1553 Lady Jane Grey (age 17) Abdicated I King England. Her first cousin once removed [her former step-daughter] Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (age 37) succeeded I Queen England.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 30 Sep 1553. The xxx day of September the [her former step-daughter] Qwuyen('s) (age 37) grace cam from the Towre thrugh London, rydyng in a charett gorgusly be-sene unto Westmynster; by the way at Fanche-chyrche a goodly pagant, with iiij grett gyants, and with goodly speches, the geneways mad yt; at Grache-chyrche a-nodur goodly pajant of esterlyngs makyng; and at Ledyne-hall was nodur pagant hangyd with cloth of gold, and the goodlyst playng with all maner of musyssoners, and ther was on blohyng of a trumpet all the day longe; at the conduyt in Cornhyll a-nodur of the sete; and (at) the grett condutt a-nodur goodly on, and the standard pentyd and gyldyd, and the crosse pentyd; and (at) the lytyll conduyt a goodly pagant; in Powlles chyrche-yerde ij pagants; and ij scaffolds on Powlles stepull with stremars; andt Ludgat pentyd; at the conduyd in Flett-stret a goodly pajant and pentyd .... holy] water-stokes and sensers and copes ... Westmynster chyrche, and ther her grace hard masse, and was crounyd a-pon a he stage, and after [she was] a-nontyd Qwene, the forst day of October. [When all] was don, her grace cam to Westmynster hall .... yt was iiij of the cloke or she whent to dener [or pa]st; and ther the duke of Norffoke rod up and done the hall, my lord the yerle of Darbe (age 44) he constabull, the yerle of Arundell (age 41) he boteler, and my lord of Borgane cheyff larderer, master Dymmoke (age 45) the qwyen('s) champyon; and ther was [great me]lode; and the erle of Devonshyre (age 26) bare the sword, and the yerle of Westmorland (age 28) bare the cape of mantenans, and the erle of Shrowsbery (age 53) bare the crowne, and the duke of Norffoke (age 80) [was earl] marshall, and the yerle of Arundell (age 41) lord stuard, and the erle of Surray (age 17) was doer under the duke ys grandshyr, and the erle of Woseter (age 27) was her grace('s) carver that day at dener, my lord Wyndsore (age 54) was (blank); and at the end of the tabull dynyd my [her former step-daughter] lade Elisabeth (age 20) and my lade Anne of Cleyff (age 38); and so yt was candyll-lyght or her grace or she had dynyd, and so [anon] her grace toke barge.
On 01 Oct 1553 [her former step-daughter] Queen Mary I of England and Ireland (age 37) was crowned I Queen of England and Ireland at Westminster Abbey [Map].
Edward Courtenay 1st Earl Devon (age 26) carried the Sword of State.
John Gage (age 73) bore the queen's train. Edward Dymoke (age 45) attended as the Queen's Champion. James Blount 6th Baron Mountjoy (age 20) and Henry Parker 12th Baron Marshal 11th Baron Morley (age 20) were created Knight of the Bath. Thomas Hastings (age 38) and John Leigh (age 51) were knighted. Thomas Howard 3rd Duke of Norfolk (age 80) and Henry Neville 5th Earl of Westmoreland (age 28) attended.
Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 38) took part in the procession.
On 25 Jul 1554 Prince Philip of Spain (age 27) and [her former step-daughter] Queen Mary (age 38) were married by Bishop Stephen Gardiner (age 71) at Winchester Cathedral [Map]. She the daughter of King Henry VIII of England and Ireland and Catherine of Aragon Queen Consort England. He the son of Charles V Holy Roman Emperor (age 54) and Isabel Aviz Queen Consort Spain. They were first cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. 
John Gage (age 74) bore the queen's train.
Magdalen Dacre Viscountess Montague (age 16) took part in the Bridal Procession.
On 16 Jul 1557 Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England (age 41) died at Chelsea Manor [Map]. She was buried at Westminster Abbey [Map] on 03 Aug 1557. She was the last of Henry VIII's six wives to die having outlived him by ten years.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 16 Jul 1557. [The xvi day of July died the lady Anna of Cleves (age 41), at Chelsea, sometime wife and queen to king Henry the] viijth, but she was never crounyd, butt [remained in England,] and she was seyryd [cered ie inclosed in waxed cloths.] the nyght folohyng.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 29 Jul 1557. The sam day began the herse at Westmynster for my lade Anne of Cleyff (deceased), with carpynters worke of vij prensepalles, as goodly a hers as ....
Henry Machyn's Diary. 03 Aug 1557. The iij day of August my lade Anne of Cleyff (deceased), sumtyme wyff unto kyng Henry the viijth cam from Chelsey to be [buried] unto Westmynster, with all the chylderyn of Westmynster and [many] prest and clarkes, and then the gray ames of Powlles and iij crosses, and the monkes of Westmynster, and my lord bysshope of Lo[ndon] (age 57) and my lord abbott of Westmynster (age 42) rod together next the monkes, and then the ij sekturs [executors] ser Edmond Peckham (age 62) and ser (Robert) Freston (age 57), cofferer to the quen of England; and then my lord admerall (age 47), my (lord) Darce of Essex (age 60), and mony knyghts and gentyllmen; and a-for her servandes, and after her baner of armes; and then her gentyllmen and here hed offesers; and then here charett with viij baners of armes of dyvers armes, and iiij baners of emages of whytt taffata, wroght with fyne gold and her armes; and so by sant James, and so to Charyingcrosse [Map], with a C. torchys bornyng, her servandes beyrying them, and the xij bed-men of Westmynster had new blake gownes; and they had xij torchys bornyng, and iiij whyt branchys with armes; and then ladies and gentyll-women all in blake, and horsses; and a viij haroldes of armes in blake, and ther horses; and armes sad a-bowt the herse behynd and be-for; and iiij haroldes barying the iiij whyt baners; and at (the) chyrche dore all dyd a-lyght and ther dyd reseyvyd the good lade my lord of London (age 57) and my lord abbott (age 42) in ther myteres and copes, sensyng her, and ther men dyd bere her with a canepe of blake welvett, with iiij blake stayffes, and so browth in-to the herse and ther tared durge, and so ther all nyght with lyght bornyng.
Note. Ibid. Funeral of the lady Anne of Cleves. A very particular narrative of this solemnity, from MSS. in the College of Arms, will be found in the Excerpta Historica, 1831, together with the Will of the deceased. The body of the queen was buried, as Stowe says, "at the head of king Sebert," where "she lyeth in a tomb not yet finished." Engravings of what was erected of this tomb will be found in the Vetusta Monumenta, vol. ii. pl. 35, as well as in Dart and the other histories of Westminster Abbey. In p. 145, for sir Robert Freston read Richard; and in p. 146, for William duke of Cleves read John.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 04 Aug 1557. The iiij day of August was the masse of requiem for my lade prenses of Cleyff (deceased), and dowther to [William] duke of Cleyff [Note. Anne of Cleves was daughter to John La Marck III Duke Cleves]; and ther my lord abbott of Westmynster (age 42) mad a godly sermon as ever was mad, and [then] ... the byshope of London (age 57) song masse in ys myter; [and after] masse my lord byshope and my lord abbott (age 42) mytered dyd [cense] the corsse; and afterward she was caried to her tomb, [where] she leys with a herse-cloth of gold, the wyche lyys [over her]; and ther alle her hed offesers brake ther stayffes, [and all] her hussears [ushers] brake ther rodes, and all they cast them in-to her tombe; the wyche was covered her co[rps] with blake, and all the lordes and lades and knyghtes and gentyllmen and gentell-women dyd offer, and after masse agrett [dinner] at my lord (abbat's); and my lade of Wynchester was the cheyff [mourner,] and my lord admeroll (age 47) and my lord Darce (age 60) whent of ether syde of my lade of Wynchester, and so they whent in order to dinner.
Henry Machyn's Diary. 22 Aug 1557. The xxij day of August was the herse [of my lade Anne of Cleves (deceased)] taken downe at Westmynster, the wyche the monkes [by night had spoiled of] all welvett cloth, armes, baners, penselles, of all the [majesty and] valans, the wyche was never sene a-fore so done.
Vesta Monumenta. 1780. Plate 2.35. Monument to Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England at Westminster Abbey [Map].
[her father] John La Marck III Duke Cleves and [her mother] Maria Jülich Berg Duchess Cleves were married. She by marriage Duchess Cleves. He the son of John "Babymaker" La Marck II Duke Cleves and Mathilde Hesse Duchess Cleves.
Kings Wessex: Great x 15 Grand Daughter of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 13 Grand Daughter of Malcolm III King Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 10 Grand Daughter of Louis VII King Franks
Kings France: Great x 7 Grand Daughter of Philip V King France I King Navarre
Great x 4 Grandfather: Adolph La Marck II Count La Marck
Great x 3 Grandfather: Adolph La Marck 8 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Cleves Countess Mark 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Adolph La Marck I Duke Cleves 9 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Gerhard Jülich VI Count Berg and Ravensberg 7 x Great Grand Son of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Jülich Countess Cleves and Mark 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King William "Conqueror" I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: John La Marck I Duke Cleves 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy
5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: John "Fearless" Valois Duke Burgundy 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy
2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Marie Valois Duchess Cleves 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Albert Wittelsbach I Duke Bavaria
4 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Wittelsbach Duchess Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Silesia
GrandFather: John "Babymaker" La Marck II Duke Cleves 6 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip "Bold" Valois II Duke Burgundy 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Philip Valois II Count Nevers 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Dampierre Duchess Burgundy 2 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: John Valois II Count of Nevers, Etampes, Rethel and Eu 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Philip Artois Count Eu 3 x Great Grand Son of King Henry III of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Bonne Artois Duchess Burgundy 4 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Marie Valois I Duchess Auverge 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Valois Duchess Cleves 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 2 Grandmother: Jacqueline Ailly Countess Nevers
Father: John La Marck III Duke Cleves 7 x Great Grand Son of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hermann II Landgrave of Hesse
Great x 2 Grandfather: Louis I Landgrave of Hesse
Great x 4 Grandfather: Frederick Hohenzollern V Burgrave Nuremburg
Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Hohenzollern
Great x 1 Grandfather: Margrave Henry III of Upper Hesse 8 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandfather: Frederick I Duke Saxony
Great x 2 Grandmother: Anna of Saxong Landgravine of Hesse 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry "The Mild" Welf 5 x Great Grand Son of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 3 Grandmother: Catherine of Brunswick-Lüneburg 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Sophie Griffins
GrandMother: Mathilde Hesse Duchess Cleves 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry "Curtmantle" II of England
Anne of Cleves Queen Consort England 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward "Longshanks" I of England
Mother: Maria Jülich Berg Duchess Cleves
