For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter! Harry found the drafts and apparently wrote in his stead. This is the second time a price has been mentioned and Catherine asks for an explanation. There is something beautiful, yet complicated trying to mesh the past with the present and noticing how many parallels still exist between women in the 16th century and women today. Princess Catherine and her ladies, along with Lady Margaret and the Poles, take a walk around the grounds. Neither King Henry nor Queen Elizabeth will accompany him, but he will have Sir Richard Pole and Margaret Pole (Aunt Maggie) in attendance. One of the young men was Margaret Poles brother, Edward Plantagenet. At Westminster Palace, King Henry VII (Elliot Cowan) and Queen Elizabeth (Alexandra Moen) fret over Princess Catherines delayed arrival. That way, if King James IV's troops were victorious, she and her army would be waiting. On September 9, Surreys troops and James army of more than 30,000 engaged in battle. 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. Any of them that did must've been made out of steel," Hope tells OprahMag.com. Could he annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon and marry again? Catherine of Aragon refuses to believe this was done at her mother's request. She asks why he wrote to her and he admits he liked her letters. A sad end to a woman who had once been Queen of England and who had defeated the Scots as Regent. Catherine of Aragon's arrival in England. In addition it is quite curious why Catherine prayed for hours, practiced penance and wore a hair shirt as a form of self-punishment. Lewis, Jone Johnson. Lina wakes Princess Catherine from her nap when she sees King Henry approaching the house. Princess Catherine must give birth to sons to continue their hold on the Crown. King Henry asks that she come and meet his son and let him also lay his eyes upon her. Whereas Margaret of Anjous seizure of power made her deeply unpopular, Catherines regency cemented her already sterling reputation. 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 an August 13 letter, the queen wrote, My heart is very good to it. Wryly referencing womens traditional role in warfare, she added, I am horribly busy with making standards, banners and badges., Though Catherine did, in fact, order the royal wardrobe to furnish two banners bearing the arms of England and Spain, as well as standards of the lion crowned imperial, such tasks made up just a small portion of her preparations. As Antonia Fraser writes in The Wives of Henry VIII, [T]he Scottish threat was removed for a generation by the slaughter of its leaders. For all my other servants, I solicit the wages due to them, and a year or more, lest they be unprovided for. Catherine barely acknowledges his greeting, wanting only to enter the house and get out of her wet clothes. She will not meet Prince Arthur until they stand in Gods presence and exchange vows. 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. Giving custody of a woman who many within the realm and most of those outside it to be . One contemporary, Peter Martyr, reported that the queen, in imitation of her mother Isabella, regaled her reserve army with a speech compelling them to defend their territory and remember that English courage excelled that of all other nations., This incident is widely referencedincluding in an upcoming episode of The Spanish Princess, which will feature a highly exaggerated version of Catherine, clad in armor fashioned to accommodate her visible pregnancy, riding directly into battlebut many historians now consider Martyrs account apocryphal. Terms of Use Lady Margaret has had to alter her plans and will meet them at Dogmersfield. Breaking a peace treaty signed with England in 1502, James IV of Scotland traveled south to the English border with an army of 30,000 men. He tells Elizabeth that Catherine has her spirit and is beautiful. Lady Margaret greets Catherine with, Welcome to England, child, and their initial conversation sets the stage for later conflicts. Categories: Six Wives, Tudor EventsTags: Catherine of Aragon, Katherine of Aragon, Copyright 2023 The Anne Boleyn Files empathized with Catherine as she herself has grappled with the question of fertility. The fact that James was married to Henrys older sister, Margaret, did little to dissuade either him or Catherine from entering the fray. There's a common misconception that the marriage went south almost immediately. "She didn't actually fight, but in our show she gets more involved.". Catherine of Aragon is portrayed on screen by actress Charlotte Hope in historical drama The Spanish Princess Why did Henry VIII 'divorce' Catherine of Aragon? 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. He wonders why shes wearing a veil, thinking it might be to keep his brother, Arthur, from kissing her. Unlike Anne, and other wives, Catherine lived on, "demoted," as History phrases it. Unable to get unbiased counsel, she is appealing to the king as the head of justice in England. This was done at the request of Catherines mother, Queen Isabella. Charlotte explains, Its not just about Catherine cant produce an heir and that's devastating for her, it's also devastating for Henry and ultimately what tears apart these two people who completely love each other. Lewis, Jone Johnson. Catherine of Aragon was Queen of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until their annulment on 23 May 1533. Linas on her own when a soldier approaches and grabs her. "She had the armor made and she led the army to face the Scottish invasion," co-creator Graham tells OprahMag.com. Catherine led an effort to recruit soldiers across England; allocated money for supplies; and planned a battlefield strategy. In June 1513, Catherine of Aragon went on to a war footing. He is a starving man and you are bread, says Queen Elizabeth. Register before the end of 31 December! Alone, Catherine warms herself by the fire and retrieves a gold compass. "Flodden," the second episode of The Spanish Princess's second season, showcases Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) in her element. She used her power within the Great Wardrobe to increase her clothing budget by 50 percent. At the point where she starts to not be able to fulfill her female role is the point where she starts to lose her power. Its circumstance, and, the circumstance is infertility. Dr. Jane Van Dis, board certified OB-GYN emphasized, Any loss, whether miscarriage, stillbirth or the loss of a child can have profound effects on relationships. In many ways, this feels like the loss of a power couple to Charlotte. Advertising Notice Privacy Statement Prior to Cunninghams find, historians had only known that Catherine was in Buckingham, around 60 miles north of London, when she received word of Surreys victory. She could empathize with the pain. Aunt Maggie obviously genuinely cares about the young prince, and the affection is returned. Catherine suffers from seasickness; however, Lina remains able to care for her mistress. 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. Given how perfectly it encapsulates her personality, the powerful image of Catherine wearing armor ahead of battle ultimately serves as the main poster image for season 2 of The Spanish Princess. In the mid-1520s, when Henry first raised the question of divorcing his wife, he found that public opinion was firmly on the queens side. As far as Katherine had happily noticed, most of the tension had dissolved between her sisters. Catherine asks the location of the church and is told its nearby. Additionally, Catherine would not budge from her position that she was his wife and queen in the eyes of both God and Man. She emphasizes, Pregnancy is stressful enough as is, but then to have that on top of it, you know, it's a lot. Charlotte points to a scene where Catherine miscarries and as she begs for it not to happen, it is not even about her pain anymore. 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. Catherine believes Prince Harrys admission is a show of weakness. Catherine won and lost her case. Catherines missive then took a rather unexpected turn. She declares this is no way for a king to act and threatens to write her mother about his disrespectful behavior toward both her and Spain. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to give them marriage portions, which is not much, they being but three. Henry wasn't moved. Parliament passed the Act of Supremacy repudiating all papal jurisdiction in England and making the king head of the English church. 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. "It was so difficult to survive, particularly a woman in those times. He, of course, already figured out his brother is the one who penned the love letters. Arthur attempts to put her mind at ease, claiming his mother holds her in high esteem. One part of lore The Spanish Princess skips over? Season 2 of The Spanish Princess premieres on Sunday, October 11 on Starz. Although Catherine had always been loved by the English people, Henry forced her to spend her last years isolated from all public life. The previous series' protagonists, Elizabeth of York and Elizabeth Woodville, don't near a battlefield. 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. Lina sends everyone away and then recalls a meeting between Catherine and Christopher Columbus. What Catherine did next was unprecedented, particularly for a kingdom where warfare was considered an exclusively male domain. Henrys desire for a legitimate male heir prompted him in 1527 to appeal to Rome for an annulment on the grounds that the marriage had violated the biblical prohibition against a union between a man and his brothers widow. And with her husband, Henry VIII (Ruairi O'Connor), away in France on a military campaign, she ruled England . That anxiety helped fuel her role and riveting performance. She began by emphasizing Floddens significance, writing, [T]o my thinking this battle hath been to your grace, and all your realm, the greatest honour that could be, and more than should you win all the crown of France. As one might expect of such a deeply religious individual, the queen proceeded to thank God for the victoryand subtly remind Henry to do the same. 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. She also reads a letter from Prince Arthur who says he longs to embrace her. 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. Charlotte says, I wanted to make sure that we were telling a story about Catherine, that was about a woman in Tudor England, but was also as much a study of the modern female condition because the stuff that she's going through is still stuff that we're going through today., And that stuff that she is talking about is infertility, pregnancy loss, and the blaming and shaming of women when it comes to reproduction. 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. Stafford scolds the Spanish party, telling them they should have stuck with the plan and landed in Southampton. She was five years older than he. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/catherine-of-aragon-facts-3528153. 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. Catherines lady-in-waiting Lina de Cardonnes (Stephanie Levi-John) assures her its fine to fall in love with a man shes never met based solely on his letters. Catherine of Aragon - Early Life and First Marriage, Medieval Queens, Empresses, and Women Rulers, Eleanor of Aquitaines Descendants Through Eleanor, Queen of Castile, Biography of Catherine Parr, Sixth Wife of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon: Early Life and First Marriage, Catherine of Aragon: Marriage to Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon: The King's Great Matter, M.Div., Meadville/Lombard Theological School, Father: Ferdinand II of Aragon (14521516), Maternal grandmother:Isabella of Portugal(14281496), Maternal grandfather:John (Juan) of Castile (14051454), Paternal grandmother: Juana Enriquez, a member of the Castilian nobility (1425 - 1468), second wife of Juan II, and a great-great-granddaughter of Alfonso XI of Castile, Paternal grandfather: John (Juan) II of Aragon, also known as Juan the Great and Juan the Faithless (13981479), John, Prince of Asturias (14781497; married to, Joanna of Castile (Juana the Mad) (14791555; married to Philip, Duke of Burgundy, later titled Philip I of Castile; six children included Holy Roman Emperors Charles V and Ferdinand I; Charles V played a key role in the struggle over Catherine's annulment and Charles' son, Philip II of Spain, eventually married Catherine of Aragon's daughter, Mary I), Maria, Queen of Portugal (14821517; married to Manuel I of Portugal, widower of her sister Isabella; her daughter Isabella married Joanna's son Charles V and was the mother of, Catherine of Aragon (14851536) was the youngest of the siblings, 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, husband: Henry VIII of England (married 1509; annulled by Church of England in 1533, with Archbishop Cranmer approving the nullification of the marriage). Rosa and Lina help Catherine from her clothes as a forlorn Catherine asks, Where is the light? Lina says Catherine is the light. And not only lose her power as sovereign, but lose her power in the relationship. Charlotte feels that many modern relationships are also about power dynamics and this struggle, including their experience with infertility as a couple, felt like a story that was real, rich, and needed to be told. But the new evidence suggests that the queen intended to travel further north, if not directly into battle like Joan of Arc, then at least into the vicinity of combat. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Catherines wedding day arrives and she refuses to rise from her bath to prepare. And for Charlotte herself, playing Catherine was personal. Richard Pole breaks the tension, introducing himself and his wife. Three days after the battle, Catherine penned a letter to her husband, who had successfully captured Throuanne and was now besieging Tournai. 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. After obtaining special permission from the Pope to marry his brother's widow, Henry and Catherine became husband and wife, shortly after Henry was crowned. She fulfilled this destiny, but became victim of Henry VIII's inability to produce a male heir. Henry had another reason for wishing to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon: he had fallen in love. It was unlawful for communion to be taken before daylight but Jorge de Athequa, Catherines confessor and the Bishop of Llandaff, could see that his mistress did not have long to live and so administered communion and listened to her confession. 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. Jane had even been more present around the two as of lately. Both of Catherine's parents were part of the Trastmara dynasty. She was betrothed since she was about four years old to the future king of England. He objects, believing he can be loyal to Princess Catherine and worship his god. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Mid-morning on November 14, Catherine emerged from the Bishop's Palace, walking along a wide blue carpet, making her way past various English and Spanish nobility who were lavishly dressed for the occasion. The ship lands and they encounter two men who welcome them to England. Queen Elizabeth warns, Do not cross me, Catherine. In 1501 she married Prince Arthur, eldest son of King Henry VII of England. They believe God is keeping Princess Catherine away. "We are all very glad to be busy with the Scots. She tells Lady Margaret the men will be housed in the big house and not like animals. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Catherines health seemed to rally in the first few days of January, she ate some meals without being sick, she was sleeping well and was chatting and laughing with visitors, so Chapuys was dispatched back to London. Here's what really happened at the pivotal Battle of Flodden, which resulted in the death of Scotland's King James VI. Catherine thanks him for his warm welcome, a genuine smile gracing her face for one of the only times in England. Henry wasn't moved. 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. As for why she did not leave to return to Spain: she was a virtual prisoner, first at the More in Hertfordshire and then at Kimbolton. Catherine was the youngest daughter of the Spanish rulers Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. She really is out on the road.. A powerful alliance. The Scottish kings brutal fate was, in a way, evocative of the broader blow inflicted on his country in the wake of the defeat: As historian Leanda de Lisle explains, James left hand was almost severed, his throat gashed, and an arrow was shot through his lower jaw. (Additional ignominies, including one at Catherines own hand, awaited the kings corpse.) Hope in the Starz series The Spanish Princess, grapples with infertility as she tries to produce an heir to the throne. She said as a result she kind of lived with this fear for most of my early to mid-20s that I really needed to hurry my shit up and get married and have kids. That was balanced by the fact that she was working as an actor, traveling all of the time, and not in any stable long-term relationships. L.W. The Catherine that Mara saw on that day must have been a far cry from the Catherine she had once known. Our editors handpick the products that we feature. She continued praying until the end, until her loving Father took her into Paradise. After King Henry makes his exit, Lady Margaret confides to Elizabeth that Catherine is arrogant and over-privileged. https://www.thoughtco.com/catherine-of-aragon-facts-3528153 (accessed March 5, 2023). I write about mental health, the media, and everything in between. In 1501 she married Prince Arthur, eldest son of King Henry VII of England. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. ||sitemap_index.xml Prince Harry joins her at the door and removes her shoes. The marriage was annulled and he went on to marry Anne Boleyn, a favorite mistress. Three years into the royal couples marriage, Henry was still so besotted with his consort that he invited a Spanish visitor to look at her just to see how bella and beautiful she was.. 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.. 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. The new details involve the queen more deeply as a director of events rather than a passive figurehead managed by those of Henrys counselors left in England, Sean Cunningham, the archivist who discovered the papers, told the Times Mark Bridges in May. Catherine of Aragon was born on the 16th December 1485 and was the youngest surviving child of the Spanish Catholic monarchs, Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Instead, she assumed an active role in the governingand protectionof England. Catherine of Aragon served as regent for her husband, Henry VIII, for six months when he was in France in 1513. Thats unheard of, even among the English royalty. The coron. Between 1510 and 1518 Catherine gave birth to six children, including two sons, but all except Mary (later queen of England, 155358) either were stillborn or died in early infancy. 2023 Smithsonian Magazine She sees fighting for her own marriage as just as important as fighting for the Catholic faith.. 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. She wants to bathe and then take a siesta. Yet, while she enjoyed her non-traditional life, she regularly questioned, Am I gonna be able to have kids? Prince Arthur attempts to change the subject, assuring Princess Catherine hell try and be a good husband whos always attentive to her needs. Tremlett describes how Catherine could barely sit up, yet alone stand, that she had been unable to keep food down and that she was unable to sleep due to severe pains in her stomach. For some years the couple lived happily. You can find out more about this programme of events at The Katherine of Aragon Festival 2011 webpage. However, on the night of the 6th January, Catherine became fidgety and in the early hours of the 7th she asked to take communion. Henry had also become infatuated with one of his wife's . Edward interrupts to inform Catherine the Queen has asked to see her. What Happened To Catherine Of Aragon After Henry VIII Left Her. Though Catherine was careful to praise her husbands success in France, she and other contemporary observers knew that Henrys triumphs paled in comparison to Flodden. The challenges of fertility poison the once. It is unclear exactly why Katherine lost so many of her children. Princess Catherine doesnt care about the semantics; she isnt fond of so much water raining down from the heavens. The Battle of Flodden occurred while Henry VIII was off invading Franceand reportedly because Henry VIII was off invading France. Oviedo stops the assault and then accompanies her to search for herbs. "Facts About Catherine of Aragon." Charlotte explains that initially . Ultimately, Catherine spent seven years mired in uncertainty over her future. Catherine of Aragon wins this battle, telling Lady Margaret she will not meet anyone until she has had a bath and a siesta. King Henrys beside himself with worry over Englands finances. 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. Rosa and Lina discover the herbs (rosemary) for Catherines bath have wilted.