<b>(September 22, 1515 (?) - July 16, 1557) Married Henry VIII of England on January 6, 1540 Divorced July 1540 </b>

Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's beloved third wife, had died. France and the Holy Roman Empire were forging an alliance. Though Jane Seymour had given birth to a son, Henry knew that he needed more sons to ensure the succession. His attention turned towards a small German state, Cleves, which might prove a solid Protestant ally. Henry sent his court painter Hans Holbein to paint the portraits of the princesses Anne and Amelia. Henry selected Anne as his next wife.

Soon after the wedding, if not before, Henry was looking once again for a divorce. He was attracted to Catherine Howard, the political basis for the match was no longer as strong a motivation since France and the Holy Roman Empire were no longer allies, and he found Anne both uncultured and unattractive -- he is said to have called her "Mare of Flanders."

Anne, fully aware of Henry's marital history, cooperated in an annulment, and retired from court with the title "King's Sister." Henry gave her Hever Castle, where he had wooed Anne Boleyn, as her home.

She befriended Henry's children, riding in the coronation of Mary with Elizabeth. Her position and fortune made her a powerful independent woman, though there was little opportunity to exercise such power in any public sphere.

<p><small>Copied from <a href="http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_list.htm">http://womenshistory.about.com</a></small></p>;