Anne of Cleves was the fourth wife of English King Henry VIII and was consequently Queen of England from January 6 to July 9, 1540. She was born into a German aristocratic family that, although opposed to Papal authority, was not Protestant. Her father, John III, was the Duke of Jülich, Cleves, and Berg. Unlike Henry VIII’s previous wives, Anne of Cleves did not possess the acumen or charm of clever women; she was a young lady from the Rhineland with limited knowledge of English. Her marriage was arranged with a political alliance in mind. Her brother, the Duke of Cleves, was a leader of the Protestants in Western Germany. King Henry VIII’s minister, Thomas Cromwell, believed that this alliance was necessary due to the threat posed by powerful Roman Catholic factions. Her marriage to King Henry VIII was solemnized on January 6, 1540. However, Henry was dissatisfied with Anne, deeming her unattractive and naïve. When the political motives behind the marriage did not materialize, the marriage was annulled in July 1540. Referring to her as the King’s Beloved Sister, Anne was given a generous income and remained in England until her death.