After the death of his third wife, Jane Seymour, King Henry VIII mourned for two years before remarrying. When he was ready to seek out a fourth bride, he dispatched the painter, Hans Holbien to the German court to paint Anne of Cleves and her sister Amelia. Henry was quite taken with Anne's portrait, and the match was considered politically favorable. He met Anne's arrival at riverside, but after the first night, it is said Henry emerged from their sleeping quarters and pronounced, "I like her not". Popular culture has it that Henry found her unattractive, calling her a "Flander's Mare". She is thought to have been plumper than his previous wives. But other historians suggest there are better possible reasons for the mismatch. Anne was ill-prepared for the English court. She was raised with a concentration in domestic skills, and was uneducated in the music and literature so popular in Henry's court. In addition, she may have herself been repulsed by Henry. By this time he weighed over 300lbs, and had a foul-smelling wound on his leg that wouldn't heal. It has been suggested that she made him dislike her in order to get out of the match. It was also around this time that political tensions made the alliance with Germany less desirable. After 6 months, Anne agreed to an annulment. The two parted amicably, and are even said to have become friends. Henry called her "The King's sister", and Anne later attended the coronation of his first daughter Mary. Henry gave Anne of Cleves the estate of Hever, formerly the home of Anne Boleyn. Anne of Cleves outlived all of Henry's other wives.
I'm taking a very short break from making the Tudor wives, in order to finish a piece for the show in Sydney, but more toys are coming soon!
lol. aw, poor Anne of Cleves looks a bit grumpy and frazzeled like the ugly kid on the playground...but it somehow makes her more endearing as well. i simply love the historical snippet you included in well. I am certainly learning much more through knitting than just how to manipulate stitches :).
Posted by: Miki | September 08, 2008 at 09:43 PM
I love her, she is so ugly she's cute. I am so impressed by these dolls.
Posted by: Erin | September 08, 2008 at 10:04 PM
I can't tell you how much I've been enjoying each new character.
I'm eager to see poor young Catherine Howard.
Posted by: Catherine | September 09, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Love her! Her eyebrows and hair are great. This is such a fun series.
Posted by: Kathleen | September 09, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Cheerleader! So-And-So! What's-Her-Face!
And...
The Ugly One!!!!
http://www.hrwiki.org/index.php/The_Ugly_One
Posted by: mjflute | September 09, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Another fantastic achievement, so loving your dolls! When you finish the set, you should make a coffee table story book with them all. I'd have to have it!!!
Posted by: Fresh Tea | September 10, 2008 at 02:25 AM
Wonder upon finding they weren't compatible, how she managed to keep her head and get a place to live in afterwards???
Great work by the way...awesome!
Good luck with Knitty....between now and Xmas is a longggg time.
Posted by: Faye | September 10, 2008 at 10:59 PM
ohhhh, she's awesome and pouty!
Posted by: karen | September 14, 2008 at 02:34 AM