by Heather R. Darsie Tradition has held for the last couple hundred years or so that Anna of Cleves, fourth wife to Henry VIII of England, was born 22 September 1515. No proof has ever been put forward to support… Read More ›
Anna
Anna of Cleves Breaks the News to Wilhelm
by Heather R. Darsie On 21 July 1540, Anna of Cleves was no longer allowed to hide the truth from her brother Wilhelm about her marriage’s end. Henry had grown impatient waiting for Anna to write her family. Anna… Read More ›
Anna of Cleves Learns her Marriage is Annulled
by Heather R. Darsie On 9 July 1540 while she was at Richmond, Anna was told that her marriage to Henry VIII was unlawful. Her marriage annulled, Anna was no longer Queen Consort of England. “Anna reportedly wailed and screamed… Read More ›
Tudor Speeches: My New Podcast!
by Heather R. Darsie Greetings, Dear Reader! I am pleased to announce that I launched a podcast over on Patreon called Tudor Speeches! I hope to post the first podcast this weekend. I will provide historical background for speeches and letters… Read More ›
The Powerful African Songhai Empire during the Reign of Henry VIII of England
by Heather R. Darsie Personal note: This summer I am learning more about African history during the 16th century. The Songhai Empire existed in Western Africa in the late 15th to early 16th century. With a healthy grasp on trade,… Read More ›
Wilhelm V, Anna of Cleves’ Brother
by Heather R. Darsie Please note that this article originally appeared on Medieval Archives. Wilhelm was born on 28 July 1516, the third living child and only son of Maria of Jülich-Berg and Johann III of Cleves- Mark. He was a… Read More ›
Happy 504th Birthday, Anna of Cleves!
by Heather R. Darsie On this day of 28 June in 1515, a little baby girl was born in the Holy Roman Empire whose life would be dramatically shaped by international politics. The baby was christened, “Anna,” after her paternal… Read More ›
What was the Frauenzimmer?
by Heather R. Darsie Please note that this article originally appeared on Tudors Dynasty. In the 15th century, the word “vrouwenzimmer” slowly entered the German lexicon, becoming a fully-fledged concept by the late 15th to early 16th century. Literally meaning “woman’s… Read More ›
The First Hint of Trouble: An Early Spat Between the Johann II of Cleves and Elector Frederick of Saxony
by Heather R. Darsie This article first appeared on History, the Interesting Bits . Throughout the late 15th and early 16th century, various disputes over territory sprung up across the German-speaking portions of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1517, a new facet… Read More ›
Anna of Cleves’ Maternal Grandparents: Wilhelm IV and III of Jülich-Berg and Sibylle of Brandenburg
by Heather R. Darsie This article first appeared on Sarah Bryson’s website. In honor of Charles T. Reice, 1926-2019. Reice served in the US army during World War II, including landing on the beaches of Normandy. He is remembered as a loving… Read More ›
