John III, Duke of Cleves and Count of Mark (
German: Johann III der Friedfertige; 10 November 1490 – 6 February 1539), known as John the Peaceful, was the Lord of
Ravensberg, Count of
Mark, and founder of the
United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg.
John became ruler of the
United Duchies of Jülich-Cleves-Berg in 1521,[4] and Lord of
Ravensberg in 1528. John represented a compensatory attitude, which strove for a via media between the two confessions during the
Protestant Reformation.[5] In fact, the real influence at the court of Cleves was
Erasmus.[6] Many of his men were friends and followers of the Dutch scholar and theologian. In 1532 John wrote up a list of church regulations(Kirchenordnung), which expressed numerous ideas of Erasmus.[7]
John had an instinct for balance as was shown when he married his eldest daughter
Sybille to the elector of Saxony,
John Frederick. John Frederick would go on to later head the
Schmalkaldic League. In many ways, John of Cleves' court was ideal for raising a queen. It was fundamentally liberal, but serious-minded, theologically inclined, and profoundly Erasmian. It was from this court that his daughter
Anne would be raised. Anne became the fourth wife of King
Henry VIII of England.[3]
Anne (28 June 1515 – 16 July 1557); who was briefly married to King
Henry VIII of England, as his fourth wife.[3] No issue. The marriage was
annulled on 12 July 1540, on the grounds of
non-consummation and her pre-contract to
Francis of Lorraine.
Erasmus, Desiderius (2020). Estes, James M. (ed.). The Correspondence of Erasmus: Letters 2803 to 2939. Vol. 20. Translated by Miller, Clarence. University of Toronto Press.
Fraser, Antonia (1992). The Wives of Henry VIII. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
Haude, Sigrun (2000). In the Shadow of "Savage Wolves": Anabaptist Münster and the German Reformation During the 1530s. Brill.
Morby, John (1989). Dynasties of the World: A chronological and genealogical handbook. Oxford University Press.
Schutte, Valerie (2022). "Anne of Cleves: Survivor Queen". In Norrie, Aidan; Harris, Carolyn; Laynesmith, J. L.; Messer, Danna R.; Woodacre, Elena (eds.). Tudor and Stuart Consorts: Power, Influence, and Dynasty. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 101–118.
Tracy, James D. (1972). Erasmus, the Growth of a Mind. Librairie Droz.
Ward, A.W.; Prothero, G.W.; Leathes, Stanley, eds. (1934). The Cambridge Modern History. Vol. XIII. Cambridge at the University Press.