The Marrying of Anne of Cleves
Royal Protocol in Early Modern England

A study of the marrying of Anne of Cleves to Henry VIII and of sexual court politics.

Retha M. Warnicke (Author)

9780521770378, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 13 April 2000

376 pages
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.5 cm, 0.72 kg

Review of the hardback: '… a fascinating study which sheds much needed … light on a murky period in our history.' Contemporary Review

This book is a study of the marrying of Anne of Cleves to King Henry VIII. It contains fascinating material - including 'demonic' interference and sexual politics at court - which differs greatly from the usual stereotyped accounts of Anne. It also provides a rich context of royal courtship rituals, and a startling account of the king's failure to consummate his marriage. Contrary to the standard view, Henry's marriage procedures, from the advent of negotiations and the portrait of Anne by Hans Holbein the Younger to Henry's Rochester greeting of Anne - in disguise - and the Greenwich nuptials, all followed usual royal protocol. But the king's sexual incapacity, which prevented the consummation of the marriage, culminated in the fall and subsequent execution of Thomas Cromwell and his client Lord Hungerford, who were both tarred with the brush of sexual heresy.

1. Introduction
2. English negotiators
3. Candidate pool
4. Cleves selection
5. Traveling bride
6. Royal greeter
7. Queen consort
8. King's scapegoat
9. Henry's sister
10. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700 [HBLH], British & Irish history [HBJD1]