What is a Flanders mare?

1A mare of a Flemish breed, typically strong and of large stature, and often used to pull coaches. 2 derogatory A tall or strongly built woman (usually with the implication of unattractiveness); specifically (a nickname for) Anne of Cleves (1515–57), the fourth wife of Henry VIII.

Who was nicknamed the Flanders mare?

Anne became known as the ‘Flanders Mare’ only much later in the 17th century. Henry preferred to select his own wife and court them directly. Once the political motivation for marrying Anne had receded Henry began to look for reasons not to marry her. Her unattractiveness became one of them.

Why was Anne of Cleves known as Flanders mare?

Anne was the fourth of Henry’s six wives, sent over from Germany after he saw a flattering portrait by Holbein. On arrival, he called her the ‘Flanders Mare’. They divorced six months after marrying in 1540. He married twice more while she remained in England and was given a generous settlement.

Which wives did Henry VIII call a horse?

Anne of Cleves the Flanders Mare Although Anne of Cleves has gone down in history as the Flanders Mare, the wife who was ugly and looked like a horse, it is only Henry VIII who seems to have considered her ugly.

Which wife brought his children Mary and Elizabeth back to court?

All three of Henry VIII’s legitimate children – Mary, Elizabeth and Edward – became queens or kings of England. They played an important role in both British history and the history of the royal palaces.

What nationality was Anne of Cleves?

EnglishAnne of Cleves / Nationality

Which of his queens did Henry VIII refer to as his Flanders mare ‘?

Flanders Mare a nickname of Anne of Cleves (1515–57), fourth wife of Henry VIII, whom the king divorced; according to Smollett’s A Complete History of England (3rd ed., 1759), ‘The King found her so different from her picture…that…he swore they had brought him a Flanders mare. ‘

Did Anna of Kleve have a child?

Although nearly all modern historians state categorically that Anna had not borne a child, the possibility remains that she had, although it was surely not the King’s. Her movements after the early spring are not documented, and she seems to have spent the year living quietly in the country.

What is a Flanders Mare?

Flanders mare. noun. 1A mare of a Flemish breed, typically strong and of large stature, and often used to pull coaches. 2derogatory A tall or strongly built woman (usually with the implication of unattractiveness); specifically (a nickname for) Anne of Cleves (1515–57), the fourth wife of Henry VIII.

Who was Anne of Cleves – Flanders Mare?

– The Anne Boleyn Files Anne of Cleves – Flanders Mare? Anne of Cleves seems to have gone down in history as the ugly one, the Flanders Mare who Henry found so unattractive that he just couldn’t bring himself to consummate their union, but what other opinions, labels, myths and stereotypes are there out there about Henry VIII’s fourth wife:-

Did Henry VIII bring a Flanders mare to Anne Boleyn?

Gilbert Burnet, Bishop of Salisbury, wrote in his 1679 book that Henry “swore they had brought over a Flanders mare to him”, but that is him saying that Henry VIII uttered those words and it is not backed up by evidence. Anne was not from Flanders anyway, something that Henry VIII was well aware of.

Where is Flanders located?

Flanders shares its borders with Wallonia in the south, Brussels being an enclave within the Flemish Region. The rest of the border is shared with the Netherlands ( Zeelandic Flanders in Zeeland, North Brabant and Limburg) in the north and east, and with France ( French Flanders in Hauts-de-France) and the North Sea in the west.

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