Anne of Cleves (1515 – 16 July 1557) was queen consort of England from 6 January to 9 July 1540 as the fourth wife of King Henry VIII.

 

In March 1539, negotiations for Anne's marriage to Henry began, as Henry believed that he needed to form a political alliance with her brother, William, who was a leader of the Protestants of western Germany, to strengthen his position against potential attacks from Catholic France and the Holy Roman Empire.

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Anne arrived in England on 27 December 1539 and married Henry on 6 January 1540, but after six months, the marriage was declared unconsummated and, as a result, she was not crowned queen consort.

 

Following the annulment, Henry gave her a generous settlement, and she was thereafter known as the King's Beloved Sister. She lived to see the coronation of Queen Mary I, outliving Henry and the rest of his wives.