Did Henry VIII Almost Take Anne of Cleves Back?
About this episode
This episode explores the reasons behind the rumors of Henry VIII remarrying Anne of Cleves after Catherine Howard's downfall.
Why did so many people believe Henry VIII would remarry Anne of Cleves after Catherine Howard's fall? While researching my forthcoming event, The Rise and Fall of Catherine Howard, I noticed something fascinating. Anne of Cleves kept appearing in the primary sources surrounding Catherine Howard's downfall. By the end of 1541, Catherine Howard's marriage to Henry VIII was collapsing, and rumours spread rapidly across England and Europe that Henry would take Anne of Cleves back as his wife.Anne's own brother instructed his ambassador to seek a reconciliation. The King's Council investigated extraordinary rumours that Anne had secretly given birth to Henry VIII's son. Foreign ambassadors reported widespread expectation that Anne would once again become Queen of England. But why did so many people believe this would happen? In this podcast, we examine the contemporary evidence, including ambassadorial reports, State Papers, Letters and Papers, and Cranmer's correspondence, to uncover why Anne of Cleves unexpectedly became central to the story of Catherine Howard's fall. If you enjoy evidence-based Tudor history, please like, subscribe and let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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