The Marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon
Posted By Claire on June 11, 2010
Catherine of Aragon as Mary Magdalene
On this day in history, 11th June 1509, the new king, Henry VIII, married his brother’s widow, Catherine of Aragon, nearly 6 years after they had originally been betrothed. The marriage took place in a private ceremony in the queen’s closet at Greenwich Palace in front of two witnesses: Lord Steward Shrewsbury and groom of the privy chamber, William Thomas. As soon as the wedding was over, preparations began in earnest for the double coronation of King Henry VIII and Queen Catherine.
Catherine of Aragon
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. It is interesting to note that she had a strong claim to the English throne as she was descended from John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III. She did not have the typical dark Spanish looks, instead she had blue eyes and auburn or strawberry blonde hair, and was said to be a great beauty. When she arrived in England in 1501 to marry Prince Arthur, heir to the throne, Thomas More said of her:-
“Ah, but the lady! Take my word for it, she thrilled the hearts of everyone: she possesses all those qualities that make for beauty in a very charming girl. Everywhere she receives the highest of praises; but even that is inadequate.”1
Bride and Widow
Arthur, Prince of Wales
On the 14th November 1501 the 15 year old Catherine of Aragon married the 14 year old Arthur, Prince of Wales, son of King Henry VII, at St Paul’s Cathedral. The couple were then sent to Ludlow Castle in the Welsh Marches so that Arthur could begin his duties as Prince of Wales but within months both Catherine and Arthur became ill with what is thought to have been sweating sickness. Although it looked like both of them would die, Catherine recovered but only to find that Arthur had died on the 2nd April 1502. In an effort to keep Catherine’s dowry, Henry VII, who had recently been widowed, started negotiations to marry Catherine himself but her mother, Isabella I of Castile was horrified and Henry was forced to drop the plans. Instead, he decided to start negotiations to marry Catherine off to the new heir to the throne, Prince Henry.
On the 23rd June 1503 a marriage treaty was signed and Catherine and Prince Henry became betrothed at a ceremony on the 25th June. It was planned that a proper marriage ceremony would take place on Henry’s 15th birthday, the 28th June 1506, which would give England and Spain chance to get a papal dispensation to allow the couple to marry. In the summer of 1504, the Pope showed that he was willing to grant the dispensation but shortly after Isabella received it in November 1504 she died.
Isabella’s death was a huge blow to Catherine, not only because she was her mother but also because, to Henry VII, “Catherine the daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon was a much less attractive proposition as a daughter-in-law than Catherine the daughter of the Catholic kings of Spain”. Catherine’s father, Ferdinand, was not the heir to Castile. Henry VII therefore discouraged his son from the union and on the 27th June 1505, the day before the marriage was meant to be solemnized, Prince Henry repudiated. Poor Catherine was left in an impossible position: her father did not want her to return to Spain but, as she was no longer marriage material, Henry VII had cut off her allowance. Catherine had no choice but to remain in England, live in virtual poverty and just hope that things would turn out right. Things got better when her father appointed her as a Spanish ambassador but she had to wait until her knight in shining armour came to rescue her in 1509 for things to be right again.
Henry VIII, 1509
Bride Again
On the 21st April 1509, King Henry VII died and his son, Prince Henry, became King Henry VIII. Overnight, Catherine’s fortunes changed and although the Spanish envoy, Fuensalida, reported on the 24th April that he had “been told that a member of the king’s council has said that [the marriage] is unlikely because from what they know of Henry it would burden his conscience to marry his brother’s widow”2, the marriage negotiations, which had been dragging on since 1502 were brought to a successful end in May 1509. On the 8th June, the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham, issued the marriage licence and the couple married on the 11th June.
The Wedding
Catherine of Aragon married Henry VIII, her knight in shining armour, on the 11th June in the Queen’s closet at Greenwich Palace. According to the Calendar of State Papers, Spain, the formal words used by the couple at the ceremony were:-
“Most illustrious Prince, is it your will to fulfil the treaty of marriage concluded by your father, the late King of England, and the parents of the Princess of Wales, the King and Queen of Spain ; and, as the Pope has dispensed with this marriage, to take the Princess who is here present for your lawful wife?
The King answered : I will.
Most illustrious Princess, &c. (mutatis mutandis).
The Princess answered : I will.”3
Catherine was 23 years of age and Henry was just about to turn 18. Although she had suffered much hardship since the death of Prince Arthur, she was still a beauty, and Henry VIII was in his prime. The Spanish ambassador had said of Henry, when he was Prince of Wales: “There is no finer youth in the world than the prince of Wales” and it is known that he was over six feet in height and long-limbed. Alison Weir, in her book “The Six Wives of Henry VIII” describes Henry as:-
“A man of great physical beauty, above the usual height, being around 6’3″ tall… He was magnificent to look at, being lean and muscular, with an extremely fine calf to his leg of which he was inordinately proud, and had skin so fair that it was almost translucent; we are told that it glowed, flushing a rosy pink after the King had exercised.”4
Here are some contemporary descriptions of King Henry VIII:-
“The King tilted against many, stoutly and valorously. According to their own observation and the report of others, King Henry was not only very expert in arms and of great valour, and most eminent for his personal endowments, but so gifted and adorned with mental accomplishments, that they believed him to have few equals in the world. He spoke English, French, and Latin, understood Italian well, played on almost every instrument, sang and composed fairly, was prudent, sage, and free from every vice, and so good and affectionate a friend to the Signory, that no ultramontane sovereign ever surpassed him in that respect.”5
“The personal beauty of the King is very great, as Foscari doubtless has been informed by his brother, the Lord Frederick. He is also courageous, an excellent musician, plays well on the harpsichord, is learned for his age and station, and has many other endowments and good parts. Two such courts and two such Kings as those of France and England have not been witnessed by any Venetian ambassador for these 50 years, as is attested by the Magnifico Pietro Pasqualigo, who extols everything usque ad astra.”6
A Venetian diplomatic visiting the English Court said of Henry VIII:-
“His Majesty is the handsomest potentate I ever set eyes on; above the usual height, with an extremely fine calf to his leg, his complexion fair and bright, with auburn hair, combed straight and short in the French fashion, and a round face so very beautiful that it would become a pretty woman, his throat was rather long and thick.”
As you can see, Henry was quite a catch and at this stage he was quite the “Virtuous Prince”, a Renaissance man who wanted to change England for the better and live with his beautiful new wife for ever. Who could have known at this piont that the marriage would end unhappily 24 years later and that this man would turn into a monster who would wreck the lives of six wives, his friends and members of his court?
Anyway, this day in 1509 was a happy day for the royal couple so let’s remember them that way.
Notes and Sources
- E.F. Rogers, ed., Thomas More Selected Letters, 2-3, quoted in Henry Virtuous Prince, David Starkey, p143
- Correspondencia de Fuensalida, 516, quoted in Starkey
- Calendar of State Papers, Spain, Volume 2, 17
- The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Alison Weir, p72
- Calendar of State Papers Relating to English Affairs in the Archives of Venice, Volume 2, 614
- Ibid., 624
Despite this glowing report of Henry’s good looks and character, I would still like to go back in time, after learning the Spanish phrases, “Don’t do it!”, “He’s a jerk!” and “You’ll be sorry!”
The above phrases in French (for Anne Boleyn) and German (for Anne of Cleves) would also be memorized as well, though in Anne of Cleves’s case, I already know the perfect term, schweinhund.
In all seriousness, though, contrasting Henry’s early life with how he later turned out – wow, what a flip in personality. A pity these great personality virtues seem to have masked that Henry was possibly a sociopath. It is so sad that Katharine fell so deeply in love, and remained in love with him despite this.
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Love that you chose the Catherine as Mary Magdalene portrait – seems her sister, Juana, enjoyed posing as that saint, too.
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Funniy enough, Historic Royal Palaces did a huge promotion of “Katherine in Love” a year or so ago referring to her marriage to Henry and also a similar promotion “Henry – the Pin-up Prince” to demonstrate how good looking he was in his youth,
I believe Philippa Gregory also wrote a novel “The Perefct priness???”" about Katherine’s relationship with both Arthur and Henry inferring that Katherine was actually in love with Arthur but went through the motions with Henry for political purposes.
Funnily enough, Katherine’s sister known as “Joan the Mad” was bonkers enough because of so much interbreeding on her mother’s side but as Claire says ithat Katherine was also descended from John of Gaunt and as was Henry, that could also be reflected in Mary Tudor’s later obsession with heretics.
Whatever Katherine’s feelings she would have had not choice in the matter in any case and being a Royal woud have considered her duty as well to marruy and to stay married to HVII.
MiLadyBlue – I am entirely in agreement with you about what she should ahve done and know the Spanish phrases perfectly. I speak very little German but you have just remended me of a name I had forgotten and used to use quite often to describe certain jerks,
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Thanks for the article Claire and THAT is one of my favorite portraits of Catherine. You are so right. Who would have thought on that beautiful day that it would all erode into divorce, abandonment, a mother and daughter torn apart, and a former Renaissance prince transforming into some despotic monster who was willing to move Heaven and Earth to get what he wanted.
But remember what one of Henry’s first acts was as King (in his desire to be loved by the people). He had his father’s loyal servants Richard Empson and Edmund Dudley executed because they were hated — understandably so — by the public. Okay, as a Tudor I might have gotten rid of them too, but I guess that was a premonition of Henry’s treatment of many who devotedly served him and loved him.
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The Gregory book about Catherine is called The Constant Princess. If I could go back in time and speak perfect Spanish, I would try to persuade Isabella to allow the marriage to Henry VII. How history would have been different! IMHO Anne of Cleves made out like a bandit. She left a crappy home life and lived a good life as a very wealthy, independent woman. The more I read about the Tudors, the more sympathy I have for Henry VIII. I don’t think he was a psychopath. I think he was very shrewd and very good at statecraft. He and his daughter Elizabeth were very much alike in their ability to survive and thrive in a malignant environment.
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Do you think that Henry was in love with Katherine? How did he change his mind so fast after his father died.
I have read the book The Constant Princess, it “claims” that Katherine had consummated her marriage with Arthur, but lied saying otherwise, because she had promised her late husband that she would become Queen. Of course it’s a novel. but Gregory always builds this kind of stories, like in The other Boleyn girl.
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It was certainlly i sad thing that Catherines marriage to henry should end in such a way .
In fact for a long time it was a happy and succesful marriage in royal terms. it bought political benefits to england and Catherine was a good and popular queen. She and Henry got on well together also and Henry seem to have loved her in theearly years of their marriage and kept on having respect and affection for her even later on in their marriage.
He may not have been totally fitful to her later on in their marriage but there were many kings who had many more mistresses and illigitimate children than Henry had .
The big trouble was that they had no surviving son if they had had that they would probably gone on relatively harmonious unto Catherines death and Anne Boleyn would perhaps have been just an episode.
Henrys hate for catherine came first when she refused to get him an anullement of the marriage and the whole affair went on. Anne boleyn possible egged him on a bit too.
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Henry was not a socio-path it is thought that he may have been suffering from a bone disease called ‘osteomylitis’ which started first when he had that infamous fall from his horse.
Towards the end of his life as the disease progressed, as it eventually affected both legs, besides all the pus that built up in the wound causing excruciating pain, there was also pieces of his bone coming to the surface of his leg which had to be extracted, causing Henry to be in so much agony he was near death with the fevers brought on by this invasive procedure. These fevers would cause him to hallucinate and would last days and were becoming more frequent and more debilitating and also beginning to last for longer periods of time before there was any improvement.
Osteomylitis is still a terrible disease today but fortunately we now have anti biotic’s and plaster casts to clear it up if treated fairly early on in the onset of the disease. Even years ago the only way to treat this disease was to cut away the infected part of the bone to stop it spreading through the rest of the bone marrow. I defy anyone to remain sane and unaffected by this continual downward spiral of health and excruciating pain and agony! I should know my son has suffered from it. It was treated in hospital and eventually cleared up but it can come back at any time, and it can be caused by something as simple as a knock!
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Claire
The article is amazing. Is so interesting to picture Henry & Catherine as a happy couple. Specialy knowing how their marriage ended. Imagine how different it all might be if the son they had, had survived.
MyLadyBlue
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MyLady Blue
I don’t speack that much franch or german, but the phrases in spanish are:
“No lo hagas” “Es un idiota” “Te vas a arrepentir”
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Wow, we do forget they were young and happy once. And I believe in love. I think Henry was smitten with Cahterine when he escorted her down the aisle (or across the catwalk as I think it was) and his schoolboy crush continued. I also think there may have been some teen-age rebellion against his father’s wishes. AT any rate, I’m glad for their brief happiness. But DID Catherine and Arthur conummate their marriage? In The Constant Princess, yes. Real life?? I think so. I was reading someone (cant recall) who made a very good case for Catherine lying on this point. Opinions?
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There are records that state that Arthur made the comment “Tis a great thing to have a wife” and “Last night I was in the midst of Spain!” the morning after their wedding. Knowing that as future rulers of a country that their duty was to consumate their marriage and have children makes it highly unlikely that they just sat in the bedroom and just stared at each other.
It has been argued that her duenna, Dona Elvira, convinced Katherine to lie about her state as a virgin. Katherine was more or less left destitute and in political limbo after the death of Arthur while Henry VII and Ferdinand argued back and forth about her dowry. It was a matter of survival that Katherine find a husband…and England wanted the second hald of her dowry.
It is possible that Henry did have love for Katherine- he was young, and as those of us know who marry when young, people change over the years. Katherine was at least 6 years older than Henry, and it is possible that their interests were no longer going down the same path. Prior to meeting Anne, Henry had already been contemplating divorce due to Katherine’s inability to produce a son. I am glad that they had their “happiness,” but honestly, how happy is a woman who has to celebrate the birth of her husband’s bastard son?
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Henry almost certainly suffered from a piuatory tumour which causes huge weight gain, sexual dysfunction and violent mood swings – and the fact he was insecure on the throne – no heir, the Tudors being usurpers, the Balybourne story etc etc did not help the matter !
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I have wondered if the constant stress of her widowhood didn’t have some effect on her pregnancies. Stress can cause a lot of problems.
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Why exactly did Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon?
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Julie – it was because Henry had always coveted whatever belonged to his brother Arthur- he’d got his crown and now he was helping himself to Arthur’s bride. Henry Tudor on his deathbed is said to have begged his only son not to marry Katherine, but to send her back to Spain. It seemed that a English -Spanish Alliance was no longer desirable, which was the original reason for the marriage and to prop up the somewhat shaky claim the Tudors had to the throne
Sheena, to me Arthur’s comments are those of a young boy trying to show that he had done what was required of him, trying to convince others that this was so. Remember, too, that these words were spoken by a very old man at the Blackfriar’s Court, who was almost certainly bribed and they were not recorded on the morning after the wedding
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From Catherine’s point of view, there was nothing particularly odd about marrying her late husband’s brother. Two of her sisters, in succession, married the King of Portugal. The same king’s third wife was the niece of the first two.
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