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

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@Yuri.Mihaila]

Henry Tudor was Henry 7

[@ShieldWife]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😅

[@Junkinsally]

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

[@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.

[@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 😄

[@cocoaswann2095]

comparing his and her portraits, methinks he was projecting.

[@MariaAri-g2k]

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

[@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 !!!

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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...

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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''

[@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 !

[@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!!!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@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.

[@DA-bp8lf]

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]

@@DA-bp8lf 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. .

[@jacquelinezr]

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.

[@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’

[@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.

[@markuhler2664]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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✌🏼😍

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@Mrrossj01]

Henry was a monster.

[@feeberizer]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@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

[@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 and 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".

[@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.

[@snowangelnc]

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

[@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. 😂😅😊

[@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..

[@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….

[@kalinaphillips9779]

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

[@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.

[@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 !!!

[@invisibleman4827]

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

[@gaiaiulia]

Alan Partridge was being kind, imo

[@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?

[@lukeskywalker2116]

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

[@tommyatkins2446]

Great video, really enjoyed the story behind her. I loved this period at school. Still remember the rhyme....Divorced Beheaded Died, Divorced Beheaded Survived thanks to an amazing History teacher.

[@cindyhaduik7171]

I remember the rhyme also

[@JosévanBavel]

Correction to my earlier 'correction': it was actually Annulled Beheaded Died Annulled Beheaded Survived but still a fun mnemonic.

[@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.

[@msoda8516]

Having seen the portraits of Cleves sisters I have no doubt she was attractive. I believe the reason for the failure of the marriage was Henry caused by his fragile, ego, and most likely has an ability to consummate the marriage.

[@julijakeit]

yes, Henry VIII seems like a narcissist on steroids.

[@myentertainment55]

Hm, she looked nothing like a portrait, isn't was a reason why Henry wanted to stop the marrieage.

[@brianleffingwell1060]

You mean inability

[@esmeraldaweatherwaxe970]

and the stench...

[@maggieb9597]

@@julijakeit simply a brat.

[@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.

[@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.

[@billymcnomates7764]

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

[@JeffCarrozzo]

Like Henry is a real prize !!!!!!!

[@JanBadinski]

Ikr, he was a royal jerk.

[@alicewilloughby4318]

@@JanBadinski Was he any worse than most kings of his time?

[@jodiz5901]

He's never done anything for me either!

[@lilymarinovic1644]

​@alicewilloughby4318 well, with his bad track record with his previous marriages, plus being on the outs with the Pope and other major European rulers, it was quite difficult to find a foreign princess who would marry him. One proposed bride outright said she would only marry him if she had two heads!no one would have given any other ruler such a sick burn.

[@lisanidog8178]

The King isn’t exactly model material himself. But his thinking that she’s ugly or in modern terms being plain, hasn’t changed in centuries where men seem to think they’re judges of beauty when they’re not exactly getting paid millions a day for their looks. Looks fade, good personalities don’t regardless of gender.

[@ChaplainChristineMercy]

That was such an interesting and well researched/produced film, thank you.

[@jtf2dan]

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

[@fionaoliver7237]

If you ask me, Henry the VIII was a nasty piece of work.

[@BSdetected]

Great story… i have often wondered ( but been too lazy to search) what had happened to Anne, post divorce. I had just assumed shed gone home… but to be richly endowed and named second woman of England… thats rather incredible (esp given his predilection towards executions)… thanks

[@lilymarinovic1644]

Third or fourth woman at least - after his other wives and Mary, and possibly Elizabeth as well.

[@BSdetected]

@ both Mary and Elizabeth lived lives of fear. And his other wives were all dead, excepting Parr and cleaves.

[@seanfinlay6822]

She had a house near me in Lewes, East Sussex.

[@annmcclure8378]

So, he couldn't get it up, and hated her for it. He's got a special place in hell, I'm sure.

[@tbird-z1r]

No. He got away with whatever he wanted because he's a royal. Like Prince Andrew.

[@Maya-bu2rf]

She was smarter than him. A real sin at that time. He saw that she was taken care of which was probably part of the annulment, but he could have stopped paying anytime. The question is why didn't he?

[@selina5598]

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

[@hunnyflash]

I love footage from The Tudors! Joss was such a great Anne of Cleves. She's always the picture of her in my mind.

[@jujubees5855]

The stinky one was H8 from the ulcers on his legs. The stink was so bad you could smell him coming. Plus he was old and fat at that point. I imagine poor Anne washed disappointed. The clever survivors are much more interesting than the 304's Martyr.

[@markmode2568]

Henry's injured leg stank.

[@donufro]

Anne of Cleves definitely made out the best out of all of them. Catherine Parr lived but she had to marry a tyrannical walrus with gout for four years. Anne didn't have to bother with any of it.

[@esmeraldaweatherwaxe970]

it's the poor Howard girl I always felt sorry for..

[@trenae77]

Best thing the Tudors did was casting Joss Stone as Anne of Cleves. She was the perfect fit. Attractive, but not someone you would call 'beautiful'. She pulled the reserved air off perfectly and was a bright spot in the series for me.

[@johnandert1611]

I think Joss Stone is gorgeous.

[@markmode2568]

The actress is a beautiful lady.

[@MissKittyKatify]

What’s the expression again… it’s the one who smelled it that dealt it 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@elvinjonas5451]

Excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@kashfiaislam9995]

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

[@christinedu5211]

Exactly!! As Henry VIII could not blame Anne of Cleves for her reaction to his unexpected visit and the fact that they had not been mutually introduced before (which is a completely understandable and expected reaction for a duke's daughter and betrothed to a king), he could not blame her for her honest and spontaneous reaction. To quote a dialogue from the famous TV series, she reacted with candor and honesty. Added to this, the geopolitical situation of the time, so Henry VIII could not even consider questioning the political alliance with the Cleves family. Anne of Cleves must have been the only fiancée from a foreign country "available". As proof, the following wives are of the British nobility and therefore "local".

[@barbarapaige4587]

There were very few - most of European royalty was Catholic, and he had to find a Protestant, which because the Reformation was still new, were few and far between.

[@nannettepolcastro4799]

He could have chosen her sister

[@christinedu5211]

@@nannettepolcastro4799 She reject him when he has allready made his choice and all the document was written with Anne's name. First, he choose between the 2 sister. Then the chosen one made the travel from Cleves. At one step place before the official meeting, he get to meet her. That is at this place, when she have no clue who he is (he wear "normal" not king clothes), she refused to speak with someone don't introduce himself... And he can't write back to Anne's brother " I change my mind. I prefer Amalia. Could she made the travel ?!". When you heard that the 2nd wife has been beheaded for "relationship with other men", you extend your safe zone regarding men... When a king name a fiancée, that is liked set in stone. Anne of Cleves and Henry VIII 's meeting are totally different (time and organisation) than Hélène of Wittelsbach ( or "Sissi"'s elder sister) and François-Joseph I...

[@AnnetteMurphyger]

Henry VIII didn't smell too good himself.

[@maggiematthews3517]

If I may offer a small correction here ... Henry VIII did not divorce Catherine of Aragon, he had the marriage annulled , which means that they were never married at all. It follows that you can't divorce someone to whom you were never married.

[@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.

[@llamos]

Not sure why depictions of Henry don't depict him as the serial killer of women he was. And he styled himself as the god-ordained leader of his Church of England.

[@MissKittyKatify]

True. Maybe because he didn’t do the killing himself. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[@horza4530]

Great video. Your contention that Henry - "Despised Catholicism and the Pope" though is spurious. Henry was and remained a Catholic. He never became a Protestant. He believed in Transubstantiation and preferred the Latin mass etc.. That he rejected the Catholic Pope's control over him is not the same as a rejection of the tenets of the Catholic faith itself on his part.

[@peteralflat281]

Correct.

[@YenneY01]

Henry was not catholic. He started the Church of England. He sacked .monasteries. confiscated church land.

[@NN-bk5bb]

He killed St John Fisher

[@horza4530]

@@NN-bk5bb He did. He had his head cut off and put on a spike. St John Fisher had argued that Henry didn't have the right to divorce Catherine of Aragon, and so also didn't have the right to marry Anne Boleyn. It was only a matter of time before Henry would find a way to get rid of him. My point was not that Henry was a good or a bad man or even a good Catholic. He was obviously a tyrant and a fairly despicable individual by any measure. The only issue I have is with the statement that he - "Despised Catholicism", when everything we know about him says that he continued to observe his faith as a Catholic even after his split with Rome.

[@NN-bk5bb]

@ and that is irrelevant because when he left Rome he excommunicated himself

[@Back-handedLuck-ul7ms]

I think I read something that Christina of Denmark( I think it was. She was supposedly very beautiful) said she wasn't interested in Henry because she didn't have two heads. Not saying it right, but it was a great line if it was true.

[@alisonwilson9749]

Holbein's picture of her is one of his best.

[@esmeraldaweatherwaxe970]

the line was :' if I had 2 heads, one of them would be his, but since I do not, alas I can not accept his proposal'..

[@maryfreebed9886]

How could he even smell her over his own leg ulcer?

[@MiskaKopperoinen]

The sense of smell is an adaptive one, and specializes to changes in environment. Henry (presumably) remained in relatively close proximity to his legs most of the time and would've hence had the chance to acclimatize himself to the smell. Moreover, the chemosensory receptors that actually register the smells are specialized. Even if the ulcer's stench blocked off all bandwith on the sensors that could register it, there would've still been others that simply detected different chemicals than what cause the smell of the ulcer.

[@aaabbb8812]

That is exactly what I said in the comments. He may have even made her retch or vomit on their wedding night, he was THAT disgusting.

[@maryfreebed9886]

@@aaabbb8812 That would be only one of two reasons I could think of why Henry VIII would make someone vomit. The other one of course would be abject terror, comparable to having discovered a large and suspicious mole that also happens to be growing rapidly, and for similar reasons.

[@esmeraldaweatherwaxe970]

malignant narissists often like to echo whatever insults they have endured, not comprehending that insults have to make sense for them to hurt.. think about trump, laughing about some dude, saying he uses too much make up, or sneering at people for having small hands or being 'low energy', or calling others 'losers'.. all of those things apply to him.

[@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.

[@dna9838]

1:39 flipping us all off for posterity