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NAME: Catherine of Aragon
LIFETIME: December 16, 1485 – January 7, 1536
WHAT SHE IS KNOWN FOR: Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of the infamous Henry VIII of England and the daughter of legendary warriors Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castille. The status of her marriage was the most discussed topic of conversation in England after Henry fell in love with the young Anne Boleyn.
WHY WE LOVE HER: Catherine was betrothed to Prince Arthur of Wales at the age of three. However, the betrothal was short lived; Arthur died five months later. Catherine’s father-in-law, Henry VII, ran a tight household money-wise and wanted to keep Catherine in England so that he wouldn’t have to repay her dowry.
While she remained in legal limbo, awaiting the news of her new betrothal to Henry VII or his younger son, future Henry VIII, Catherine struggled to support herself and her staff; surviving letters written to her father attest to her poor treatment during those seven years.
In 1507, Catherine was elected as the Spanish ambassador to the court of England, making her the first female ambassador in European history. Two years later, she married Henry VIII, their marriage lasting 24 years until it was dissolved. Together, they had six children, although only one child survived, a daughter named Mary.
As Henry’s desire for a son and heir intensified, he sought out an annulment from Catherine. However her utter devotion to the Roman Catholic faith led her to stand for herself in court against Henry’s commission. When the Pope refused to grant Henry a divorce, Catherine assumed that her marriage was saved until Henry broke ties from Rome and established the Church of England.
On her deathbed Catherine reasserted her place as Henry’s lawful wife and England’s rightful Queen, denouncing his marriage to Anne Boleyn to the agreement of the public, who loved Catherine like no other queen and deeply mourned her death.
FUN FACT: “The Education of Christian Women,” written by Juan Luis Vives, was commissioned by and dedicated to Catherine, claiming that women had the right to education. Even her mortal enemy, Thomas Cromwell, recognized her power, saying, “If not for her sex, she could have defied all of the heroes of History.” During her time as Queen, Catherine made education fashionable for women, tutored her daughter Mary and donated large sums of money to support university education.
READ MORE: #WomenThatDid: Sappho
