A Plea to Anne of Cleves

 

Dorothea's letter to Anne of Cleves

 

On December 29, 1539, Dorothea of Denmark, wife of Elector Frederick II of the Palatinate, wrote a pleading letter to Anne of Cleves, who was set to marry Henry VIII shortly. 

She begged Anne to get the King's help in releasing her father Christian II of Denmark, 'a pitiful prisoner'. He had been dethroned and had been locked up for the past seven years.

 

Dorothea of Denmark (by Johann Georg Wissger, detail)

 

Anne of Cleves (attributed to Barthel Bruyn)

 

Unfortunately, Anne could do nothing, and the ex-King remained in custody till his death in 1559.

Incidentally, Dorothea's sister was Christina of Denmark, a famed beauty whom Henry VIII had hoped to marry earlier. 

 

Christian II of Denmark (by an Unknown Artist)

 

 Christina of Denmark (by Hans Holbein)