1540 | Political Events
Political Events
England's Henry VIII marries Anne of Clèves at Greenwich January 6, less than a week after meeting her and 4 days after saying openly that she had no looks, spoke no English, and was "no better than a Flanders mare." Conveyed from Calais to England by Lord High Admiral William Fitzwilliam, 49, earl of Southampton, Anne is the 25-year-old daughter of the German Protestant leader John, duke of Clèves, and the marriage has been arranged by the lord privy seal Baron Thomas Cromwell, 54, to give Henry an ally against the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and France's François I. But Henry soon finds that he has no reason to fear an attack from either. The king says that the marriage has not been (and cannot be) consummated; he makes Cromwell earl of Essex but has Thomas Howard, 3rd duke of Norfolk, charge him with treason June 10. Parliament sends Cromwell to the Tower of London and declares the king's marriage null and void July 9. Henry marries the 25-year-old Catherine Howard, whose uncle is the duke of Norfolk, and Cromwell is beheaded on Tower Hill July 28, leaving the 66-year-old Norfolk as England's second most powerful man (but see 1542).
Hungary's John Zápolya dies at Szászebes July 22 at age 53 (see 1538). The Turks recognize his infant son Sigismund as the new king, and he will reign until 1571 as John II Zápolya, but Ferdinand of Hapsburg invades eastern Hungary and Turkish forces take over the great central plain, splitting the country in three to begin decades of conflict (see 1541).
Afghan soldier of fortune Sher Shah defeats Mughal forces at Kannauj and forces the emperor Humayun out of India (see 1539). Humayun will seek support in Sind, Marwar, and, eventually, Persia (see 1545).