Katherine of Aragon

MARRIED: 11 JUNE 1509
DIVORCED/ANNULLED: 1533
DIED: 7 JANUARY 1536

Katherine of Aragon was the daughter of King Fernidand and Queen Isabella of Spain.
She was born on 16th december 1485 and was betrothed to Henry VIII's elder brother Arthur tudor, royal heir to the throne after Henry VII their father. They were to be married at the age of 15yrs old and were breifly in 1500. Arthur died shortly after from what was beleived to be the consumption, leaving his younger and more verile brother henry heir to the throne, much to his fathers dismay.

shortly after King Henry VII's death in 1509 Katherine and Henry VIII were married followed by a royal coronation on midsommers day. Henrys father wanted the marriage be declared invalid and the promise to wed revoked after arthurs death but the young boy king had other ideas. This descison did his own needs little good in the future.
Not long after the marriage, katherine became pregnant. The first child was beleived to have been a daughter, born prematurely in early January 1510. The daughter was still born, however the disappointment was cut short by another pregnancy. Prince henry was born on the 1st of January 1511 and a christening followed four days laer. the King was much delighted and great celebrations and feasts were held in the baby's honour. Sadly the young prince died after only 52 days leaving Henry distraught. Katherine miscarried another child shortly after and gave birth to another son who lived only breifly. In late winter (February) of 1516 A daughter was born and indeed lived, she was named Mary and rose to become a pious catholic devout to her faith and mothers wishes. There were two more pregnancies beleived to have taken place before 1518 and some years later Katherine was beleived to have become barren.

It was in this time that the kings eye began to wander and he took a fancy to the young lady Elizabeth Blount, daughter of Sir John Bl0unt faithful subject of the king. Elizabeth or "Bessie" as she was known soon became pregnant and gave birth to a son and Henry's only living son at the time. He was named Henry Fitzroy "son of a king" and had a royal christening, much to Katherines hurt and disapproval. Elizabeth was married and was sent away from court, leaving Henrys eyes to wander once more. When Henry visted france in 1520 to meet his rival (in his mind) King francis, he was introduced to Mary Boleyn, a lady in waiting and mistress for a time of the new french king. It is beleived that henry took notice of Mary instantly, her sweet nature and ample bosom and plump figure, honey coloured hair and large eyes captured his attention and affections. Mary returned to England and became a regular mistress to the king. She later bore two children and married Henry Carey at the time of conception so there is still widespread beleif in many historical readings that Marys two children, Catherine and Henry were indeed children of Henry VIII.

When Henrys attention wained he set his sights on the newcomer to court in the late 1520's (beleived to be around the time of 1525/26) the young Anne Boleyn, who was engaged to Henry percy at the time without Percys father's knowledge. Thus began Henry's quest to woo the fair lady anne and shame his Wife Katherine until her death in exile.

Henry began to look for grounds to divorce and beleived himself un clean in the sight of god to have had marital relations with his late brothers wife. Katherine protested her Virginity and her catholic faith and noble nature would have played heavily on her if she had lied so it is widely beleived that Katherine and Arthur did not connsumated the marriage even though at the trial for the annulment of their marriage various witnesses came forward to protest againt Katherines virginity. The political debate raged for six years before Henry finally ex-communicated himself from the Catholic church and declared himself head of the church of england, being free to marry whomever he deems worthy. With support of his new archbishop Thomas cranmer and loyal secretary thomas cromwell, Henry was able to annul his marriage to Katherine. The first wife of henry was forced to renounce her title and seperate herself from court and her daughter Mary, something that she could not bring herself to do.

Katherine was forced into exile, never to see her daughter again, she was now known as the dowager princess of wales and resided in many a rank and dingy castle with little help from her servants. Thomas more and Bishop fisher remained loyal to Katherine beleiving she was the royal queen of england.

Katherine died in 1536 at kimbleton castle with her lady in waiting and dear friend from Spain Mary salts by her side. Katherine was buried at petersborough abbey which later became petersborough cathedral due to the dessecration of the catholic monastries and abbeys.

Katherine was said to have beleived that she would rather have spent her time in great sorrow than joy, for in sorrow one becomes closer and more aware of Christs presence.

Katherine had a mass of supporters including the bishop fisher who was later made a cardinal by the Pope. Both Fisher and More were executed for failure to acknowlegde Anne as the rightful queen and Henry as the head of the church.


Mary Tudor
Katherines only living daughter.
She became tangled in a battle of affection between Henry and Katherine and ultimately chose her mother of whom she remained loyal and faithful to.

When Edward died, Mary had the new Queen of only nine days Lady jane grey, executed and took her place as Queen until her death in 1558. She bore no children and was said to have miscarried. In 1554 Mary married Philip II, the eldest son of King Charles of Spain, in thats same yea Sir Thomas Wyatt and Henry Grey led a rebellion against Mary. As a result Lady Jane Grey and her husband, Guildford Dudley, were executed. Mary had many enemies from the protestant church and had many burned and punished as a result of their failure to comply with Catholic teaching. She had been beleived to have grown sour and senile in her later years and died of cancer, some beleive of the stomach while others say it was a tumor, hence her descent into madness and bitterness. Her dreadful past also played a part in her attitude towards the future queen Elizabeth.