Claire | January 6, 2017
Today, 6th January, is Epiphany, the feast day celebrating the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, and a day which brought the Twelve Days of Christmas to a close in medieval and Tudor England. Epiphany at the royal court was celebrated with feasting and pageantry, and you can find out all about it […]
Claire | January 6, 2015
On 6th January 1540, the Feast of the Epiphany, Henry VIII married his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, in the Queen’s Closet at Greenwich Palace. Henry’s third wife, Jane Seymour, had died in October 1537 leaving the King grief-stricken and unable to think of remarrying for some time. Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief adviser, was […]
Claire | July 9, 2014
On 9th July 1540, Convocation declared that the marriage between Henry VIII and his fourth wife Anne of Cleves was null and void: “After mature deliberation, they have found the marriage null by reason of a precontract between lady Anne and the marquis of Lorraine, that it was unwillingly entered into and never consummated, and […]
Claire | January 6, 2014
On Epiphany, Tuesday 6th January 1540, a reluctant Henry VIII married Anne of Cleves, or Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg, in the Queen’s Closet at Greenwich Palace. The bride was completely unaware of the fact that her groom had been trying his utmost to get out of the marriage, and that was why the wedding had been […]
