Anne of Cleves wasn't supposed to be the "lucky one." Most people remember her as the woman Henry VIII rejected because she didn't look like her portrait. He called her a "Flanders Mare," or so the story goes. But honestly, while her marriage lasted only six months, her life after Henry—and particularly the Anne of Cleves death in 1557—tells a much more interesting story of survival, wealth, and surprisingly high status.
She died at the age of 41. It was July 16, 1557. By then, she had outlived Henry VIII and every single one of his other wives. Think about that for a second. While Catherine of Aragon died in isolation, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard lost their heads, and Jane Seymour died in childbed, Anne of Cleves was living it up in her own palaces.
The Long Illness at Chelsea Manor
By the summer of 1557, Anne's health was failing. She was staying at Chelsea Old Manor, a gorgeous riverside property that had once belonged to Catherine Parr. Historians, including Lady Antonia Fraser, generally believe the cause of the Anne of Cleves death was some form of cancer. Contemporary records describe a "long sickness" that had been dogging her since the spring.
It wasn't a sudden, violent end. It was slow. She had time to get her affairs in order, which she did with the kind of pragmatism that defined her entire English residency. On July 11, she dictated her will.
She was incredibly wealthy. When Henry annulled their marriage, he gave her a massive settlement, including Hever Castle and Richmond Palace. She was the "King’s Beloved Sister." She didn't just sit around moping about being dumped. She owned land. She drank expensive wine. She was basically the ultimate Tudor divorcee.
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What her will tells us
Anne's will is a goldmine for anyone trying to understand her personality. She wasn't bitter. She left her best jewels to Queen Mary I and the future Elizabeth I. She remembered her servants. She even sent tokens back to her brother, the Duke of Cleves, in Germany.
She died a Catholic. This is a point people often miss. While her family back in Cleves had Protestant leanings, Anne adapted to the religious whims of the English court. Under Mary I, she fully embraced the "Old Religion." Her funeral reflected this, performed with all the incense, candles, and Latin chants of a traditional Catholic rite.
Why the Anne of Cleves Death was Unique
If you look at the other wives, their endings were messy. Anne of Cleves is the only one buried in Westminster Abbey. That's a huge deal. It’s the ultimate mark of respect in England.
Mary I, who actually liked Anne quite a bit, ordered a magnificent funeral. On August 3, 1557, a massive procession carried her body from Chelsea to the Abbey. We're talking hundreds of torches, heralds with white banners, and the highest-ranking nobles in the land.
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- Location: She lies on the south side of the High Altar.
- The Tomb: It’s a low stone structure, often overlooked by tourists today.
- The Symbols: Look closely and you’ll see carvings of lions' heads, skulls, and her initials "AC."
There’s a bit of a weird legend about her tomb, though. During the funeral, someone actually stole the gold cloth and banners from her hearse. Even in death, the Tudor court was a bit of a wild place. The tomb itself was never actually finished, which is why it looks a bit plain compared to the massive monuments nearby.
Was she actually "ugly"?
We have to talk about the "Flanders Mare" thing because it colors how we see her death. Most modern historians, like Elizabeth Norton and Tracy Borman, argue that the "ugly" label was just Henry's excuse. He was 48, overweight, and had a nasty ulcer on his leg. Anne was 24 and probably quite attractive in a German fashion.
The problem wasn't her face; it was the chemistry. They had none. Henry tried to "surprise" her by dressing as a commoner when they first met, and she—not knowing who this old man was—ignored him. He was humiliated. To save face, he blamed her looks.
Legacy of the Survivor
The Anne of Cleves death marked the end of an era. She was the last surviving wife of Henry VIII. She saw the rise and fall of Edward VI and was there for the coronation of Mary I. She lived through the most turbulent decades of the Tudor dynasty and came out the other side with her head, her money, and her dignity.
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She proved that you didn't have to be a "Titan" like Anne Boleyn to survive the Tudors. Sometimes, being "nice"—as historian Gareth Russell points out—is a survival strategy in itself. She was amiable. She was a princess. She knew when to fold her hand in the dangerous game of court politics.
If you ever find yourself in Westminster Abbey, don't just head for the big names. Take a right at the High Altar. Look for the low stone tomb with the "AC" initials. It’s the resting place of the woman who "lost" the King but won the long game.
Researching the Tudor Queens
To get the full picture of this era, you should look into the specific household accounts from Chelsea Manor during 1557. They show a woman who was deeply integrated into English society, far from the "discarded" foreigner many textbooks describe. You can also visit Hever Castle in Kent to see the portraiture and architecture she lived with daily. This physical history provides a much clearer window into her reality than the gossip of the 1540s ever could.
Actionable Insights:
To truly understand the legacy of Anne of Cleves, visit the Westminster Abbey sacrarium to see her tomb in person—it is the only one of Henry's wives located there. For a deeper historical dive, read "Anne of Cleves: Henry VIII's Discarded Bride" by Heather R. Darsie, which uses primary German sources to debunk the "ugly" myth once and for all.