Cleves

The city of Cleves is located in the northwestern German state of North Rhine-Westphalia near the Dutch border. It is connected with Rhine river by the Spoy Canal. Ruled by the counts of Cleves from the 11th century, it was chartered in 1242, passed to the counts of La Marck in 1368. In 1417 it became the seat of a duchy, and took possession of the duchies of Berg and Jülich. Anne of Cleves, the daughter of a duke of Cleves, became the fourth wife of Henry VIII of England. Cleves passed to Brandenburg in 1614, briefly to France during the Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, then to Prussia in 1815. World War II caused it severe damage, but some historical structures remain. The Swan's Castle, the former ducal residence and related in legend to the story of the knight Lohengrin serves now as a law court; its two towers date from 1429 and 1440. There are also the Collegiate Church built between 1341 and 1426, and the Minorite Church built in 1327. The city's industries include garment and chemicals manufacture, food processing, and tourism. The population estimate for 004 was 49,200.