Anne of Cleves

As King Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves reigned as Queen of England from 6 January to 12 July 1540. Before 1527, when she was engaged to Francis, Duke of Bar, son and heir of Antoine, Duke of Lorraine, nothing is known about Anne; nonetheless, their marriage did not take place. Negotiations for Anne and Henry's union started in March 1539 because Henry thought he needed to join forces with her brother, William, who was the head of the Protestants in western Germany, politically in order to strengthen his position against potential attacks from Catholic France and the Holy Roman Empire.

After arriving in England on December 27 and wed Henry on January 6, 1540, the union was deemed to be unconsummated six months later, and Anne was not given the title of queen consort as a result. After the annulment, Henry generously settled with her, earning her the title of the King's Beloved Sister. She outlived the rest of Henry's wives by staying in England and seeing the coronation of Mary I as well as Edward VI's rule. On July 16, 1557, Anne perished at Chelsea Old Manor. Cancer was the most likely factor in her demise.