Children of the House of Cleves: Anna and Her Siblings

The first book to look at the lives of Anna of Cleves' siblings, particularly her powerful brother Wilhelm V and her elder sister Sybylla, and their interactions with the Holy Roman Empire, England, and France, which had a significant impact on the Reformation.

Children of the House of Cleves describes and analyzes the lives of Sybylla, Anna, Wilhelm and Amalia, the children of John III, Duke of Cleves.

Though his mother Maria was a staunch Catholic, Wilhelm of Jülich-Cleves-Berge was a Lutheran - when it suited him. He challenged the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V over the strategically important Duchy of Guelders. He believed that France would support him, but Francis I left him defenseless and Guelders became part of the Habsburg Netherlands. Sybylla became the Electress consort by marriage to electoral Prince Johann Friedrich of Saxony. He would be captured during the Schmalkaldic War, and Sybylla defended the city of Wittenberg under siege during his absence.

Both she and her husband were passionate supporters of the Reformation. Amalia was considered as a possible bride for Henry VIII before he chose her sister Anna. She was a great lover of music and poetry and author of a song book. These four children had an illustrious lineage - descended from both the kings of England and France and closely related to Louis XII and the Duke of Burgundy. Their various trials and triumphs illuminate the convulsions of 16th-century Continental and Tudor politics and the spiritual and civic revolution that was the Reformation. It began in the German states and these four lives were intimately involved in it.

Based upon primary documentary sources, Children of the House of Cleves explains what motivated or caused some of the largest wars on Continental Europe in the run-up to the 30 Years' War in Germany, a time of massive religious and political strife.

Author: Heather R. Darsie
Publisher: Amberley Publishing
Published: 09/12/2023
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781445699424

About the Author
Heather R. Darsie works as an attorney in the US. Along with her Juris Doctorate she has a BA in German, which was of great value in her research. She is currently studying for her Master's in Early Modern History through Northern Illinois University. She runs the website MaidensAndManuscripts.com and regularly contributes to QueenAnneBoleyn.com and TudorsDynasty.com. She is the author of Anna, Duchess of Cleves.