On 27th December 1539, at 5pm, Anne of Cleves (or Anna von Jülich-Kleve-Berg as she was actually known in her home country) landed at Deal in Kent in preparation for her forthcoming marriage to King Henry VIII. She was met by Sir Thomas Cheyne and taken to Deal Castle to rest after her long journey.
Anne had arrived at Calais, having travelled from Düsseldorf, on 11th December 1539 “at the head of a glittering retinue comprising 263 attendants with 228 horses.”1 Strong winds had delayed her departure from Calais, but Anne and her party had finally left the port on the morning of 27th December.
You can read more about Anne’s arrival, and subsequent events, in my previous article Anne of Cleves Arrives in England and you can read more about the marriage treaty in my article 4 September 1539 – The Duke of Cleves Promises Anne of Cleves in Marriage to Henry VIII.
Here are links to other articles on Anne of Cleves:
- Anne of Cleves – Flanders Mare?
- Anna, Tochter von Kleve
- November 1541 – Anne of Cleves Rumoured to Have Given Birth to the King’s Son
- Birth of Anne of Cleves
- Henry VIII marries Anne of Cleves
- Henry VIII divorces Anne of Cleves
- Death of Anne of Cleves
Notes and Sources
Image: Deal Castle, © Copyright Cameraman and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
- Hutchinson, Robert (2012) Thomas Cromwell: The Rise And Fall Of Henry VIII’s Most Notorious Minister, Chapter 10.
