Anna and the House of Cleves with Dr Heather Darsie

The Tudor Chest - The Podcast

Dr Heather Darsie is an American attorney and historian who specialises in German medieival and Tudor history. She has written extensively on the subject and has released two books, Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The Kings Beloved Sister and Children of the House of Cleves, Anna and her Siblings. She joins me today for a fascinating discussion about the Cleves family, including of course, it’s most famous member, Anna, the fourth wife of Henry VIII known to history as the ugly flanders mare, or was she? Heather’s incredible research has led her to many significant conclusions which entirely re-write the accepted reasons for the breakdown in the marriage between Henry VIII and Anna of Cleves, she is even firmly of the belief that their marriage was fully consummated and that ultimately the one person who is to blame for the breakdown of the couples relationship was neither party, but Anna’s brother, Duke Wilhelm of Julich-Cleves-Berge. Prepare to re-think everything you thought you knew about this fascinating family!