The Wives of Henry VIII

Overview

Anne of Cleves’s marriage to Henry VIII was full of firsts - hers was the first truly political match, and the disastrous union, which only lasted six months, was the shortest. 

In the absence of sources detailing Anne’s life and character, Henry’s unsavoury reviews of Anne have predominated - yet should be taken at face value. Indeed, for nearly five hundred years, the German born Anne has been condemned as the 'unattractive wife', with Henry’s scathing description of the “Flanders Mare” surviving the centuries. Yet these are outdated and biased epithets in desperate need of a reappraisal. 

Join Dr Lauren Mackay for a re-examination of the underappreciated Anne, which delves into what is known of Anne’s life and upbringing. This lecture also reassesses her marriage to Henry - the impossible task of replacing his much beloved Jane Seymour - as well as her own personal ambitions. The story of her survival is also explored, including how she eventually became Henry’s beloved “sister” and an influential figure in her own right.