Whereas Margaret of Anjous seizure of power made her deeply unpopular, Catherines regency cemented her already sterling reputation. She had died not in some sumptuous palace surrounded by her loved ones, but in a small, dark, cold castle with her faithful staff in attendance. More recently, Henry VIIIs grandmother Margaret Beaufortan uncrowned queen, in the words of historian Nicola Tallishad acted as regent in the brief period before the young king came of age. In 1513, the queen, then 27 years old, was entrusted with command of the kingdom while her 22-year-old husband waged war against Frances Francis I. Henry left behind a small group of advisors, but as newly discovered documents demonstrate, Catherine didnt simply defer to these elderly mens counsel. However, Graham and Emma Frostthe duo behind Starz's The White Princess and The White Queen, which focus on Tudor England from the perspective of its womencouldn't pass up an opportunity to finally stage a battle scene. Although, as Tremlett points out, Catherine died, her mind still troubled by whether she had been good to a country which, in the end had been bad to her, she was finally at peace, and I hope that her friends had been able to reassure her and ease her worries during those last days. He gave her the gold compass she now cherishes. After King Henry makes his exit, Lady Margaret confides to Elizabeth that Catherine is arrogant and over-privileged. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. And while Catherine expresses her desire to participate in the battle, her warrior mother reminds her she needs to remain safe and protect Spain by fulfilling her duties and becoming Englands Queen. She notes that she can feel the tides shifting as friends are picking different paths in their lives. Any misstep in that bestowed task is culturally taboo.. The English army lost around 1,500 men, whereas the Scottish army up to 17,000, according to the Scotsman. For all my other servants, I solicit the wages due to them, and a year or more, lest they be unprovided for. Prince Arthur asks after Princess Catherines status and is told she has sailed. She refused to acknowledge Anne's place in the monarchy, going so far as to refuse to send the crown jewels to Henry's second wife. See below for a timeline of her life: To learn more, click here for our comprehensive guide to The Tudors. "Facts About Catherine of Aragon." Unable to get unbiased counsel, she is appealing to the king as the head of justice in England. This idea of a woman involved in battles is there. children: Catherine was pregnant six times during her marriage to Henry VIII: January 1, 1511: son, Henry, lived 52 days, September or October 1513: son, stillborn, November 1514 - February 1515: son, Henry, stillborn or died shortly after birth, February 18, 1516: daughter, Mary, the only one of her children to survive infancy. As Prince Arthur prepares for his trip, Queen Elizabeth asks what he and Aunt Maggie discuss. For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter! She's both warrior and queen, fulfilling her desire to be a military leader and her duty to bear an heir. On Sunday 14th November 1501 the wedding of Prince Arthur, Henry VII's eldest son, and Princess Catherine of Aragon was celebrated splendidly in old St Paul's Cathedral. "Flodden," the second episode of The Spanish Princess's second season, showcases Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) in her element. ), Combined with the example set by Isabella and other relatives, says Tremlett, Catherine had some very strong role models for women who could rule, for women who could fight.. This is the second time a price has been mentioned and Catherine asks for an explanation. "We are all very glad to be busy with the Scots. Throughout history we have had many of the same conversations about the role of women, and womens bodies, especially childbearing. On this day in history, 7th January 1536, at two oclock in the afternoon, Catherine of Aragon died at Kimbolton Castle. In actuality, Catherine only made it as far as Buckingham, 60 miles north of London, before hearing of the victory on the field in Northumberland, the northernmost county of England. She fulfilled this destiny, but became victim of Henry VIII's inability to produce a male heir. Cookie Settings, Illustration by Meilan Solly / Photos via Starz and Robert Alexander / Getty Images, The Land via Wikimedia Commons under CC BY-SA 4.0, Kids Start Forgetting Early Childhood Around Age 7, Archaeologists Discover Wooden Spikes Described by Julius Caesar, Artificial Sweetener Tied to Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds, Rare Jurassic-Era Insect Discovered at Arkansas Walmart. Catherine of Aragon wins this battle, telling Lady Margaret she will not meet anyone until she has had a bath and a siesta. Catherines grown up believing she will be the Queen of England, a promise made to her as a child. She viewed the survival of her marriage as inextricable from the survival of the Catholic Church, according to Fox, and refused to back down despite immense pressure. Lewis, Jone Johnson. When Maggie demurs, Elizabeth gets to the point she demands to know if Maggies heard of any traitors rising up against King Henry. The truth, however, is more nuanceda fact increasingly reflected in cultural depictions of the queen, including Starzs The Spanish Princess and West End hit Six: The Musical, which features a fictionalized version of Catherine chiding her husband for forgetting that Ive never lost control / No matter how many times I knew you lied., Far from being the troublesome, unappealing wife of popular imagination, Catherine was actually a charismatic, intelligent and much-loved queen. Catherine of Aragon's Last Days On the 29th December 1535 Catherine's doctor sent for Eustace Chapuys, the Imperial Ambassador and a friend of Catherine's - Catherine had taken a turn for the worse. She emphasizes that stress is too often and incorrectly blamed for miscarriages and so people historically (and still do) suffer in silence for fear of being blamed for being too stressed (or, perhaps, in Catherines case, fighting in a battle). In fact, they were married for about 23 years before Henry, frustrated with their inability to produce a male heir, decided to break with the Catholic Church and thereby have his marriage annulled. The previous series' protagonists, Elizabeth of York and Elizabeth Woodville, don't near a battlefield. Shes not taking refuge. White Rose would be reborn. He softens his comments by complimenting Catherine, saying she and Rosas beauty brighten the day. Catherine suffers from seasickness; however, Lina remains able to care for her mistress. It is instead one of those worst nightmare scenarios, just begging for it not to happen, knowing that everyone is going to come and see. But, it was also talked about in the 16th century with Catherine of Aragon trying desperately to produce a male heir for her husband, the King, Henry the VIII. Queen Elizabeth thinks this might indicate God is now smiling upon them. She says that Catherine is never a victim, or passive, and is constantly fighting. Catherines missive then took a rather unexpected turn. The couples loving relationship, however, eventually deteriorated due to a lack of a male heir and the kings infatuation with Anne Boleyn. With another battle under her belt, Princess Catherine removes her veil. Princess Catherine is having none of this. Also known as: Katherine, Katharine, Katherina, Katharina, Kateryn, Catalina, Infanta Catalina de Aragn y Castilla, Infanta Catalina de Trastmara y Trastmara, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Countess of Chester, Queen of England, Dowager Princess of Wales. And when she actually comes to the divorce question, she sees it as a battle. This happened many times for Charlotte Hope as she played Queen Catherine in the Starz original limited series the Spanish Princess, which returned for Part 2 this month. Catherine was ready to fight herself, if need be. Henry must have feared that if she returned to Spain she would become a focus for those who opposed his religious policies. (2020, August 26). Catherine appealed to Pope Clement VII, contending that her marriage to Henry was valid because the previous marriage to Arthur had never been consummated. (Ambassadors correspondence indicates that the queen delivered a premature son who died shortly after birth in October 1513, but the pregnancys veracity remains a point of contention; in Sister Queens, Fox argues, [I]it seems unlikely that she would have risked a much-wanted child by accompanying the army from London.), Tremlett deems the speech almost certainly invented but points out that this doesnt mean it [didnt] reflect the spirit of the moment. Fox, meanwhile, says Catherine probably made a speech, but whether it was quite as rousing or as wonderful, I dont know.. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to give them marriage portions, which is not much, they being but three. Princess Catherine doesnt care about the semantics; she isnt fond of so much water raining down from the heavens. Henry appointed Catherine as "regent and governess of England, Wales and Ireland, during our absence to issue warrants under her sign manual for payment of such sums as she may require from our treasury". At Westminster Palace, King Henry VII (Elliot Cowan) and Queen Elizabeth (Alexandra Moen) fret over Princess Catherines delayed arrival. She had Thomas Howard, Earl of Surreya combat-hardened, 70-year-old veteran of the 1485 Battle of Bosworthand his army of around 26,000 mount a first line of defense near the border with Scotland and asked Sir Thomas Lovell to lead a secondary force in Englands Midlands. He tells Elizabeth that Catherine has her spirit and is beautiful. Before making it a public spectacle, Henry made a final attempt to find an easy way out and ordered Catherine to go to a nunnery. https://www.thoughtco.com/catherine-of-aragon-facts-3528153 (accessed March 5, 2023). The English customs are different, and Catherine continues to prove shes fierce and unafraid of speaking her mind. Stands had been erected in the nave for the most important guests; and for the . She is a former faculty member of the Humanist Institute. Lastly, I make this vow, that mine eyes desire you above all things.. Neither King Henry nor Queen Elizabeth will accompany him, but he will have Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole (Aunt Maggie) in attendance. I write about mental health, the media, and everything in between. Your Privacy Rights Katherine of Aragon had borne six pregnancies within nine years, five of them resulting in the death of her children. She will not meet Prince Arthur until they stand in Gods presence and exchange vows. Meilan Solly is Smithsonian magazine's associate digital editor, history. In addition it is quite curious why Catherine prayed for hours, practiced penance and wore a hair shirt as a form of self-punishment. Katherine was the daughter of the powerful couple Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon, whose own marriage had united Spain. Miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, and even maternal death are all storylines that, while unpopular and uncomfortable to unpack, are lived truths for many people. Charlotte adds, I think those kind of stories are really important to be told, if for nothing else than to encourage people to be more aware about what these issues are, and that they're not scary and overwhelming and that it's something that so many women are dealing with in their day to day lives, even now.. This was done at the request of Catherines mother, Queen Isabella. She lost because Henry had chosen Thomas Cranmer as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533, knowing he would immediately grant a divorce. The daughter of Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, Catherine came to England as the bride of Henrys older brother, Arthur, Prince of Wales. Keep in mind that James had been married to Henry's sister, Margaret Tudorso he was technically Catherine's brother-in-law. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine She was older and sassier than Henry. (Years after Catherines death, her beloved daughter, Mary I, followed in her mothers footsteps by rallying troops to her cause and seizing the throne from those who had sought to thwart her. Charlotte explains that initially Catherine has it all and in the first season, if anything, had all of the power. Though Spain and England initially sought to maintain their alliance by marrying Catherine to another member of the Tudor family (both Henry and his father, Henry VII, were suggested as potential suitors), negotiations soured as diplomatic relations shifted. She had been ill for a few months but felt worse after drinking a draught of Welsh beer in December 1535 and this, combined with the embalmers report that all of her organs were healthy apart from her heart, which was quit black and hideous to look at, gave rise to rumours that Catherine had been poisoned. "Flodden," the second episode of The Spanish Princess's second season, showcases Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) in her element. For Queen Catherine, her identity and power dynamics shift substantially as her infertility and inability to produce an heir to the throne take center stage. Historical documents show Catherine's excitement at getting a slice of military action, as her mother, Isabel of Castile, had so often. "For the first time, we could show a battle with the woman in the middle of it, which was a huge thing," Frost says. After more than a decade of marriage negotiations, Catherine was to marry Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Henry . Throughout the battle's proceedings, Catherine was more a "director of events" than "passive figurehead" managed by Henry's counselors, according to an archivist who unearthed new papers about her pivotal role in 2020. Women who were moms and women who also had chosen not to have kids and lived amazing lives that they might not have been able to if they had families. Catherine, however, is stuck on her dislike for the rain. She was five years older than he. Queen Elizabeth, obviously not one to hold her tongue with her mother-in-law, believes those are perfect qualities for a queen just not qualities Lady Margaret approves of. The refusal of Pope Clement VII to annul Henry's marriage to Catherine triggered the break between Henry and Rome and led to the English Reformation. And with her husband, Henry VIII (Ruairi O'Connor), away in France on a military campaign, she ruled England . This year the programme includes:-. She wants to bathe and then take a siesta. Lina and Rosa talk about Edward, and Lina reminds her its an honor to attend Princess Catherine. An afternoon of great slaughter, sweating and travail ensued, and by its end, some 10,000 Scotsincluding 12 earls, 14 lords, an archbishop, a bishop, 2 abbots and James himselflay dead. Thats unheard of, even among the English royalty. In 1501 she married Prince Arthur, eldest son of King Henry VII of England. When she looks for something to help the princess stomach, she finds Oviedo (Aaron Cobham) praying to Allah. As records recently found at the United Kingdoms National Archives testify, this daughter of Ferdinand and Isabellatwo famously bellicose rulers whod spent Catherines childhood driving the Muslim Moors out of the Iberian Peninsulaleft the safety of London and headed north toward the English-Scottish border with 1,500 sets of armor, as well as a golden headpiece with crown that Tremlett likens to an armored sun hat, in tow. She sees fighting for her own marriage as just as important as fighting for the Catholic faith.. Lina instructs the servants where to place Catherine of Aragons belongings. It started when Catherine was but a child. Catherines impressed with Arthurs writing, and her heart is warmed by his passion. Unfortunately, the queen reported, she soon realized that our Englishmens hearts would not suffer it.. 28-year old Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) played a major role in the Battle of Floddenall while pregnant. Princess Catherine and her ladies, along with Lady Margaret and the Poles, take a walk around the grounds. However, the embalmer, who Giles Tremlett points out was a chandler (a candle maker) and not a medical expert, also found a black body attached to Catherines heart, and Tremlett concludes that a secondary melanotic sarcoma was almost certainly to blame, a secondary heart tumour caused by cancer in another part of the body.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'theanneboleynfiles_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_1',630,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-theanneboleynfiles_com-medrectangle-3-0'); On the 29th December 1535 Catherines doctor sent for Eustace Chapuys, the Imperial Ambassador and a friend of Catherines Catherine had taken a turn for the worse. But she doesn't do that. You can find out more about this programme of events at The Katherine of Aragon Festival 2011 webpage. On 27 September 1501, fifteen-year-old Catherine of Aragon bid farewell to her beloved Spain and boarded a ship from Laredo bound for England and the beginning of a new life. At the same time, she says, she went through an existential process because of the job and thinking and reading about these themes so much. Catherine believes Prince Harrys admission is a show of weakness. The object of his affections was the quick-witted Anne Boleyn, who had returned to England in 1522, after nearly seven years living at the French court. Margaret tells Prince Arthur hell make a handsome groom, but Arthurs in a foul mood. She wants to return to the house so that she wont become sick, noting hes not at all as caring as his letters made him out to be. The King and Queen of England arent in attendance as the Kings mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort (Harriet Walter), prepares to greet Catherine of Aragon prior to her trip to Dogmersfield House. She was allowed in. As the child of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, Catherine (who is played perfectly by Charlotte Hope) was always destined to be a queen, and as soon as she's of marrying age,. When Catherine says King Henry was rude to her, Elizabeth disagrees. The group is attacked by Moors whove vowed to die fighting for their beliefs. The solution for both countries presents itself in a match between the Tudor heir, Prince Arthur, and Spanish Princess Catherine of Aragon. And for Charlotte herself, playing Catherine was personal. Scotland is practically at [Englands] mercy.. That second part frequently wins out when processing of a miscarriage, and in no small part because of misogyny. Dr. Angela Lawson, Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, adds that talking about it can help normalize that it is not easy to conceive and so if you have a loss, you did nothing wrong. Three days after the battle, Catherine penned a letter to her husband, who had successfully captured Throuanne and was now besieging Tournai. Giving custody of a woman who many within the realm and most of those outside it to be . Both of Catherine's parents were part of the Trastmara dynasty. Queen Elizabeth assures her it's true and that she's revealing this secret so that Catherine realizes what's at stake with her marriage to Prince Arthur. Background, Family of Catherine of Aragon. By Elena Nicolaou Published: Oct 11, 2020. He enters and pounds on Catherines door, demanding she open up so he can meet her. Catherine admits her own letters are equally as passionate as Prince Arthurs. As it turned out, neither Lovell nor the queen ended up seeing action. Arthur died the following year, and shortly afterward she was betrothed to Prince Henry, the second son of Henry VII. Richard and Margaret Pole finally reunite with their young children, the only people who truly bring a smile to Margarets face. During his initial meeting with Princess Catherine, King Henry had mentioned something to the effect of what was done to bring Catherine to England, and Lina, Rosa, and Catherine now believe thats another thread in this tale of deception. And with her husband, Henry VIII (Ruairi O'Connor), away in France on a military campaign, she ruled England completely. The frequency of her pregnancies and the tragic loss of each infant took its toll upon the Queen and after November 1518 she had no more children. For some years the couple lived happily. On September 9, Surreys troops and James army of more than 30,000 engaged in battle. Catherine of Aragon's marriage to Henry VIII lasted for 24 years. As Henry and his troops besieged the French town of Throuanne, Catherine and her council readied for a clash closer to home. She was haunted by the deaths that had resulted from Henrys Great Matter and the fact that it had led to England breaking with Rome were they down to her stubbornness, her refusal to go quietly? Lady Margaret has had to alter her plans and will meet them at Dogmersfield. , LP x. Oh, one last thing? She knows most people with PCOS get pregnant, shell just have to take hormones, but that does not scare her. There is nothing I wont do to save my boys or to save my love. She seals her words with a kiss and departs, leaving Catherine alone to consider what shes learned. Terms of Use Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily. (The Queen led the charge and is coated in blood at its end.). When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The princess fortunes shifted when Henry VII died in 1509, leaving the throne to his sole surviving son, who promptly married his alluring young sister-in-law. One of her men sets up an escort with the town major and as rain pours down, they continue their journey accompanied by Edward Stafford (Olly Rix), Duke of Buckingham. Richard reminds her Queen Elizabeth wants them to put their past behind them. Prince Arthurs stunned to hear about these letters, demanding to know if she replied. These were the questions preying on her mind during her last days. Chapuys sought permission from the King to visit Catherine and it was granted. Queen Isabella and her army have overthrown Muslim rule and its necessary to secure Catholic allies to maintain control over the land. Catherine of Aragon, (born December 16, 1485, Alcal de Henares, Spaindied January 7, 1536, Kimbolton, Huntingdon, England), first wife of King Henry VIII of England (reigned 150947). Catherine had very powerful relatives. Catherine is invoking the memory and the value of their longtime relationship. Catherine matched the breadth of her husbands intellectual interests, and she was a competent regent while he was campaigning against the French (151214). Catherine was well-beloved by the people of the kingdom Anne wasn't and Henry tried to remove her from the public eye and acclamation by essentially banishing her to a series of castles and estates. Chapuys visited Catherine every afternoon for two hours over four days and he reported that she was worried about her daughter, Mary, and her concern that the Pope and Emperor were not acting on her behalf. Edward interrupts to inform Catherine the Queen has asked to see her. She asks why he wrote to her and he admits he liked her letters. When Catherine claims she holds the titles of both Princess of Spain and Princess of Wales, Lady Margaret begs to differ. passionate marriage between Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) and King Henry VIII (Ruari O'Connor) seen here with their first son, Henry, who later tragically dies. Answer (1 of 7): Katharine was a princess of Spain, the aunt of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, and related by blood or marriage to about half the royals in Europe. After Henry VIII returned to England after six months, Catherine's time as regent queen came to a close, and so too did her power. The lack of a male heir put Henry's legacy in jeopardy and was one of the reasons why he started considering annulling his marriage to Catherine. Advertising Notice Its apparently the custom before a Royal wedding, and Edward assures her the apartments will be comfortable. She was buried in Peterborough Abbey (later became known as Peterborough Cathedral) on January 29, 1536. The challenges of fertility poison the once. Hope in the Starz series The Spanish Princess, grapples with infertility as she tries to produce an heir to the throne. Catherines legacy, adds the historian, is that of a wronged woman who did not accept defeat, who fought for what she believed to be right until the breath left her body., Henry, for his part, never forgot the tenacity his wife had demonstrated in the days leading up to Flodden. "She had the armor made and she led the army to face the Scottish invasion," co-creator Graham tells OprahMag.com. Princess Katherine was well-educated and politically astute, and a good match for Henry. Through Catherine, Spanish Princess creators Emma Frost and Matthew Graham could explore a woman who straddled multiple identitiesall of which come to the forefront during the Battle of Flodden in the show, and in real life. During that time, the English won the Battle of Flodden, with Catherine taking an active role in the planning. She's pregnant, wearing full battle armor. He takes a shot and likes how it feels, commanding Oviedo to teach him how to use it. Lina sends everyone away and then recalls a meeting between Catherine and Christopher Columbus. She has power over him after he admits her letters excited him. Prince Arthur makes it to Dogmersfield House where Margaret and Richard Pole are currently residing. She was, in the words of historian John Edwards, Henry VIIIs greatest queen. But though Catherine of Aragons marriage to the Tudor king lasted 24 yearscollectively, his five other marriages spanned just 14 yearsshe has long been overshadowed by her successors. Henry had also become infatuated with one of his wife's . Ferdinand and Isabellas reconquest of Spain culminated in the January 2, 1492, fall of Granada, which marked the end of 780 years of Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula. What ensued was the largest battle between England and Scotland in terms of troop numbers, and one of the bloodiest battles ever fought on English soil, according to the Guardian. The marriage was annulled and he went on to marry Anne Boleyn, a favorite mistress. Many a queen would have quite simply hotfooted it to the Tower of London, pulled up the drawbridge and sat there fairly safely, says Fox. She notes, They were crowned together, she was there for all of the kind of political tacticslike they really ruled side by side. But since Catherine. The season focuses on Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) and Henry VIII's (Ruari O'Connor) marriage and struggle to have children. Because their marriage is already complete, there is nothing holding Catherine back from meeting Prince Arthur. She asks how has she offended him? At 29, Charlotte already senses that pressure. As Chapuys travelled to Kimbolton, Catherine received a surprise visitor, her former lady-in-waiting and confidante, Mara de Salinas, now Lady Willoughby, on New Years Day. Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) was the youngest of the siblings Marriage, Children husband: Arthur, Prince of Wales (betrothed in 1489, married 1501; Arthur died 1502) no children; Catherine asserted consistently at the end of her marriage that the marriage had not been consummated Dr. Jennifer Conti, OB-GYN and Co-Author of The Vagina Book: An Owner's Manual for Taking Care of Your Down There explains, It's so important to talk about all types of pregnancy outcomes because in reality, not all pregnancies end in happy, healthy deliveries. While very rare, recurrent pregnancy loss is incredibly tragic and traumatic for pregnant people. She could empathize with the pain.