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Catherine of Aragon Facts

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Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon

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Basic Facts:

Known for: first queen consort of Henry VIII; mother of Mary I of England; Catherine's refusal to be put aside for a new queen -- and the Pope's support of her position -- led to Henry's separating the Church of England from the Church of Rome
Occupation: queen consort of Henry VIII of England
Born: December 16, 1485
Died: January 7, 1536
Queen of England: from June 11, 1509
Coronation: June 24, 1509

Catherine of Aragon Biography:

Also known as: Katherine, Katharine, Katherina, Katharina, Kateryn, Catalina, Infanta Catalina de Aragón y Castilla, Infanta Catalina de Trastámara y Trastámara, Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Countess of Chester, Queen of England, Dowager Princess of Wales

Background, Family of Catherine of Aragon:

Both of Catherine's parents were part of the Trastámara dynasty.

  • Mother: Isabella I of Castile
  • Father: Ferdinand II of Aragon
  • Siblings:
    • Isabella, Queen of Portugal (1470 - 1498; married to Afonso, Prince of Portugal, then Manuel I of Portugal)
    • John, Prince of Asturias (1478 - 1497; married to Margaret of Austria)
    • Joanna of Castile (Juana the Mad) (1479 - 1555; 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)
    • Maria, Queen of Portugal (1482 - 1517; married to Manuel I of Portugal; her daughter Isabella married Joanna's son Charles V and was mother of Philip II of Spain, who married Catherine's daughter, Mary)
    • Catherine (1485 - 1536) was the youngest of the siblings

Marriage, Children:

  • husband: Arthur, Prince of Wales (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)
    • children: Catherine was pregnant six times during her marriage to Henry VIII:
      • January 31, 1510: daughter, stillborn
      • 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
      • November 9-10, 1518: daughter, stillborn or died shortly after birth

About Catherine of Aragon: Catherine of Aragon Facts | Early Life and First Marriage | Marriage to Henry VIII | The King's Great Matter | Catherine of Aragon Books | Mary I | Anne Boleyn | Women in the Tudor Dynasty

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