Religious strife between Catholics and Protestants continues to swell in Europe. To try to balance the Catholic threat of France and Spain, Thomas Cromwell persuades King Henry into a political marriage with the sister of the Protestant German Duke of Cleves. Sadly, the artist Hans Holbein, assigned the task of painting the prospective bride, takes artistic liberties, and Henry is unpleasantly surprised when his bride arrives and is not the beauty portrayed in her portrait. Though alone in a foreign land, Anne is shrewd enough to negotiate a divorce from Henry, and remains in England, well cared for, as “the King’s sister.” Her success is not shared by Cromwell, however, who is executed for his role in arranging the disastrous marriage. Though not mentioned in the series, Anne of Cleves outlived all the other wives of Henry VIII..
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