Anne of Cleves

One of the most deliciously scandalous stories about Anne of Cleves claims that after her failed marriage to Henry VIII, she hung Hans Holbein’s famous portrait of herself in her castle—just to mock the king who had rejected her. It’s a tale that feels perfectly suited to Tudor drama: quiet revenge, sharp wit, and a … Read more

Henry VIII famously dismissed Anne of Cleves as a “Flanders mare.” Their marriage, arranged for political gain, was a disaster from the start—and it was never even consummated. For most women who failed to please Henry, that alone could be a death sentence. Anne, however, understood something far more important than romance: survival. Brought to … Read more