Anne was the luckiest, in my eyes. She didn’t have to become pregnant and risk death. She agreed immediately to divorce, saving her head. She was left a rich lady with a noble status only second to Henry’s daughters.
Anne might just be history’s ultimate example of ‘winning by losing’-she avoided the risks and drama, stayed wealthy, and even got to live life in comfort. Not a bad outcome at all!
@@stephaniex90 I am not so sure, that she was the luckiest. I mean, she could never marry and have a family of her own, she could not leave the country, and she was forever to be known as the ugly wife, which I don't think she was. She was only wealthy in the reign of Henry, when Edward came to power, her wealth decreased significantly. Her head was never at stake, as she was not a subject of England but a foreign duchess. But it is of course hard to call any of Henrys wifes lucky 🤷🏻♀️
Anne of Cleves played the Tudor game better than anyone-she kept her head, her wealth, and even got along with Henry. Now that’s what I call winning the royal lottery!
Anna was smart to give in to Henry. She saw what happened to those who didn’t. It must have hurt to be put aside but at least she was able to live a full life. Thank you for the video.
You’re absolutely right-Anne must have realized the risks of defying Henry, and her decision to accept the annulment was incredibly wise. Living a full and comfortable life was certainly the better outcome. Thanks Liam
Anne of Cleves is my favorite Queen of Henry's. I dont know if she felt lucky or not. She was smart to give into Henry. Thanks Jon, excellent video 😅❤❤❤❤❤
Anne might not have felt lucky at first, but she certainly came out of the whole situation as one of the smartest and most fortunate of Henry’s wives! Thanks Theresa
Henry's ego was dented when Anne didn't recognized him. He gave up on the marriage before it started. In fairness to Anne the German court was staid and conservative compared to the Tudor court. What did she know? The language barrier was also a problem. Anne got a nice alimony though it was stipulated she has to remain in England. It was that or going back to Germany. I don't think he called her a Flanders mare. That was said to be a Victorian invention. 😉 Great video Jon!
You’re absolutely right-Anne had no way of knowing what Henry expected, coming from such a conservative background. The language barrier and cultural differences really made things challenging. And yes, the 'Flanders mare' claim does seem to be more myth than fact!
If she went back to Germany, she would lose her wealth, status and independence. She would be under the control of her brother again. Staying in England was definitely the right thing for her.
I think,Anne of Cleve's was perhaps the luckiest and wisest of all his queens, she never gave him a hard time about the divorce, and he even came to regard her as both a friend and "sister." She survived and did not lose her head. She became rather well off financially well off. And I believe she also became quite friendly and maternally nurturing to her stepdaughters,Princesses Mary and Elizabeth. She was a very smart woman and played her game well enough to not only survive and well off.
I completely agree-Anne of Cleves was incredibly wise. By handling the divorce so gracefully, she managed to gain Henry’s respect and even a close friendship. Her bond with Mary and Elizabeth truly shows how kind and nurturing she was.
Henry VIII couldn't talk about anyone's looks. By the time he got to Anne Of Cleves he weighed 28 stone or 400 pounds, had those horrible ulcers on his legs that smelled and bled, and one contemporary said that he was bald as Ceaser. There was nothing wrong with Anne Of Cleves. Absolutely nothing.
You make a great point-by the time Henry met Anne, his own appearance had deteriorated significantly. Anne deserved so much better than to be judged by his wounded pride!
She managed to walk a very very thin line, accepting the annulment without offending him and maintaining her reputation and status intact. She was not educated but clearly very intelligent. And I am 100% sure that she wasn't ugly by any standard, the only account of this comes from Henry himself, he was just salty that she was taken aback by him in disguise. Let's not forget, he was twice her age, obese and had ulcers on his legs that stank to high heavens...not exactly a catch lol
Anne’s intelligence really shone through when she managed to navigate that situation so well. And yes, the ‘ugly’ claim seems more like Henry’s bruised pride than the truth!
According to her portrait I think,she was quite pretty. Far prettier than some of his other wives. She humiliated him , accidentally, and he couldn’t get over that. Seriously, what well bred young woman ( or any woman) would greet a man bursting into her chamber and trying to kiss her. Would have been scandalous if she had. Smart man though I do think she felt humiliated as well.🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺
I agree-Anne’s portrait certainly suggests she was quite attractive. The awkward encounter with Henry was definitely a misunderstanding that left both of them feeling humiliated.
Anne of Cleves was incredibly fortunate to walk away with her dignity-and her life. Her story is a rare case of things ending well for a former wife of Henry VIII!
Thank you so much! Yes, Anne truly was one of the luckiest of Henry’s wives, and her story is always a fascinating one to tell. I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
Ugly or not Anne was still the luckiest queen and wife, she got off with her head and rich with fortune. She also gained the title the king’s sister and got hever castle as a reward for agreeing to his demands
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the story of Anne of Cleves. She truly is one of the most fascinating of Henry’s wives, and it’s a pleasure to share her story.
From all the pics etc I have seen of her she was v pretty 😍. She also was very smart 🤓!! She got away from him wealthy and independent from him!! I call that a WINNER ❤!!
Anne was not only pretty but incredibly clever. Getting away from Henry with wealth and independence is a huge win-she really knew how to play her cards right!
Enjoyed this presentation: The only thing I disliked was the portrayal of The Lady Mary wearing low décolletage in the first segment of this video. For all that I learned of The Lady Mary in my undergraduate university history class at Northwestern University, and my own subsequent independent reading, I cannot picture her exposing her breasts in such fashion.
Thanks for watching. The images of Mary are taken from the Tudors. The series is 20 years old, and I have no idea how they determined what the characters should wear to convey the period of time.
Lovely to hear your voice, Jon!! I enjoy the life of Anna de Cleeves. Of the many portraits I have seen of her, there is no way that she is ugly. That’s absolutely cruel. What a fabulous job she did with the design of the long gallery at Hever Castle. The king even called her his sister. They remained good friends ♥️👑🇬🇧🌹
Anne of Cleves’ intelligence and grace shine through, whether in her friendship with Henry or her contributions at Hever Castle. She truly was one of a kind.
Henry's Griff for Jane was hard for everyone but his attention to have a son. Drove him made here went threw wife's like socks Ann of clevis. Was just a notheir position that he could have all of his wife's. Were all position to him all up to his last wife.
Henry’s obsession with securing a male heir definitely drove much of his decision-making, and it’s true-he saw his wives as strategic positions rather than partners. Anne of Cleves was certainly caught up in his relentless quest.
Do you really think Katherine of Aragon was "fiercely independent"? The only time she refused Henry's wishes was when he asked her to do something against her God and her conscience. This is pretty much the opinion of historians in general.
Anne was the luckiest, in my eyes. She didn’t have to become pregnant and risk death. She agreed immediately to divorce, saving her head. She was left a rich lady with a noble status only second to Henry’s daughters.
Anne might just be history’s ultimate example of ‘winning by losing’-she avoided the risks and drama, stayed wealthy, and even got to live life in comfort. Not a bad outcome at all!
@@stephaniex90 I am not so sure, that she was the luckiest. I mean, she could never marry and have a family of her own, she could not leave the country, and she was forever to be known as the ugly wife, which I don't think she was. She was only wealthy in the reign of Henry, when Edward came to power, her wealth decreased significantly. Her head was never at stake, as she was not a subject of England but a foreign duchess. But it is of course hard to call any of Henrys wifes lucky 🤷🏻♀️
Anne of Cleves is my favorite of the six wives of Henry VIII. She was a class act. How she managed to stay on Henry’s good side is a mystery to me.
Anne of Cleves played the Tudor game better than anyone-she kept her head, her wealth, and even got along with Henry. Now that’s what I call winning the royal lottery!
Anna was smart to give in to Henry. She saw what happened to those who didn’t. It must have hurt to be put aside but at least she was able to live a full life. Thank you for the video.
You’re absolutely right-Anne must have realized the risks of defying Henry, and her decision to accept the annulment was incredibly wise. Living a full and comfortable life was certainly the better outcome. Thanks Liam
Anne of Cleves is my favorite Queen of Henry's. I dont know if she felt lucky or not. She was smart to give into Henry. Thanks Jon, excellent video 😅❤❤❤❤❤
Anne might not have felt lucky at first, but she certainly came out of the whole situation as one of the smartest and most fortunate of Henry’s wives! Thanks Theresa
Henry's ego was dented when Anne didn't recognized him. He gave up on the marriage before it started. In fairness to Anne the German court was staid and conservative compared to the Tudor court. What did she know? The language barrier was also a problem. Anne got a nice alimony though it was stipulated she has to remain in England. It was that or going back to Germany. I don't think he called her a Flanders mare. That was said to be a Victorian invention. 😉 Great video Jon!
You’re absolutely right-Anne had no way of knowing what Henry expected, coming from such a conservative background. The language barrier and cultural differences really made things challenging. And yes, the 'Flanders mare' claim does seem to be more myth than fact!
If she went back to Germany, she would lose her wealth, status and independence. She would be under the control of her brother again. Staying in England was definitely the right thing for her.
Terrific video, Jon! She was truly the luckiest of all of Henry’s wives.
Thanks for watching Trish. She definitely won the Tudor ‘survival game’-keeping her head and living in comfort was no small feat in Henry’s world!
I think,Anne of Cleve's was perhaps the luckiest and wisest of all his queens, she never gave him a hard time about the divorce, and he even came to regard her as both a friend and "sister." She survived and did not lose her head.
She became rather well off financially well off.
And I believe she also became quite friendly and maternally nurturing to her stepdaughters,Princesses Mary and Elizabeth.
She was a very smart woman and played her game well enough to not only survive and well off.
I completely agree-Anne of Cleves was incredibly wise. By handling the divorce so gracefully, she managed to gain Henry’s respect and even a close friendship. Her bond with Mary and Elizabeth truly shows how kind and nurturing she was.
Henry VIII couldn't talk about anyone's looks. By the time he got to Anne Of Cleves he weighed 28 stone or 400 pounds, had those horrible ulcers on his legs that smelled and bled, and one contemporary said that he was bald as Ceaser. There was nothing wrong with Anne Of Cleves. Absolutely nothing.
You make a great point-by the time Henry met Anne, his own appearance had deteriorated significantly. Anne deserved so much better than to be judged by his wounded pride!
Love this one Jon! Your narration sounds like you were actually there! ❤❤❤
I really appreciate the kind words! I try my best to bring history to life, so it means a lot to know you felt that way. Thanks for watching!
She managed to walk a very very thin line, accepting the annulment without offending him and maintaining her reputation and status intact. She was not educated but clearly very intelligent. And I am 100% sure that she wasn't ugly by any standard, the only account of this comes from Henry himself, he was just salty that she was taken aback by him in disguise. Let's not forget, he was twice her age, obese and had ulcers on his legs that stank to high heavens...not exactly a catch lol
Anne’s intelligence really shone through when she managed to navigate that situation so well. And yes, the ‘ugly’ claim seems more like Henry’s bruised pride than the truth!
According to her portrait I think,she was quite pretty. Far prettier than some of his other wives. She humiliated him , accidentally, and he couldn’t get over that. Seriously, what well bred young woman ( or any woman) would greet a man bursting into her chamber and trying to kiss her. Would have been scandalous if she had. Smart man though I do think she felt humiliated as well.🙏🙏🙏👵🇦🇺
I agree-Anne’s portrait certainly suggests she was quite attractive. The awkward encounter with Henry was definitely a misunderstanding that left both of them feeling humiliated.
Anne was a lucky lady to keep her dignity, not to mention her head!
Anne of Cleves was incredibly fortunate to walk away with her dignity-and her life. Her story is a rare case of things ending well for a former wife of Henry VIII!
Excellent narration and fascinating content. Thanks Jon.
Glad you enjoyed it, thank you
Great video as always! Anne was very very lucky indeed.
Thank you so much! Yes, Anne truly was one of the luckiest of Henry’s wives, and her story is always a fascinating one to tell. I’m glad you enjoyed the video!
Ugly or not Anne was still the luckiest queen and wife, she got off with her head and rich with fortune. She also gained the title the king’s sister and got hever castle as a reward for agreeing to his demands
Anne’s story is one of the rare happy endings among Henry’s wives. Her intelligence and grace in handling the situation were key to her success.
I love Anne of Cleaves and you told her story well 😊
Thank you so much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the story of Anne of Cleves. She truly is one of the most fascinating of Henry’s wives, and it’s a pleasure to share her story.
Hi Jon, awesome live history video I enjoyed it. Have a great weekend see you next video 😊
Thanks! You too!
From all the pics etc I have seen of her she was v pretty 😍. She also was very smart 🤓!! She got away from him wealthy and independent from him!! I call that a WINNER ❤!!
Anne was not only pretty but incredibly clever. Getting away from Henry with wealth and independence is a huge win-she really knew how to play her cards right!
Thanks again Jon! Cheryl from Jacksonville FL..❤🎉
You are so welcome Cheryl
The luckiest wife! Thanks for sharing her story.
Yes, Anne truly was the luckiest of Henry’s wives. I’m glad I could share her story with you Mary Ann
Thank you Jon, another great video. X
Glad you enjoyed it Lorraine, thanks
Anne of Cleves wasn't lucky, she was fortunate. She was an intelligent woman who made the decisions that were in her best interest.
You’re right-Anne was more than just lucky; she was strategic and wise, making decisions that ensured her well-being in a very dangerous environment.
Another great video, Jon. I suspect that at the end of the day, Anna von Kleeves uttered these three words, "Gott sei Dank!"
Thank you so much! Haha, you’re probably right-‘Gott sei Dank’ must have been a phrase Anne used often after escaping Henry’s grasp!
@HistoryRoadshow Ja, Das stimmt! 😆😂🤣😅😃
Enjoyed this presentation:
The only thing I disliked was the portrayal of The Lady Mary wearing low décolletage in the first segment of this video.
For all that I learned of The Lady Mary in my undergraduate university history class at Northwestern University, and my own subsequent independent reading, I cannot picture her exposing her breasts in such fashion.
Thanks for watching. The images of Mary are taken from the Tudors. The series is 20 years old, and I have no idea how they determined what the characters should wear to convey the period of time.
Lovely to hear your voice, Jon!! I enjoy the life of Anna de Cleeves. Of the many portraits I have seen of her, there is no way that she is ugly. That’s absolutely cruel. What a fabulous job she did with the design of the long gallery at Hever Castle. The king even called her his sister. They remained good friends ♥️👑🇬🇧🌹
Anne of Cleves’ intelligence and grace shine through, whether in her friendship with Henry or her contributions at Hever Castle. She truly was one of a kind.
Henry's Griff for Jane was hard for everyone but his attention to have a son. Drove him made here went threw wife's like socks Ann of clevis. Was just a notheir position that he could have all of his wife's. Were all position to him all up to his last wife.
Henry’s obsession with securing a male heir definitely drove much of his decision-making, and it’s true-he saw his wives as strategic positions rather than partners. Anne of Cleves was certainly caught up in his relentless quest.
She was only a child ❤
Do you really think Katherine of Aragon was "fiercely independent"? The only time she refused Henry's wishes was when he asked her to do something against her God and her conscience. This is pretty much the opinion of historians in general.