When Henry VIII Rejected Anne of Cleves: Politics and Cromwell’s Fall

When Henry VIII Rejected Anne of Cleves: Politics and Cromwell’s Fall

Today I want to find out a little more about the brief marriage of Anne of Cleves and Henry VIII and how it became in many ways the downfall of Thomas Cromwell. This story is not just about a king disliking his bride. It was also about politics, Henry’s grief, his pride and about the dangerous rivalries that were all too prevalent  in the Tudor court.

By the late 1530s, Henry VIII was relying heavily on Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell had helped to guide England through its break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries. It made him one of the most powerful men in the kingdom. But with power often came enemies. Many of the more conservative nobles disliked his religious reforms and resented the influence he had over the king.

England was facing uncertainty abroad. Relations with the Catholic powers were tense, and Cromwell believed a political marriage would strengthen England’s position. Anne of Cleves was the sister of the Duke of Cleves, she appeared to offer a perfect alliance. On paper the match seemed to be sensible and useful.

The reality proved to be far more uncomfortable.

Anne arrived in England in late 1539, and Henry met her in January 1540. The king had relied partly on reports from ministers and on a portrait by Hans Holbein. But, when they finally did meet, Henry was disappointed and he struggled to hide it. They did however marry. Why? You may ask.

That is one of the most debated parts of the story.

The short answer is that politics, pressure, and pride likely all played a part.

By late 1539, the marriage had already become an important diplomatic arrangement. England was worried about hostility from powerful Catholic rulers such as Charles V and Francis I of France after the break with Rome.

When Anne arrived, huge preparations had already been made. Diplomats had negotiated for months, gifts had been exchanged, and the match had been publicly announced. He could not easily refuse her at the last minute, it would have risked humiliating Anne and would have also insulted her powerful family. That could have damaged England diplomatically and would have made Henry seem unreliable.

There was also the issue of Henry’s own image.

When Henry met Anne at Rochester in early January 1540, he reportedly disguised himself and expected a romantic reaction. Anne was unfamiliar with this English custom, and she apparently did not recognise him. Some historians think Henry may have felt embarrassed before the marriage had  begun. Henry may still have hoped that his feelings would change. Physical attraction was not always immediate in dynastic marriages, and kings were expected to place duty before preference. There was considerable pressure to proceed.

I also wonder whether Henry felt trapped by his own decisions. Admitting publicly that he disliked the match before the ceremony might have suggested poor judgement or even weakness, something that Tudor kings would deny at any cost.

After the wedding on the 6^th of January 1540, Henry continued to complain that he could not bring himself to desire Anne and he insisted that the marriage had not been consummated. Once diplomatic circumstances had shifted, the alliance seemed less necessary, and that gave Henry a way out.

It was claimed later that he called Anne a “Flanders Mare,” but historians doubt that these exact words were ever spoken. What is clearer is that Henry complained privately that he had very little attraction to poor Anne and that he struggled with the marriage.

For Cromwell, this must have been extremely worrying. He had recommended the match and would have now found himself trapped between royal expectations and political reality. His enemies at court were quick to sense weakness and were eager to use the failed marriage against him.

I also cannot help wondering whether Henry’s feelings were influenced by more than appearance. Jane Seymour had died only a little over two years earlier, on the 24th of October 1537, after giving birth to Prince Edward. Henry appeared to have been genuinely devastated by her death. Jane may have become idealised in his memory, remembered as the wife who had given him his long-awaited surviving legitimate son. No living woman could easily compete with that memory.

By 1540 Henry was ageing and becoming increasingly troubled by illness and pain. Pride and insecurity may also have played a role. Admitting personal difficulty was not easy for a Tudor king.

In the end, Anne herself was not Cromwell’s downfall. But the marriage exposed the tensions that were already simmering beneath the surface. Cromwell’s enemies and Henry’s disappointment along with the court politics, and perhaps even some grief for Jane all combined to destroy him.

Do you think Henry’s rejection of Anne was political, or do you think his feelings for Jane played a role?