Catherine of Aragon


Born1485
Married1509
Divorced1533
Died1536

Catherine was the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. She actually married Henry's older brother Arthur. But Arthur died after only six months of the marriage. She then married the young Henry.

Catherine had a series of pregnancies that ended in grief for her and for her husband. She had a stillborn daughter in 1510, a son who died after only 52 days in 1511. She had a miscarriage and another son who died a few days into his life. Finally, she successfully had a daughter who was christened Mary. There were probably two more pregnancies, the last recorded in 1518.

Henry was desparate for a son. Catherine was 42, when Henry became infatuated with a younger woman called Anne Boleyn. It was this relationship that led to Henry's break with Rome in order to get his marriage to Catherine annulled. This was carried out in 1533 with a heavily pregnant Anne Boleyn waiting in the wings.

Catherine was understandably upset and withdrew into a life of prayer. She was a devout Catholic. She died three years later at Kimbalton Castle.


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by Stephen Luscombe