Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Anne of Cleves (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Zoe Wade
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
How Important was Henry's Marriage to Anne of Cleves to Cromwell's Position? - Summary
Henry VIII's marriage to Anne of Cleves was a significant moment for Thomas Cromwell. Cromwell planned the marriage. He believed that marriage would help England form an alliance with the Protestant German states against Catholic France and Spain. However, Henry instantly disliked Anne and found the union politically disadvantageous. Cromwell's support of the match damaged his relationship with Henry.
The unsuccessful marriage to Anne of Cleves marked a significant turning point in Cromwell's career. The diplomatic failure strained Henry's relationship with Cromwell. As Henry's dissatisfaction grew, Cromwell's enemies seized the opportunity to discredit him. This marked the beginning of Cromwell's downfall.
Who was Anne of Cleves?
Anne of Cleves was Henry's fourth wife
They married on 6th January 1540
Anne was the second daughter of the Duke of Cleves
Cleves was a small Protestant state located in the Holy Roman Empire
She was 24 years old
There were many factors which limited Henry's and Anne's connection
Anne spoke very little English
She had no interest in music
Music was one of Henry's passions
Reasons for Henry's Marriage to Anne of Cleves
Reason | Why did this result in Henry's marriage to Anne? |
|---|---|
In 1539, England heard news of a potential Catholic crusade started by Francis I of France and Charles V (Charles I of Spain) | A marriage to Anne of Cleves would give Henry an ally in Europe. The Duke of Cleves could persuade other German states to ally with England |
Henry only had one male heir | There was a risk of Edward dying young. Henry wanted another marriage to provide more male heirs |
Henry had a poor reputation in Europe after he killed his second wife, Anne Boleyn. It became hard to find a potential wife for Henry | The Duke of Cleves seemed happy to allow Henry to marry his daughter. The Duke of Cleves needed more allies against Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor. The Duke of Cleves had defied Charles by becoming a Protestant |
Worked Example
Explain why Henry married Anne of Cleves in January 1540
12 marks
Partial answer:
One reason why Henry married Anne of Cleves was because of the Catholic threat to England. In 1539, England heard news of a potential Catholic crusade started by Francis I of France and Charles V (Charles I of Spain). This encouraged Henry to marry Anne because the marriage would give England a Protestant ally in Europe. Anne's father, the Duke of Cleves, could persuade more Protestant German states to ally with England. This would give more soldiers for Henry to use to protect England from invasion. Therefore, the marriage to Anne had some important political and religious motivations behind it.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
An exam question based on this section could ask you to explain why Henry married Anne of Cleves in 1540. The key reasons for Henry's marriage to Anne were:
The potential Catholic invasion of France and the Holy Roman Empire
Henry's desire for more male heirs
The Duke of Cleves own motivations for the marriage
This is a 12-mark question. Ensure you write three paragraphs that:
P - Make a point about the question
E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made
E - Explain why this evidence caused Henry to marry Anne. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor advantaged Henry or advantaged the Duke of Cleves enough to result in the marriage
L - Link your explanation back to the question by stating how significant this factor is causing the marriage between Henry and Anne
How did Henry marry Anne of Cleves?
How successful was Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves?
The marriage to Anne of Cleves was unsuccessful
By the summer of 1540, there was no longer a threat of an invasion from France or the Holy Roman Empire
Henry became attracted to Catherine Howard, one of Anne's ladies-in-waiting
Henry annulled the marriage for non-consummation after four months
The marriage ended well for Anne of Cleves
Henry granted Anne estates, making her incredibly wealthy
Anne gained the nickname of the king’s ‘sister’
The Significance of Anne of Cleves on Cromwell
Cromwell pushed for the marriage between Henry and Anne of Cleves
Cromwell was a Protestant sympathiser
He was motivated by his desire to make the Royal Court more Protestant
Henry blamed Cromwell for the failure of this marriage
Cromwell lost a lot of his power and influence over the king
Cromwell's enemies grew more powerful
Protestantism became weaker in the Royal Court
Henry brought back more Catholic values
The Duke of Norfolk (Catherine Howard’s uncle) began to plot for the downfall of Cromwell
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Edexcel GCSE History relies upon your ability to remember and utilise key knowledge from throughout the course. To make it easier to remember, try to make connections between different sections of the course. For example, the failure of one of Henry's marriages contributed to the fall of power of both Wolsey and Cromwell. Try to find other similarities or differences between Cromwell and Wolsey's actions and downfalls.
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