She was the daughter of the ruler of
a German principality and was born in Dusseldorf in 1515. The world of Christendom was beginning to split apart - with
various reformers trying to fight against the abuses and problems in the Church,
and in some cases splitting away from it.
Anne’s father supported moderate reform which put him at odds with the
Emperor Charles V... Her sister Sybilla
was married to the Elector of Saxony who was the head of the military alliance
of Lutheran rulers. Anne’s brother William
became a Lutheran but most of the family were still Catholics, including
Anne. Her mother the Duchess Maria was a
strong Catholic.
Henry VIII was urged by his minister
Cromwell to seek an alliance with a German princess… and negotiations began to
marry him to either Anne or her sister Amalie.
Henry having twice married English
gentlewomen for love was by now keen to remarry and sent a painter, Hans
Holbein, to produce portraits of the 2 sisters so he could choose a wife.
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