By Heather R. Darsie
?In the 15th century, the word vrouwenzimmer slowly entered the German lexicon, becoming a fully-fledged concept by the late 15th to early 16th century. Literally meaning womans room, the word applied to the secondary court which developed around the women of a noble household. The word Frau, now simply meaning a woman or a married woman (for example, Mrs. Jones would be Frau Jones), the word Frau used to apply explicitly to a married woman who was the head of a household. Other reasonable translations of Frauenzimmer, given the historical context of the word in Anna of Cleves time, would include womens lounge or mistress chamber.
The idea of the Frauenzimmer was imported to Cleves from Burgundy in the 15th century. The Frauenzimmer was part of the overall noble household, but was separate from that of the masters. The term encompassed the people who comprised daily life in the Frauenzimmer, such as the lady of the house, her daughters, a Hofmeisterin or governess, cousins, wards, and attendants. The Frauenzimmer was not unique to Cleves or the Lower Rhine area, and spread eastward into Poland. Frauenzimmer was also used as a collective noun to describe a noblewomans ladies-in-waiting.
The purpose of the Frauenzimmer was to provide training to young noblewomen on how to run a household, cook for the household, mend clothes, embroider, and other practical tasks. Visits from men to the Frauenzimmer were limited. No male over the age of 12 years was allowed to be a member of the Frauenzimmer, and men were expressly forbidden from visiting the Frauenzimmer at night. Exceptions were made for the physician.
A womans life at court was subject to ordinances surrounding the administration of the Frauenzimmer. The ordinances, or written laws, gave instructions regarding moral behavior of the women in the Frauenzimmer. This included when and how the women and girls were allowed to interact men, and construction of the hierarchy within the Frauenzimmer. Only certain individuals were allowed to have keys to the Frauenzimmer. The types of dances the ladies of the Frauenzimmer could enjoy were restricted, as well.
No detail was spared in regulating a courts Frauenzimmer. There were contractual arrangements, saying who did what for whom, and how they were compensated for the work. A person could receive anything from food or clothing, to shelter or horses. Money was an option, too. Meal time was very strict, with specific instructions for where each lady sat, who was allowed to eat what, when and how the dishes were presented, and so on. A Frauenzimmer had its own kitchen staff, but it was much smaller than that for the general household.
Despite the description of a strict household, ladies in the Frauenzimmer certainly had their fun. Far from being cloistered, the presence of the Frauenzimmer, occasionally used a collective noun referring to the members of the womens household, was a meaningful source of increased merriment. For example, the chronicler Hans von Schweinichen remarked upon the daily pattern of living at court in Liegnitz, now part of Poland. The Duchess of Liegnitz put on a banquet every night, followed by dancing, which sometimes lasted all night. Of the dances Schweinichen commented, The music was lovely, the wine good, the Frauenzimmer (here used as a collective noun) beautiful and the company discreet. Schweinichengoes on to describe the fun had by the Frauenzimmer, which included, riding, ring-races, music, and dancing.
The evidence of Anna of Cleves exact activities within the Frauenzimmer as a girl and young woman are not known. However, there is evidence that hunting was a pastime enjoyed greatly by both the courts of Jülch-Berg and Cleves-Mark, and that the closely watched Frauenzimmer occasionally partook in these festivities. Anna learned to cook and embroider for, and administer a household. She learned how to care for the other young girls in the Frauenzimmer. She might also have been exposed to childbirth, something which sometimes occurred within the Frauenzimmer.
Anna carried on some of the traditions from the Frauenzimmer after her arrival in England. Once her marriage to Henry VIII was annulled, Anna was given her own household. There are anecdotes about her dabbling in cooking. Perhaps Anna enjoyed making food for herself and close members of her household, as she learned to do during her childhood and youth in the United Duchies. Annas upbringing was very different from her English counterparts, but should not be considered as inferior.
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Anna, Duchess of Cleves: The Kings Beloved Sister by Heather R. Darsie is released 15 April in the UK and 1 July in the US. If you live in the US and cannot wait until July, you can order a hardcover from the UK Amazon. The book can be purchased here:
US Hardcover: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1445677105?pf_rd_p=1cac67ce-697a-47be-b2f5-9ae91aab54f2&pf_rd_r=3N5CGT7W6TPG1X0AF7PZ
Sources & Suggested Reading
Our Family holds that she had twins girls hidden from the Kings Attorney’s when they came to investigate the alleged Birth of a Son William to Anne Sept 10, 1541. The Girls were given to long time Windsor Castle Stewards Margaret Artbroke Chalfant and her husband William Chalfant ca 1485-1542. The money left to the family by Anne of Cleaves secured the purchase of 220 acres of land from William Penn when both emigrated to the USA. My Chalfant ancestors brought the Queens J2a Central SPAIN mt. DNA to America in the 6 chalfants marriages prior to Collins, Cookston to Rice my family and all my sisters and mother and her sisters Carry this important marker from the sister of the Holy roman Emperor Ferdinand II…..who’s sister married the Duke of Cleaves. Although not yet a scientific fact I wonder if the Author had come across this family CHALFANT of Windsor in her research? D. Chrles Rice 1948 of the Nebraska Rice’s 10th great grandson of Anne of cleaves if True.
Although there was a rumour during the Spring and Summer of 1541 that Anne of Cleves was having a child by Henry Viii who visited her on several occasions and Kathryn Howard thought he may leave her, there is no contemporary evidence to substantiate any claims that Anna had any children. Henry Viii was aware of the rumours and put a stop to them.
Family history is always interesting but I am afraid this is only a myth.
Well done for all your hard work and research I’m looking forward to seeing my book – I have ordered it from Amazon The Blog Tour has been great so far
Wonderful Heather Darsie has changed History with this book.
Well done for all your hard work and research I’m looking forward to seeing my book – I have ordered it from Amazon