Anna of Cleves (1495–1567)
Anna of Cleves | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1495 |
| Died | 1567 |
| Noble family | House of La Marck by birth, House of Waldeck by marriage |
| Spouse(s) | Philip III, Count of Waldeck |
Anna of Cleves (1495-1567) was from 1524 to her husband's death in 1539 the Countess of Waldeck.
Life
[edit]Anna was born in 1495 to John II, Duke of Cleves and his wife, Matilda of Hesse.[1] She had two legitimate siblings, John and Adolf. Her father was known for allegedly having 63 illegitimate children.[2] From 1517-1519, Anna was imprisoned by her brother to stop her from marrying Philip III, Count of Waldeck. Anna would go on to marry him in 1519, having four children:
- Philip V (1519/20-1584)
- John I, Count of Waldeck-Landau (1521/22-1567)
- Catherine (1523/24-1583)
- Francis (1526-1574)
Philip died in 1539. She would outlive him by 28 years.
Anna's niece, Anne of Cleves, may have been named after her.[3]