7th January 1536 – Death of Catherine of Aragon

RIP Great and true Queen of England! May you forever be remembered ad the gentle kind soul. Sleep well great lady!

I think it’s fair to say that Katherine of Aragon was the most popular of Henry VIII’s wives and perhaps nowadays universally still is. She was certainly courageous and never stopped fighting for a cause she believed in, the Cathedral is correct to identify her as a queen much beloved by the English people.

I am always torn between Katharine (I understand this is the true spelling of her name), and Anne Boleyn, as I believe, even during her trial when Henry would not deny that she was a virgin when she married him in 1509. I am an Anne Boleyn supporter to the furthest degree, but she did not deserve to be forbiden to see her daughter, Mary, and that influenced Mary with her Catholic supporters, to become even more defiant of the Church of England. But she did die a Queen as was her station when Henry VII accepted her dowry, and betrohed her to Henry, in order to keep it.

Both Katharine (youngest daughter of “The Catholic Kings” of Spain, those being Ferdinand and isabella) deserved her title.

But in the way Henry broke away from the Catholic Churhc to marry Anne, which speaks more than words can say for Anne’s family, and her own wily brains for holding out from Henry for almost a decade to be commmended. She, too, was the Queen of England in the new England, under Henry VIII, an absolute monarch, and as “The Act of Supremacy” dictated, and to which all England was subject. Anne was a woman worthy of being Queen, and back then it was not known that the man determines the sex of a child, that Anne was a could have been a great Queen (and Elizabeth proved to be just that), if she had acted as Katharine did to all of Henry’s wandering, as it were.

Also, it has been noted that Katharine was the last hold keeping Anne secure on the throne. As Anne siad at her trial, “We will all be judged in time,” that she was truly the Queen under the new order, and should be commended as such.

I do salute, on this day, Katharine of Aragon, for her courage and her never denying that she was Henry’s lawful wife.

Anne was also his lawful wife under the “Act of Supremacy (sp?)” and that was how it was. No one can change history, and I would never would want to know what would have happened to England without the great Elizabeth I. Thank you, WilesWales

I agree that Katherine was a pious strong woman that was mistreated by Henry VIII. She does however need to bear her burden of responsibility for the events that followed in her wake. I understand how she would fight for her marriage and position as well as that of her daughter. She was intelligent enough and lived in England long enough to realize why Henry needed a male heir. The position her mother held was an anomoly in the 15th century. If she had been successful in retaining her position and had the Duke of Richmond lived there most certainly had been a civil war in England much like there was in the time of Stephen and Matilda.
Make no mistake… Katherine may have been sweet, gentle, kind, etc. but she had the ability to be duplicitious and shrewed if need be. Because of her actions Mary’s personality underwent damage and in the end is remembered as being more bloody than her father. She became as stubborn and Spanish as her mother. Henry became determined to win at all costs that set up a pattern for the rest of his life.. And the worst part as far as The Most Catholics Majesties’ daughter would see was the break with the Vatican.
Henry could be merciful to those that gave in to his wishes. Anne of Cleves did not please him yet became his most loved sister who lived out a comfortable life.
Imagine a Catholic England with Henry IX ruling, Princess Mary wed to a Spanish Prince and a religious order founded by Katherine flourishing.
Something to think about.

KATHARINE, YOU WERE A TRULY BLUEBLODED QUEEN, AND YOU WERE A REAL QUEEN, UNFORTUNATELY YOU WERE UNFORTUNATE TO HAVE ENTERED NTO A MARRIAGE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.. I PAY YOU RESPECTS TODAY KATHARINE, AND MAY YOU HAVE ETERNAL PEACE, AND ALSO YOUR ANCESTORS PEACE ..

KofA was a wonderful and loyal person. It was unfortunate that Henry VIII went hell bent on a trial for a divorce from her. I think that Anne Bolyn was hell bent on becoming Queen of England during KoA reign. Henry only become in love only because of Anne’s temptress beahvior and the Bolyn family whom became too power hungry for more power. According to the Catholic Church Katherine of Aragon was the only and legitimate wife of King Henry VIII. Becasue of Anne’s sultryness and her temptress she had henry under her spell thus making Henry VIII more and more in love with her while married to KoA. The Rise and Demise of the Tudor Dynasty is because of Anne Bolyn’s insistance of becoming Queen not a mistress. Only if Ann would agree to be his mistress and bear sons England would have been happy and wouldn’t have religious wars. I commend KoA for her stance and refusal for divorce she is the epitomy of good morality and ethics.. The down fall of society began with Anne and Henry VIII. If Henry VIII didn’t divorce KoA the world wouldn’t be so corrupt today. This is just my commentary about the Tudors.