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Thursday Book Club: Katherine of Aragon

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Okay! Back to Henry VIII and his six wives. Let’s begin at the beginning with wife #1: Katherine of Aragon (sometimes spelled “Catherine”).

Katherine of Aragon in her later years, via NPG London via TudorHistory.org

Katherine was the youngest daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, and sister to Juana la Loca. She married England’s heir apparent, Arthur, in 1501. When sickly Arthur died shortly after the marriage, Katherine lived in a kind of limbo for years. She became engaged to the new heir, Prince Henry, but by the time the prince was old enough to marry, Henry’s father was no longer so keen on an alliance with Spain. Thus, Katherine was unable to marry Henry and unable to return home. Finally, in 1509 Henry VII died and his son, Henry VIII, married Katherine.

Henry was devoted to Katherine for a long time (he had very few mistresses for a king) despite the fact that a number of pregnancies resulted in only one child who lived past infancy: Princess Mary. But Katherine was six years older than Henry and there came a time when he felt she looked old and unattractive, plus she was clearly past child-bearing years. Mistress Anne Boleyn caught his eye, and he started dreaming about a new marriage to a younger woman who would produce a bunch of boys. His efforts to divorce Katherine led to England’s split from the Roman Catholic Church.

Anne Boleyn, the other woman

Henry’s argument for divorce was that Katherine had slept with his brother and God was punishing that sin by depriving him of heirs. Katherine claimed Arthur had been too ill and young to consummate the brief marriage and swore that she was a virgin when she married Henry. Katherine had many supporters; she was devout and dignified and certainly stuck to her principles. The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory (author of The Other Boleyn Girl) is a historical novel that proposes that Katherine could have told a Big Lie about her relationship with Arthur. I was intrigued by this premise. It makes Katherine seem more savvy and complicated than the virgin story does. The book takes you through her life up until her appearance in court for a hearing on the divorce.

The coronation of Henry and Katherine via Cambridge University Library via TudorHistory.org

Prolific historical fiction writer Jean Plaidy wrote three novels on Katherine of Aragon, which are now available in one volume. Some of Plaidy’s writing can be stilted, but the Aragon series really brings the characters to life.

Other reading suggestions include The Spanish Bride by Laurien Gardner and The Divorce of Catherine of Aragon by J.A. Froude.

Katherine held out against Henry till the day she died, refusing to accept the divorce or any title besides queen, and holding fast to the Roman church. Henry punished her by housing her in drafty, uncomfortable palaces and separating her from her daughter and attendants. These experiences ruined the physical and emotional health of her daughter Mary, whose reign was a failure as a result. Might it have been better for Katherine to compromise for the sake of her daughter? You can tell me what you think after you read the books.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I’ve only read the Gregory out of the books you mentioned and really enjoyed it. I’ve always found Katherine to be the saddest of his wives…

  2. Lately I’m obsessed with the Mary question. I guess you’re right…Katherine was the saddest. I would suggest that Anne B. was the sexiest, Jane was the most manipulated, Anne C. was the smartest, Katherine Howard was the dumbest, and Katherine Parr was the luckiest.

  3. Love Euro history! I am totally printing this post out to take with me the next time I go to the books store!

  4. @Valley Girl…oh good, I’m glad this was helpful. I had trouble writing this one and worried it was too long and boring. Something about the Tudors overwhelms me 🙂

  6. nice post.

    i was reading the book by david starkey about a year ago but i could not get through it. i am kind of OCD about finishing books that i start so i am sure i will get back it sometime soon.

  7. Yesterday, I took out Kristin L. from the library and am very looking forward to it. Gruff librarian with a heart of gold said it looked interesting. (All of my librarians have easy descriptions, so when I am telling a story to my bf, he’ll know who I am speaking of. See also: Cool Surfer Librarian, Faintly British-Accented Librarian that You saw at Grocery Store that Night, and Lonely Librarian who is almost as sad as Katherine.

    Anyhow, right on with your attribute list.

  9. It always brings a bit of fresh air to read something apart from the current fashion stuff. 🙂
    I happen to live not so far away from a famous castle from the catholic kings era… I have to upload some of the pics I’ve taken during past visits… 🙂