Henry VIII's 'Reject Queen': The Truth About Anne Of Cleves

[@TheHistoryExpose]

The Truth About England’s Most Famous Queen: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaCTdWqGZtyLpa8

[@debramoss2267]

Most famous? Maybe at the time, but Queen Elizabeth ll has definitely been more so.

[@SugarPlumFairy9]

Pretty bold of him to call her ugly while he looked like a stuffed turkey...

[@ImNotaRussianBot]

Don't insult turkeys. They're beautiful, majestic creatures. Henry was trailer trash in a position of absolute authority, power, and vast wealth. He was basically Donald Trump. You can put makeup on a pig, but you can't change its character. (Sorry pigs. You're delicious, smart animals.)

[@LadyGenerationX]

Elite Arrogance

[@frankytrevor7]

Henry the most disgusting king that start Protestantism, proclaiming himself the "pope" or whatever. He was Catholic like most England by then but his pride & arrogance and the fact that he want it to divorce is first wife The Great Catherine of Aragon (The daughter of The Most amazing Queen ever live: Isabel de Castilla SPAIN) but the Pope didn't conceded so Henry decide to star his own "church" (SECT). That shows the false "religion"=protestantism

[@tngrrl73]

Jabba the Hutt!!!

[@amyjacquelineg.715]

Being a big fat men showed wealth as they could afford to eat well.

[@sheenaghmcmahon9665]

I bet 24 year old Anne was disgusted when she saw obese, dissolute, middle-aged Henry but no one ever talks about that.

[@Whoknows688]

And his rotting, stinking leg! He was no catch.

[@kellyanni5092]

I’m going to now😮

[@FromRussiawithvideo]

Well he was King. Nobody in our society has that level of power but even your average obese middle agent Hollywood agent isn't seen as disgusting because of the power they have. .

[@LOVEBABY138]

Leg? Probably his teeth too.. Poor women and their noses ​@@Whoknows688

[@anonimniprofil3816]

He was a baller why wouldn't she love him.

[@geekazhoid]

Anne was lucky to have been declared ugly by Henry. It saved her life.

[@laffintig]

Her title and family connections saved her life. Henry did not execute his royal wives.

[@vickbond008]

​@@laffintigGood point. I hadn't noticed that.

[@pauldonnelly910]

Anybody wonder if she arranged the stink on purpose? She'd met HIM, too.

[@davidfinch7407]

Henry had a reputation for killing wives, but it's a "little bit" undeserved. After all, four of his six wives avoided execution one way or the other. It's therefore a little unfair to say categorically that Henry's rejection saved her life, as she could have been divorced, died of natural causes, or outlived Henry. It's also possible they might have had a happy marriage...

[@TRamone01]

I think foreign wives got to keep their heads.

[@IdreamIsoar]

Getting rejected early on might have saved her life. An amazing woman for surviving him.

[@lynnm6413]

It‘s amazing to me to imagine the hubris of a king wedding for political reasons and looking like an obese American with a foul, pusfilled not healing wound in his leg… To expect a 24 year old virgin not only to fall in love on first sight but actually let him grope her… Me too, anyone?

[@samf.s.7731]

She's a legend for that reason. Catherine Parr survived him simply because he died first. 😅

[@MaximGhost]

How so? Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was removed as wife and queen after eleven years of marriage ... but still kept her head. The ones that didn't either did salacious things or were accused to have done such things. No such accusations were made against Anne Of Cleves while married to the king.

[@lynnm6413]

@@MaximGhost you seem to not realize that the women you feel free to sl_t shame here like Catherine Howard had been groomed and SA‘d by older men from the age of 12, then forcibly married to a king who wouldn‘t hear No for an answer… Shame on you for being manipulated this easily by the male narrative

[@libertyboudreaux389]

⁠@@MaximGhostI think the only reason Catherine of Aragon lived was because he hadn’t yet developed an appetite for spousal murder.

[@andrescebu6295]

Anne of Cleves aka Anne the Clever - She’s my favourite of all henry viii six wives. She played her card well, she received wealth and favour from the king after the divorce. She was almost immune from his outburst. And most of all she had the kindest heart. She treated her servants well and left some money to all of them in her will. I hope they’ll make a film about her

[@Justin.Martyr]

*Our EngLish Ancestors wereScuum & were EquaL to TrumpVoters!!!!* *I BeLieve in JeHoVahGOD & I am GLad, that I Never had Sex!!!!* *Ann CLeves, Died at age 42 !!! Wut short UgLy Lives, in the 1500's!!!* *OnLy when CromweLL, Became "Head of State" was Day-1 of CiviLized Society,* *in EngLand!!!! EveryThing before that, was a GarBageLand!!!!*

[@motherofbeagles8532]

So clever and at such a young age. She kept her cool and responded carefully to his request for divorce.

[@Teresia12]

And they better not make her ugly!!

[@TruthTea77636]

Smart women will always rise to the top

[@frankytrevor7]

Henry the most disgusting king that start Protestantism, proclaiming himself the "pope" or whatever. He was Catholic like most England by then but his pride & arrogance and the fact that he want it to divorce is first wife The Great Catherine of Aragon (The daughter of The Most amazing Queen ever live: Isabel de Castilla SPAIN) but the Pope didn't conceded so Henry decide to star his own "church" (SECT). That shows the false "religion"=protestantism

[@sorscha1308]

She couldn't have planned that better if she tried. Henry's own vanity allowed her to get out of being married to an absolute psycho without losing her head or any monetary advantage. What a QUEEN!

[@Splucked]

Anne of Cleves made out better than all of his other wives. Got rid of him in her 20s, retained prestige at court, had property, income and a rich social life of her own. Not bad.

[@ganh222]

But she died young at 42

[@rogerphelps9939]

@@ganh222 A lot of them did.

[@sandradavies7804]

@@ganh222 42 Wasn't considered 'young' in those days.

[@Splucked]

@@ganh222 Sadly, that's true. However, it's important to consider that the average life expectancy for women in the Tudor period was roughly 33-42 years. Probably slightly higher for royals but Anne was in the ballpark. Following her divorce from Henry, Anne lived a comfortable and, by most accounts, happy life for 17 years. Catherine of Aragon & Catherine Parr had much sadder fates.

[@CanMoose]

​@@ganh222imagine a time when there were no antibiotics

[@techgirl1337]

If Henry Tudor asks you for a divorce, you give him a divorce. And you smile about it and say thank you hahahaha

[@BlueTressym]

And you likely mean it too, given most of the alternatives.

[@akiramado9198]

He took pretty good care of her afterwards. At a point she was considered one of the most powerful women in England.

[@sarahnelson8836]

And RUN for the damn hills

[@YurielMihaila2]

Henry Tudor was Henry 7

[@ShieldWife]

If Henry asks you for a divorce, say yes and be glad you dodged a bullet.

[@cbasallie]

That a public figure or leader would call his wife “ugly” says more about HIM than about her

[@gilmichaud5852]

Henry would not have tried to kiss her when he first saw her while he was in disguise if he had found her unattractive. It was only after her rejection that he called her ugly. He had been shamed, simple as that.

[@LeksiW]

If he wasn't the king he would be considered completely vile. Like most men in power, he used it to harm women for his own pleasure.

[@erikmurray3661]

Sounds about right

[@gabriellashimone6546]

She was principled, far more so than Henry. She was intelligent, well-educated, and well-mannered. He took to ridicule in an effort to demoralise her and, when that failed, resorted to pedantic rumourmongering. He freed himself from the marriage but, because of her personal bearing, could not do her completely ill. I think the premarital encounter demonstrated her principled nature and grace, things he'd not previously encountered in a woman. Simply put, she was out of his league and he didn't know how to deal with that.

[@lilymarinovic1644]

But you have to wonder why, if it really happened like that, no-one simply gave her a timely heads-up that Henry was fond of surprise cos play and that the Royal guards would certainly never let just any fat ugly old random in to see, let alone kiss or take any other liberties with, their Queen.

[@NavaSDMB]

@@gabriellashimone6546 He'd encountered principles and grace before. And divorced Catholicism to be able to divorce her.

[@patwilson2546]

Anne was smart. She got her divorce, stayed in Henry's good graces, and lived pretty well until her untimely death due to (probably) cancer. Better deal than Henry's other wives. I do not believe for a second that Anne wanted to remarry Henry.

[@Petipulpul]

I don't think that Anne would have wanted to remarry the king, he killed women as if they were no more than a bunny or a cat. She must have known what kind of man she was dealing with, and she wasn't stupid, she could loose her life being his wife.

[@masada2828]

@@Petipulpul- but a better prospect than the life she left.

[@masada2828]

More an annulment.

[@patwilson2546]

@@masada2828 True. I failed to differentiate but it would have made a huge difference in her time.

[@markbriten6999]

In fact she outlived all his other wives

[@dreamtripp]

Anne Of Cleves is literally an example of “rejection is protection” however, that she was intelligent enough to understand it and put aside her ego makes her exceptional.

[@ljmsevern]

Worth pointing out that in the early years of their marriage, Henry had often done this with Catherine of Aragon, arriving at her chambers in disguise with his gentlemen as Robin Hood or some other figure out of folklore or mythology. Of course, Catherine always knew it was her husband, but she played along and pretended she didn't until Henry unmasked, while still being a gracious and welcoming hostess. Nobody dared to point out that a) unlike Catherine, Anna had never met Henry before, so she would have no way of recognising him and b) Henry was no longer the strapping, handsome youth he'd been in the early 1510s but a grossly overweight middle-aged tyrant, old before his time, who stank because of the open wound on his leg. He accused Anna of being 'flabby' and 'stinky' when we all know that he was far worse in both those categories. A classic case of projection!

[@sbeaber]

That was actually the style in the time.

[@frankytrevor7]

Henry the most disgusting king that start Protestantism, proclaiming himself the "pope" or whatever. He was Catholic like most England by then but his pride & arrogance and the fact that he want it to divorce is first wife The Great Catherine of Aragon (The daughter of The Most amazing Queen ever live: Isabel de Castilla SPAIN) but the Pope didn't conceded so Henry decide to star his own "church" (SECT). That shows the false "religion"=protestantism

[@kathleensomma7587]

Ppl​@@sbeaber

[@georgenorris2657]

It's quite possible that Anne of Cleves was so revolted by him that she was unable to hide this when they met.

[@darlenesutton7248]

Yesss projection

[@markhughes2556]

I believe Dickens called Henry 'a smear of blood and grease upon the pages of England's history'. I'm no great admirer of Dickens, but he nailed that one.

[@dwhitman3092]

Exactly!

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

I wouldn't call a king that killed numerous wives, fractured relations with the pope and the catholic world, wrecked the abbeys & monasteries and starting a new religion that is now the Church Of England, our official religion. Hardly a grease-spot!

[@beyourself2444]

I thought I was the only person who's not too keen on Dickens

[@TeddyBear-ii4yc]

@@markhughes2556 The guy had offed several wives, had stood up to the Pope and all the catholic countries of Europe, had wrecked and plundered the abbeys and monasteries and started the current protestant state religion that impacts on most of our lives... hardly a 'greasy smear' on the history of England! I'd say he was a notable monarch!

[@gianniskarlssohn5633]

@@TeddyBear-ii4yc Like Genghis Khan.

[@ladym.9268]

He probably really did feel more of a sibling vibe with her. Since he complained she was 'ugly', didn't consummate, accepted her friendship, and made sure she was taken care of later in life. He just didn't know how to express this, since he's an entitled, selfish murderer.

[@naimasophie]

There isn't such a thing as a sibling vibe with a man if the woman is attractive

[@kambrose1549]

Henry was a narcissistic serial killer . Centuries later it still feels good that she escaped his evil machinations

[@joltjolt5060]

She knew how to play it.

[@DUBC_OG_610]

Henry VIII was a legendary failure as king. He failed so hard it utterly transformed England in multiple ways.

[@Yummicookie1979]

Most accurate description ever.

[@98cents]

Henry was just your typical nepobaby that would never accept accountability or responsibility for his actions. If he was mentally unstable like you say, he would have been doing these things personally, not out of sight/out of mind like he actually was.

[@O.O.O.K999]

I always feel good that, though no fault of his own because he died, his precious son came to nothing while his unwanted daughter was England's greatest ever monarch!

[@QueenHuntress]

Anne is my favorite! She won the Queen Game. She got money and estates and she didn’t even have to sleep with a scabby old king to get it. She could even hang out in court and play with the kids. That’s the life! Winner!

[@mrhelzbygrad7485]

Given the nature of her match, it's interesting she had a good friendship with Queen Mary.

[@Justin.Martyr]

*Our EngLish Ancestors wereScuum & were EquaL to TrumpVoters!!!!* *I BeLieve in JeHoVahGOD & I am GLad, that I Never had Sex!!!!* *Ann CLeves, Died at age 42 !!! Wut short UgLy Lives, in the 1500's!!!* *OnLy when CromweLL, Became "Head of State" was Day-1 of CiviLized Society,* *in EngLand!!!! EveryThing before that, was a GarBageLand!!!!*

[@hunnyflash]

Yes! She got to stay in England in a beautiful home and didn't have her brother watching over her, or some other husband. She was on good terms with Henry's children and remained a respectful figure at court.

[@tripwire8457]

Plus she got buried in Westminster Abbey, and got the title Queen of England placed on her grave. Incredible achievement.

[@TJ14142]

It appears to me to be an example of living in a gilded cage.

[@stellamaris5405]

✨ Its often said by historians & scholars that Henry & Anne became close friends after the annulment and that he valued her not just as a close confidante but as an astute advisor up until his death. His generous settlement & the fact that he allowed her to keep her head seems to support that. She was a lucky woman.

[@julianavenning8263]

She also lookrd after his daughters.

[@YamileYemoonyah]

Were they really friends or was she just people pleasing to save herself from an abuser who could still have her killed at any time?

[@paulnelson5144]

@@YamileYemoonyah A very 21st century response to a Tudor situation 🙄

[@stellamaris5405]

@@YamileYemoonyah ✨ Well, what do you think? Or more to the point - what would you have done? As *@paulnelson5144* said below - you're thinking like a modern, independent woman of today.Most, even aristocratic women then,didn't have that as an option. She did what she had to do to survive (& to live a comfortable life) so fair due to her. 🕊️ ☘️

[@pollyparrot8759]

Clever Anne, she neatly avoided being stuck with a monster.

[@ronaldmessina4229]

@pollyparrot759 Madame I most certainly do agree with u , & Anne was correct because henry the asshole was indeed a very bad monster 👺, who murdered at least 2 of his poor wives, & Ana Boleyna was murdered w/o reason, in order for henry to marry his 3rd wife Anne von Cleves 🎉😢😢😢😮😮

[@ronaldmessina4229]

Also thomas cromwell was a very stinking idiot advisor, & who advised henry on matters of state, but his advice was not worth a farthing, but henry often listened to the advice of cromwell 🎉🎉🎉🎉😮😮

[@OdeInWessex]

Henry was vile, lucky escape.

[@Mahaveez]

Or stuck by a monster, as it were.

[@pollyparrot8759]

@Mahaveez 😄

[@DavidAnderson-m5c]

Anne's response to the disguised Henry's crude advances was absolutely correct. Imagine if she *had* given him some favour that day. He would now have a ready-made pretext for executing her later on for a sham charge of adultery based on her demonstrated propensity to cavort with strange men who were not her husband.

[@laurendearnley9595]

I've often said the same. We aren't even sure if the meeting happened as described, but the reaction seems to be that she didn't recognise him or didn't understand to play along. But he'd executed one wife for adultery - Anne if Cleves was probably very mindful to be the pinnacle of chastity.

[@rogerphelps9939]

No chance of that. Anne was from a powerful foreign dynasty. here would have been a huge stink if Henry had tried anything. Anne and Catherine of Aragon survived because they were from powerful foreign families. Henry was absolute ruler of England so he could do what he liked to his English wives with complete impunity.

[@hannahshmulsky7119]

There was no way for her to win in that situation. Henry boxed her in. She made brilliant use of the few plays she was granted.

[@maggieb9597]

​@@rogerphelps9939I agree, absolutely.

[@sirennoir258]

Didnt he have a festering wound? She would have probably smelled him

[@TimeturnerJ]

Bold of him to complain about her appearance when he looked like THAT.

[@AliensAnonymous]

He was strapping and handsome in his youth. We just remember those ridiculous threads .

[@SingPandaProductions]

He was just upset she thought he was ugly. It's the same as a woman rejecting a man and him saying oh well you were ugly anyways 😅

[@lajohnson1967]

Men are so fragile. They still don’t get it to this day. No woman is ever “ugly”. All men are though…..

[@Alex-cb2gf]

That sounds like something Trump would and has said as a retort.

[@hannahcallow6374]

​@@Alex-cb2gfinnit, and they say people don't reincarnate 😂

[@SingPandaProductions]

@Alex-cb2gf it is exactly something trump would say. Tyrants all seem the same huh?

[@hannahcallow6374]

@SingPandaProductions *impotent tyrants

[@patlitton3506]

Putrid smell coming off of Henry VIII by that point - he was 48 years old and had a bad smell due to leg ulcers and infections that caused him to rot. The stench was so strong that it could be detected from three rooms away.

[@10secondsrule]

Must have been pretty strong as everyone and everything else smelled naturally of roses.

[@luckyspiderboots2530]

Were you there or something??

[@randeebecker2455]

@@patlitton3506 OMG - you could smell him coming!

[@johnthomson7696]

@@luckyspiderboots2530 That information comes from Royal Court documents of the time. FIFY

[@linda0506]

And they were big rooms.

[@michellelysien5739]

There were so many benefits to their "divorce"- and that turned out to be the ULTIMATE blessing !!! She was true to herself, stayed kind and didn't let the rejection bother her (I am sure she was relieved to not have to be in a marriage to him) stayed a "friend" to him- made friends, got along with many close to him- didn't share his bed and kept her head !!!

[@MarianLuca-rz5kk]

Henry VIII was obviously an experienced knower of women. So we can believe him when he declared that Anne of Cleves was a defective woman.

[@oh.sorry.dont.mind.meeeee]

​@@MarianLuca-rz5kk ew wtf? he was horrible & murdered innocent people. your comment is so weird

[@marydewitt9623]

I think the best possible scenario is for Henry the Eighth to think you’re too ugly. You live a heck of a lot longer.

[@naomistarlight6178]

I think what really happened was: she didn't instantly fall all over him praising him, which made him feel insecure so he wanted to reject her and talk shit about her looks so her rejection of him wouldn't humiliate him. The ultimate "you're not rejecting me I'm rejecting you"

[@elss8717]

The textbook narcissist: ‘Now look what you make me do’

[@YoCelKreSunt]

Basically an incel.

[@10secondsrule]

Guess good as any and worth just as much.

[@InsaneLaughter01]

It’s beilivable because that EXACT situation happens DAILY. *Gets catcalled at work or at a stoplight. Doesn’t get a smile back* “You’re ugly any way, bitch”

[@phalynwilliams4119]

The king 👑 had 3 dead 💀 wives and was twice her age. Why would Anne be excited about that old dog 🐕?

[@laurametheny1008]

Always cracks me up when "pics" of Anne never show her as ugly....and yet besides Henry himself being disgusting by then, most of those other women he married didn't seem nice to look at. Crazy. I have seen MANY shows with depictions and read books. History is my fave. Thank you✌🏼😍

[@frankojudoka]

She’s not ugly at all judging by her portrait. She is smart for not getting her head chopped of the others.

[@interestedbystander196]

Only two of Henry's wives were executed... People make out like this was the fate of all of them.

[@julijakeit]

@@interestedbystander196 lol, which king had ever executed his queen before? Not to mention divorced two others and had one die in childbirth? No, Ann knew by then that Henry gets his way or else others get their heads rolling, not just his queens.

[@interestedbystander196]

@julijakeit Two got divorced, sure, one of whom was Anne of Cleves. Also, one died in chilbirth, which was really not unusual for the time - in fact, death in childbirth was really a high risk for women right up until the early 20th century. Are you saying that was Henry's fault and somehow evidence that he's a rampaging bloodthirsty monster?

[@OdeInWessex]

​@@interestedbystander196There's plenty of other evidence that he was a bloodthirsty rampaging monster besides this.

[@keithwarrington2430]

only two had heads chopped and both were almost certainly unfaithfull

[@cocoaswann2095]

comparing his and her portraits, methinks he was projecting.

[@Italianpenicillin]

Methinks. Haha!

[@makeitsonumberone1358]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@FrogsForBreakfast]

Henry: paint my future wife as accurate as possible Painter: *paints good-looking woman* Henry: now paint me with a glow up Painter: *paints **7:33* I hid all your worst features Henry: ok but I still look like a fat jackass. Glow me up some more Painter: *paints **5:37* best I can do that still resembles you

[@Livvie_Heart]

we think so too

[@manfred747]

Methinks? Pass the axe.

[@markuhler2664]

As intelligent and quick-witted and clever as she was, she would have made an outstanding queen.

[@lucyvan2010]

So true

[@BalrajTakhar-u7u]

And so was Henry. He had received a top class education in the all the arts & humanities of the time. He was highly regarded for his learning.

[@JenaEmerald]

That didn’t matter, Catharine of Aragorn was an outstanding queen. She was banished after 20 years of loyalty and denied access to her daughter because she was too old to produce a son.

[@manfredgrieshaber8693]

Anne grew up about 20 miles east of Düsseldorf, the capital of the combined states of Jülich-Kleve-Berg. The castle's name where she lived is "Schloss Burg" in the city of Solingen. There she learned from her mother how to run large land holdings. This skills helped her during her later live in England to stay independend from the king's court.

[@Westminster6cats-wr4ik]

Great information! Thank you for sharing

[@sophiecarter1576]

Interesting!

[@jasperhorace7147]

She was undoubtedly a stolid German, lacking in the courtly skills Henry had so prized in his first two wives. Quite a cultural difference.

[@rainbowcrystaluk]

Thank you! I would love to know more about the German culture back then. What women wore, how they lived. We don't hear enough about that.

[@estebancorral5151]

@@Westminster6cats-wr4ikSoligen was known for steel production particularly blades. It was the Sheffield of Germany.

[@nikiharris2848]

I did think from the thumbnail that this would be one of those AI voiced videos, but was pleasantly surprised to hear a real person with a lovely accent! Great video, very informative with great perspective and easy to watch!

[@rinistephenson5550]

Was that Billy Boyd?

[@Traumasamanen]

Wasn't this AI? Henry was Henry VIII (not 8) in few places.

[@sidm3300]

I'm sure that was Neil Oliver narrating.

[@2msvalkyrie529]

Sounded like Nicola Sturgeon so hit the " Off " switch right away...!!

[@nikiharris2848]

@@Traumasamanen Maybe it was? I'm not sure, just happy it wasn't the robotic, stilted voice kinda one!

[@selina5598]

She outlived them all, even Catherine Parr. Good for her

[@PeterSt1954]

Something I've never understood is why would Holbein produce an unrealistic portrait of Anne of Cleves when any such deception would be quickly discovered and Holbein and his fellow conspirators would be severely punished? I think the portrait must be reasonably accurate. At least accurate enough for those involved in producing it not to end up on the block.

[@namedrop721]

Holbein is famous for his accuracy. Read harder between the lines.

[@tonkabeancat1117]

Holbein’s portraits seem to come alive in fact

[@irtnyc]

There is a theory that Thomas Cromwell and other Protestant activists had an agenda to manipulate the wedding for political and religious reasons. A lot depends on whether you believe Cromwell was capable of taking such an enormous risk. For which, he soon was executed. This seems unlike Cromwell who was a very effective man. On the other hand, he died over this. So who knows.

[@mikev4621]

She was quite pretty from front on, but what did she look like in profile?

[@tandyjen]

​@@mikev4621Maybe you'd be happier spending time in a car dealership.

[@deboracopeland4795]

Rejection is protection

[@mcaruso7897]

What's that mean? That by being rejected Anne was protected from Henry?

[@Justin.Martyr]

*Our EngLish Ancestors wereScuum & were EquaL to TrumpVoters!!!!* *I BeLieve in JeHoVahGOD & I am GLad, that I Never had Sex!!!!* *Ann CLeves, Died at age 42 !!! Wut short UgLy Lives, in the 1500's!!!* *OnLy when CromweLL, Became "Head of State" was Day-1 of CiviLized Society,* *in EngLand!!!! EveryThing before that, was a GarBageLand!!!!*

[@lexa2310]

​@@mcaruso7897 Yes.

[@ArielFae2]

This is true in this case, and is one of the more important lessons I've learned in life...

[@jomercer21113]

Years ago I read a hypothesis that Anne of Cleaves was a sturdily-built, busty German, but Henry liked his women to be slender waifs with boyish figures. She was so lucky to have survived and thrived.

[@Laura-op6ix]

He had a singular infatuation + chemistry with Anne Boleyn, who was slender - but that was unique. All his other wives were said to be "buxom", as was ideal in the period. And at one point he was quoted as saying, "I'm a big man; I need a big wife".

[@onenote6619]

At this point in his life, Henry was old, crippled, obese, covered in boils, smelled of rotting wounds and was somewhat irrational (because, given all the former, who wouldn't be?). Anne of Cleves accepted all of that - and the likelihood that he was impotent - because she knew what happened to wives of Henry that were not compliant. Henry got his annulment and Anne got to live in comfort. On the whole, she was a very sensible person.

[@MrWombatty]

It's well documented that Henry VIII received a severe head-injury when he fell from his horse while hunting, after which his temperament changed dramatically, and the most notable was that he became more impatient & ill-tempered!

[@samiamtheman7379]

@@MrWombatty Really? I heard it was from a jousting match. Either way, it is believed that the head injury (and possibly leg wound that never healed) were what made him really start going crazy.

[@dbanks1277]

Read articles that​ said H8 died of siphilus @@samiamtheman7379

[@Woodman-Spare-that-tree]

And he had a bit of brain damage from being knocked off his horse while jousting.

[@causewaykayak]

@@onenote6619 Clearly, you knew him intimately!!!

[@Mathrox-uu1qh]

I can't see why he would publicly proclaim her as his sister and the third highest ranking woman in the country if he didn't hold her in some esteem.

[@allanfifield8256]

Keeping the German Protestants happy.

[@tealkerberus748]

It was better than going to war with her family and all their allies. Especially when he'd already alienated the entirety of Catholic Europe - Henry was starting to look a bit short-on for friends.

[@sheaforest9309]

I think he actually liked her as a person or he would not have spent his free time playing checkers with her.

[@avryllsixtus3429]

​@@sheaforest9309yes he used to visit her often at Richmond House playing cards...he confided in her rather than his counsellors....she was shrewd and graciously accepted the divorce and enjoyed her life..the red haired baby belonged to someone else and he saw the baby in a crib and it put him in a spin ...but the baby boy was not Anne's...

[@MarlboroughBlenheim1]

To keep her quiet

[@jspohl]

People can’t see beauty or truly appreciate anything when they are not happy. It not about the person being viewed. It’s always in the eye of the beholder - it’s good to look for beauty in yourself and everyone as many artists do. It never matters what others think. There are countless ways a person can be beautiful.

[@SkepticalChris]

I love the quote from historian Suzannah Lipscomb, that in the marriage bed, there indeed was someone smelly, fat, and clearly not a virgin, but it wasn't Anne of Cleves. Side note, I always felt that it was unbelievably ironic that for the show the Tudors, they cast the beautiful Joss Stone as the "ugly" Anne of Cleves And Anne of Cleves, was the ultimate survivor. She was realistic, practical, smart and cunning. She knew from the moment she stepped foot on English soil, Henry was the boss, and she did everything to accommodate him, even when he asked for a divorce, she gave it to him without resistance, she made his life so much easier, and you can tell Henry was thankful for her willingness by rewarding her richly.

[@lorrainem8234]

Well said!

[@azvascos7542]

Joss Stone was great as Anne!

[@sabymoon]

sounds like the kind of malignant narcissist that projects his faults onto others. Like Trump

[@evepemberton8662]

Thing is though I think they played it right by casting an actress who bore resemblance to the portrait, but was clearly very pretty. It was essentially clear then that Henry's opinion was his hateful and projected opinion alone, cos Joss Stone quite clearly isn't ugly

[@Superion74]

Joss Stone is perfect as the Anne of Cleves because we all believe that she was actually quite beautiful, and Henry called her ugly out of spite.

[@ATT-02]

One thing Anne saw very clearly, early on. Give the King whatever he wants, be grateful for whatever he gives you and always remind him, that he’s the greatest King that ever lived. That will keep a smile on his face and the gifts will continue to roll your way! 👏🤗

[@chiaralistica]

@@ATT-02 all that and she never had to do the deed lol.

[@jessicacollins8049]

Like her life.

[@Smokeythewelder]

Its good to be the king!

[@OdeInWessex]

​​@@SmokeythewelderEspecially as a Narcissistic Sociopath. .

[@YourFriendinFL]

She was the smartest of all. If he wanted a divorce, she said “absolutely, anything that’ll make you happy!” And thus she saved her life, and he even prized her with a small castle.

[@Autumn1988]

She ended up winning by becoming by choice a rich spinster, known as the Kings Sister and becoming a sort of aunt to his children

[@BarretKruse]

And outliving him!

[@Nettsinthewoods]

Wow, old syphilitic rotten leg Henry said Anne was whiffy? Anne knew which side her bread was buttered. Well done her.

[@helpyousleep7386]

she had a pungent vag. thee olde rhyme states 'it attracted flies, like a flame at night''

[@erinle7711]

Whiffy. I'm dead 😂😂😂😂

[@Parah_Salin]

Underrated comment lmao

[@janemariemcbride]

It's funny to me that there was a rumor that Anne was ugly, but they always get beautiful actresses to play her. She's my favorite wife! She won in the end.

[@riverraven7359]

Beat me to it, anytime I see her characterised it's always a pretty actress.

[@TheOneandOnlyBrink]

Every time a woman rejects a man and he gets mad about it, the first thing he says is 'you're ugly' 😂 apparently this habit is older than people usually think

[@manbearpig7359]

Yeah it's hard to argue that she won the Game of Henry with how things worked out for her and how smart, practical and clear thinking she must have been. My favourite is still Katherine Parr

[@sherlockholmes6990]

I think she looks very good in the portraits of her. It certainly doesn't seem as if she were ugly at all.

[@lilymarinovic1644]

Well, portraits don't tell us everything. By all accounts he liked petite women, which she wasn't. And he mentioned her 'slack' breasts and belly, so maybe she was on the chubby side? Which again doesn't seem to have fit his usual tastes. Or maybe he just found her really really boring and uncultured? I mean they could hardly talk to each other and don't seem to have had any shared interests at all.

[@cplmpcocptcl6306]

She was the prettiest of his wives. When he pounced on her pretending to be a page he thought she’d see thru his costume and know her “true love.” When she didn’t respond how the fat, stinky King wanted THEN he started slamming her. He was embarrassed, plain and simple.

[@vikingraider1961]

Gods - sounds like a 16th century version of Trump!

[@EIizabethGrace]

From what I know of Henry, even the “true love” story gives him too much credit. I think he wanted her to see him as the king, no matter his disguise, or to be attracted to him without needing to know he was the king or her husband-to-be. I also don’t think it was as superficial as embarrassment. It was an ego injury, plain and simple. With Anne of Cleves as with, to varying degrees and often alongside a good dose of more utilitarian disapproval, all his other wives - and not just his wives - except the one who adapted herself to suit his wants, gave him everything he wanted, and died before displeasing him.

[@shanouboubou]

Another proof of someone having completely wild and unrealistic expectations about love and a strange ego. She was to meet the King, was she supposed to flirt with a random man just before ? I bet if she had, he would have been pissed.

[@barry4887]

TDS in full force !!

[@heathertzogas7557]

@@shanouboubou Yep. There is literally NO way to win with a narcissist - especially when they play little games like that.

[@helenamcginty4920]

Way back in the late 1960s or early 1970s there was a series about Henry Vlll on BBC. The father of one of my fellow students was one of the historians on the show. He told her that it was Anne of Cleves who was disgusted by the middle aged, overweight man with a stinking ulcerated leg, legacy of his jousting accident.

[@dorothywillis1]

Was that the "Six Wives of Henry VIII"? We enjoyed that very much!

[@judithstrachan9399]

If it was, Keith Michell was magnificent as Henry.

[@Charleyjaxx]

I heard and read that too.

[@Justin.Martyr]

*Our EngLish Ancestors wereScuum & were EquaL to TrumpVoters!!!!* *I BeLieve in JeHoVahGOD & I am GLad, that I Never had Sex!!!!* *Ann CLeves, Died at age 42 !!! Wut short UgLy Lives, in the 1500's!!!* *OnLy when CromweLL, Became "Head of State" was Day-1 of CiviLized Society,* *in EngLand!!!! EveryThing before that, was a GarBageLand!!!!*

[@cruisepaige]

I loved that series.

[@barbaral743]

I think Henry disliked Anne because she rejected his kiss when he came in disguise on their first meeting and he was insulted. He retained Holbein as court painter, which suggests the portait was accurate.

[@vilbertoferreira4222]

Excellent video! I admire very much Anne of Cleves. She was a very inteligent woman, one who agreed with Henry VIII demands and became a good friend to him in such a way that he called her "sister" and always received her at Court. Very clever woman!

[@cplmpcocptcl6306]

And was quite beautiful.

[@keturaequalizer]

She played the game right and came up on top. 🙂🙃

[@vilbertoferreira4222]

@@keturaequalizer Exactly! Because she was intelligent and knew that in opposing Henry VIII wishes, she would end up like Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Using her brilliant inteligence skills, she saved her life and was very well rewarded by the King, enjoying a very quiet and good life until her death! I also admire Catherine of Aragon very much, but in opposing Henry VIII wishes, so radically like she did, she caused more problems than solutions. Pope Clement VII tried some type of compromise, but she was undeterred! A very magnificent woman she was, and could have changed all the bad situation by being just as wise and sagacious as Anne of Cleves was.

[@ennykraft]

This video is rubbish. Left out loads of facts and used the stupid footage of The Tudors.

[@marksaxby607]

@@cplmpcocptcl6306 Are you a time traveller? How can you know what she actually looked like? She was probably an averagely good looking woman, I doubt Henry's dislike of her was solely about her appearance as this video says.

[@eh1702]

It’s astonishing that he effectively divorced her yet still kept her at court!

[@helpmaboabb]

She was reinvented as the "King's Royal Sister".

[@eh1702]

@@helpmaboabb 🤯

[@irtnyc]

​@@helpmaboabb She suggested that in her "I give up" letter, which was probably drafted for her by Thos Cromwell. He had seen this movie before.

[@naomistarlight6178]

I feel like politically he had to, it was a way to ditch the marriage but keep the important allies that came with it.

[@pm7684]

Wife and then sister. Weird

[@nerfatari4289]

That was just his opinion. She was the shrewdest of his wives obtaining a divorce, property, she made friends with Mary and Elizabeth and kept a favourable place at court as the kings sister. Well done her.

[@neekerbreeker]

I like the use of "severance package"! Anne did well for herself to survive Henry and not have to go back home blamed for not pleasing a vain, capricious man.

[@gpm8570]

It was certainly a better deal than the "severance package" Henry's next wife got!

[@rickjensen2717]

Ann was a royal princess - he could never have had her killed without a war breaking out.

[@causewaykayak]

@@rickjensen2717 Had earlier been same with Spain. At least Henry did the break with Rome so points for that. Also made axes popular. 🪓😂

[@bruno-bnvm]

​@@causewaykayakWhy would he get points for breaking with Rome. The Pope was right look what giving in to his adulterer tendency did to him and the womans he engaged with.

[@christinedomingue1319]

right?!

[@tammystiletto]

This! It makes so much more sense than “she was smart!” I’m sure she was but I’m sure it was because he didn’t want to break the alliance 😳

[@causewaykayak]

@@bruno-bnvm He gets points because we give them to him. He was the one who made it so all sovereignty in England lay with the state and not some foreign priest. Other tyrants including the papacy killed far more people and far more cruelly than Good King Hal.

[@craiglongan]

Henry is the perfect example of how power and wealth can corrupt a person, and that person's morals.

[@lulabellegnostic8402]

Anne is the only wife of Henry 8 buried in Westminster Abbey. Henry was interred in a small side crypt with Jane under St George’s chapel in Windsor. He had planned a magnificent tomb for himself made by Italian craftsmen, but it was never finished. Labourers working in the crypt in the 19th century knocked down the wall and found not only their coffins, but that of Charles 1 as well. Anne and Catherine Howard were buried under the floor of the Tower chapel, St Peter Ad Vincula. Catherine of Aragon was buried under the floor by the transept of Peterborough Cathedral. Her supporters still leave pomegranites there. Mary Queen of Scots was buried on the other side originally, but moved to Westminster abbey by her son, James 6& 1. Katherine Parr was buried in the chapel of Sudely Castle, but her tomb was destroyed in the English Civil war. Henry 8’s lavish tomb was finished and used for the internment of Admiral Lord Nelson in the Abbey.

[@deborahchasteen3206]

Hell with Nelson.

[@oliverpearson1577]

Thank the Lord for Wikipedia.

[@Back-handedLuck-ul7ms]

I knew Anne was in Westminster, but not the rest. Thx!

[@mrsmum3-6]

Recently visited Sudely Castle, poor Catherine Parr. The things they did to her dead body. 😢

[@christiandavid3794]

The woman was clearly far more savvy than her peers. I believe it is far more likely that Anne was able to manipulate the narcissistic king to her will.

[@aimeeinkling]

Holbein wasn't prone to lying in his portraits. She was as he painted her. Henry obviously started the "ugly" lie because she rejected them when they first met.

[@feeberizer]

Anne didn't just embarrass Henry, she humiliated him, thus his wrath.

[@natie3322]

Heard he burst in on Catherine of Aragon in a similar way before their Marriage and he was happy with her response. Of course she knew him and saw through his disguise. He was trying to recreate his teenage adventure.

[@mnm2156]

he should have just stayed with Catherine of Aragorn 😑 ugh

[@1nsytegames42]

Recreating an adventure with another woman is selfish and insulting. Make a new memory with a new partner in a way that is unique to that relationship… But had he had that kind of emotional maturity he wouldn’t have been looking in the first place. His petulance came with pestilence.

[@Mintster1]

I like how he says Henry’s ‘stomach dropped’ when he saw Anne…seems like it might have already dropped. Right over his belt.

[@thalmoragent9344]

Henry VIII is such a far cry from the man his father was, it's insane. He had one wife, and mourned her death with heavy grief

[@bethwilliams4903]

His father was nothing virtuous either, the murder of a young man he kept in solitary confinement from the time he was 10 years old until he had him executed at 24 was premeditated and coldblooded and stained his vaunted 'reputation' that when he wanted to gain custody of this same young man's cousin, (yet another cousin to his wife,) this was denied as it was understood Henry VII would immediately kill the young man - so, oaths and 'promises' were made, hand over the young man, I will only imprison him (for life), really. He kept that promise, with instructions to his darling son to kill Edmund as soon as he could once HE became king - something that did indeed come to pass, although Edmund's confinement under Henry VII included torture, deprivation and the usual abuse his 'dynasty' for which they were infamous. The Tower itself, a royal refuge and residence for centuries became known as Bloody Tower because of this ever so refined and enlightened 'dynasty.'

[@hannahshmulsky7119]

@@bethwilliams4903 yeah, his father was a piece of shit too. The apple didn’t fall far.

[@elss8717]

He had no mistresses either.

[@PoshPilgrim1776]

@@bethwilliams4903 Was Henry VII a pedo?

[@PaulKnapper-cn5io]

@@thalmoragent9344 I wonder how things would have turned out if Richard the third had won at Bosworth ? And we had a Plantagenet King now 😳

[@naly202]

Henry: I couldn't quite do it, could i? Anne: Your Majesty, your secret's safe with me H: I'll tell them it was your fault A: Okaaayy.... H: I'll tell them you're too ugly A: If you wish... H: I'll divorce you... any questions? A: Can i still keep my head? H: Yup. A: Ok, then! H: What? You agree? Giving up just like that? No passionate arguments, no weeping, no hysterics? A: How could I disagree with such a wonderful, wise and handsome king? (Besides, I have a tremendous passion for staying alive) H: Well said, well said.... you know what? I quite like you, you're a good girl. A: Awww, thank you... But wait! You're still divorcing me, right? H: Yes, yes. A: Thank goodness. H: What was that? A: Nothing, nothing. ... H: Good girl. A (to herself): Smile and wave, girl, smile and wave! 😁

[@iangallager4091]

H. And will it be agreeable for me to come and play cards with you at some later date? oh yes and you will win every time!!

[@Cynthia-qo9wu]

@@iangallager4091😂🤣😂

[@Cynthia-qo9wu]

🤣😭🤣

[@vivdoolan6846]

Yes !!!

[@readthebookk]

That would have been an awesome episode of Drunk History 😂😅

[@CKe-Knights]

Henry THEE LAST person to call someone "ugly" when there was reports he was walking around the castle smelling like Death because of his boils and other Health issues. Anna's appearance saved her life more than she realized. Thats a real Queen !!!

[@annekokokong]

rightt im sure that “evil smell” was his sweaty boils and rotting leg stenchin up the room

[@frederickjohnsen4246]

Henry had everything. Kingdom, wealth, power. What he needed was some humility and a mirror the dude look like a bloated toad.

[@nettewilson5926]

To be fair the had brain damage that possibly caused an eating disorder and diabetes

[@keithwarrington2430]

What he needed was a male heir and that's what all this was about.

[@PrincessGold1]

He went through all that wealth and left a bankrupt.

[@rogerwilco2]

Henry sounds like an absolute madman from this story. And maybe also a narcissist, maybe a sociopath or psychopath.

[@88Eviltweety]

I think he may have had a twinge of Orange too...

[@esmeraldaweatherwaxe970]

you make him sound like the proto-type of an american president these days.. (minus the jibberjabber and the bingbangboing souds) ..makes me feel old to tell the grandchildren "once upon a time presidents were fine upstanding smart people, honourable too..'

[@TheChristianPsychopath]

It's a bad habit to try to stick psychological labels on moral corruption.

[@hannahshmulsky7119]

It’s easy to become a narcissist when you’re told you have the divining right to absolute power over an entire nation for most of your life. I’m sure the syphilis didn’t help.

[@fangletterman-ng2ro]

​@hannahshm. ulsky7119 Divine Right of absolute power. "Divining" is a verb, which means to use witchcraft/familiar spirits to tell the future

[@kashfiaislam9995]

Calling Anne of Cleves ugly is like calling King Henry VIII a good husband 🎭🩰🎨

[@lorraine8933]

Henry the Royal serial killer...glad she escaped his venereal infections to.

[@TOSTADAFRESCA]

Probably she did not.

[@davidboyle1193]

He saved from being catholics

[@RKoz98]

I’m thinking she was relieved when he didn’t want her! I would be !

[@snowangelnc]

"Hey babe! How about a kiss?" "Leave me alone, creep." "Oh yeah?? Well...well...WELL, YOU'RE UGLY!!!!!" Some things never change.

[@AnnetteMurphyger]

Henry VIII was no oil painting himself nor did he even smell nice.

[@MultiCappie]

He declined a lot after falling from his horse.

[@speak_your_truth.]

How do you know?

[@speak_your_truth.]

Do you think many smelled sweet back then?

[@ktipuss]

@@speak_your_truth. No physician at the time would dare say that Henry was smelly, but his reported medical history indicates that he probably was. He had acquired suppurating ulcers on his legs which would not heal, for one thing. He possibly had Scurvy, and likely Diabetes type 2.

[@Beruthiel45]

He had an ulcer on his leg from an accident that never healed, and it gave off a putrid odour. He was in constant pain and it's thought that the accident which caused him to be unconscious for a time, might have had long term effects on his behaviour. It was after that accident that he became such an obnoxious tyrant. Brain damage. Not excusing his behaviour at all, just considering the circumstances..

[@danielcharland1374]

As a player of Crusader Kings III, this set of historical relationship events sounds like a great set for enhanced mechanics revolving around coming up with justifications for your divorce while still maintaining the right amount of prestige and respect from your vassals.

[@frenchfriar]

To be fair, it wouldn't surprise me if his visit "in disguise" was a test she was supposed to fail: if she rejected his advances, she failed because she didnt recognize him, but if she had, she would have been "unfaithful to the King", and likely executed for it. I think he arranged the marriage only for political reasons, but wanted nothing to do with her from before meeting her. Add the percieved "insult" that she (purposely?) didnt see through his disguise, and its no wonder this famously petulant man wanted nothing to do with her.

[@stefaniebraun3319]

Rejecting him, like she did, made concocting an adultery claim so much harder. She even followed it up by demonstrating an astounding lack of knowledge and innocence to everybody, who would listen. She was very intelligent.

[@kateyare4708]

My thoughts exactly. Either Henry was off his rocker or he was testing her, and it was a test she could only fail.

[@zorglubmagnus455]

May Henry VIII rot in hell. What a monster.

[@PhilosophyOnTheNightbus]

He was so evil he started rotting way before he entered hell 😄

[@davidboyle1193]

He stopped us being scum catholics

[@hannahshmulsky7119]

@@davidboyle1193 and became his own special kind of scum? Gosh, what an upgrade

[@MopMop1234]

I think that Anne rejected him as a stranger because she was to marry the king, and she sounds like a smart prudent woman. Henry might've be embarrassed by the whole thing but realized later that Anne would never cheat or be unfeithful and he probably really respected that about her.

[@invisibleman4827]

"Henry VIII. He was a shit." Alan Partridge

[@gaiaiulia]

Alan Partridge was being kind, imo

[@kimberly9181]

She upheld her virtues as a princess of her time by rejecting a random page and was “punished” unjustly for it. She also had enough intelligence and EQ to survive in the court of a different country, much more successfully than the rest of his wives. Honestly, she just sounds like an amazing woman. Henry on the other hand, somehow swiped right on the medieval version of tinder and expected the girl to be his new soulmate. WTF?! Then was immature enough to take revenge, but had to prove his manhood by having someone testify in court he had two wet dreams a night 😂 please send help, i’m laughing too hard and can’t breath 😂😂😂

[@miaschu8175]

Instead of "punishment", I think she got a get out of jail free card, and collect £200 as you pass Go!

[@hannahshmulsky7119]

@@miaschu8175she didn’t quite get out of jail free, she was humiliated by an entire country, but after that whole mess died down she did well for herself. She was slandered and called ugly for behaving like a proper young lady who was betrothed to a king, what kind of psychopath punishes a woman for that? Oh right, Henry VIII. You can never win with a narcissist, ever.

[@GroundBeef_nl]

"You're not rejecting me, I'm rejecting you!" - Henry VIII

[@CriticalThinker798]

"Evil airs about her..." omg that's such a great line! I'm going to use that one.

[@markmode2568]

Henry 's injured leg.

[@genevarockeman9721]

"I WANT A DIVORCE!" ~ "Oh thank god." ~ "What’s that?" ~ "...I mean...oh nooo."

[@happygirl864]

That's a good one. She probably did think that. 😂😅😊

[@protect_trans_lives]

Henry was such sad excuse of a person. As someone else wrote in the comments: May he rot in hell.

[@kimcham9949]

Sounds like he was rotting on *earth* .

[@lukeskywalker2116]

She’s not bad looking. Even by modern standards, she is still reasonably pretty.

[@63mckenzie]

Henry was probably impotent due to type 2 diabetes. It maybe explains his violent outbursts and why his leg ulcer failed to heal.

[@gearoiddom]

Type II? Probably an achievement of sorts in the era before processed food😂

[@63mckenzie]

@@gearoiddom What? You think diseases only existed after they were given a name?

[@ChristineKelly1000]

@@gearoiddomsugar was available to the rich in England since the 11th century. The link below explains what Henry ate. Also the volume of food would have contributed to his obesity and therefore his diabetes.

[@vellathewench]

@@gearoiddom You think type 2 is only from processed food? You know there is such a thing called Google that can actually tell you the truth. Unless you like to remain ignorant I guess.

[@DrachenGothik666]

@@gearoiddom Type II diabetes existed back then. It's related to diet, & Henry's diet was likely heavy on the carbs (which turn to sugar in the body) as well as probably too much meat. Not to mention he simply just ate too much, period. Yeah, Type II shows up if you eat too much processed food, but it can also show up if you're sedentary (which Henry was, due to his leg ulcers), & if you eat too much.

[@laurieberry162]

Anne of Cleves wasn’t ugly. She looked better than Henry the VIII.

[@fabienneegerton8437]

I don’t believe anything reported by the men of the time. I think she could not hide her reaction when she met the fat, old, arrogant man, stinking of rotting infected flesh, and could not hide her disgust. His ego was bruised and the blame was passed to Anne, as is always the way throughout history. Germans at that time were far superior in hygiene, it must have been unbearable for her. You see Henry’s respect and guilt by how he treated her after the annulment - he gave her a fantastic income and Hever castle, as well as other properties to enjoy at her leisure. She is noted to have been a kind mistress to her staff, highly respected, and a stoic supporter of her adopted children. She’s not the “ugly” wife, she’s the smartest; she didn’t allow her father to reuse her as a political pawn after the failure of her marriage to Henry.

[@tashokukisune]

You really nailed it!!

[@arctain1]

You apparently are stuck in some kind of anti-men bias - thus, your opinion is less ingenious as it is boorish

[@netherdew]

@@arctain1 where did you get that?

[@arctain1]

@ - well, your first sentence where you deem “men of the time” to be unreliable reporters unable to be believed regarding anything. That’s boorish, anti-men tripe.

[@elithasim]

@@arctain1history has shown us repeatedly over and over again that the men have written the majority of history (so far) and have even manipulated it to favor their views. The church was the biggest issue back then. They controlled everyone and everything. Who were they most controlled by? Men. It’s not to say all men are dishonest or to be biased against them. Though you could remain unconvinced or at the least skeptical about a lot of the details written back then, as they were often written to “paint others in a different light”. Patriarchy ruled everything. Everywhere. Also, for as long as humans have existed, they have always been in competition with each other and very cynical of one another. These people were having incestuous relationships because they legitimately thought royalty, wealth and “gods choice” to rule could be passed down through blood. Do you really think they never once lied to make themselves look better?

[@keetahbrough]

She was too old.. therefore navigated her way with intelligence through his darkness.. with success. the scene where Cromwell is talking up her beauty while Henry is insulting her is too funny omg. Good thing she didn't take it personally.. and understood her assignment.

[@cplmpcocptcl6306]

Jane was 28. He reacted like a child because he was embarrassed she didn’t fall all over him when he surprised her in costume. When she first arrived.

[@lindamortimore-bc6zs]

This was the best thing to happen first having to sleep with him that would be disgusting and if he didn't get a son she would have lost her head

[@dorothywillis1]

@@cplmpcocptcl6306I agree! I think that was the root of the problem. Someone should have tipped her off about what was happening.

[@mikeg2924]

24 was too old? That *can't* be right. Guys don't bail like that unless there is something really weird going on with them.

[@judithstrachan9399]

@@mikeg2924: really weird? Hmmmm….

[@dklabratful]

They actually became good friends. They spent many a convivial evening together playing cards and he ensured she was generously taken care of, financially.

[@Mark3ABE]

It was, mainly, a political alliance, as Henry needed the support of Anne’s brother, an enthusiastic Protestant, as an ally against hostile Catholic Continental powers. This was, probably, the main reason why Anne was treated so generously following the annulment of the marriage.

[@micheleford4282]

i think it had nothing to do with looks he was used to outgoing women who fawned over him and she was reserved, quiet, and serious in nature she didnt know how to play cards or dance and the style wasnt what he was used to those frivolous past times were frown on in germany at the time. he was full of himself his leg stunk and she didnt like it. im glad she got her freedom.

[@Rhanyra]

She rejected him first, unknowingly. So to save face he told everyone that SHE was ugly.

[@kalinaphillips9779]

Anne of Cleves was given a property in Dartford, Kent in England. The coach house of her house still exists.

[@Mrrossj01]

Henry was a monster.

[@SD-fn2oe]

Henry telling the artist to paint the sisters to know what they looked like, is the medieval version of stalking on instagram

[@JosévanBavel]

Not stalking. It's no different to people wanting an accurate photo or online image before choosing to meet today.

[@jtf2dan]

considering how long he courted and pursued her...kind of hard to believe he would marry her if he thought she was ugly.....

[@sebbya8328]

For someone who had the body and face of King Henry the eighth he was lucky he was king or he wouldn’t had anybody

[@marchandtpinkney5085]

I agree he was not attractive at all.

[@powerpointpaladin6911]

You're looking at the portraits of him after he got old and fat. My understanding is that as a younger man, Henry was tall, handsome and athletic. Think of Elvis Presley, young and then old. Or maybe DJT.

[@richardmartinez4145]

​@powerpointpaladin6911 DJT? Oh yeah, your president.

[@annasolovyeva1013]

​@@powerpointpaladin6911 typical injured ex-athlete problems, not being able to move anymore, still eating a lot, (and doctors of the Tim advice so for male reproductive health), and hating yourself and everything

[@sebbya8328]

@@richardmartinez4145 hahaha

[@slantedglasses7242]

Apparently being a literal king doesn't stop one from being utterly insecure

[@AnnetteMurphyger]

Henry VIII didn't smell too good himself.

[@janicem9225]

If you've ever seen recreations done from her portraits, she was not ugly, but rather pretty. Not gorgeous by any means, but pretty. And about Henry. She even told some of her maids, and several ambassadors that his leg smelled horrible, as did he. She was disgusted by him, and he realized that the first time they met. And it was rumors by her enemies that she wanted to get back with him. She was quite satisfied to have escaped him.

[@angelabarry3789]

I doubt Anne of Cleves wanted to remarry him. She knew she was lucky when he wanted an annulment and she got to escape his grossness

[@GravesRWFiA]

she's my favorites of his wives, clearly the smartest of the lot, she accepted the divorce without a fuss, got a nice settlement out of it and lived her days in comfort, a friend of the king and supporter of his daughter elizabeth.

[@billymcnomates7764]

She must have been very clever with her relationships, sounds like she would have been a fine queen and politician.