Catherine of Aragon

by Garrett Mattingly

For 24 years she was the wife of Henry VIII. England loved her; Henry loved, respected, and finally feared her. Wolsey hated her. Twice she saved England, once from invasion, once from Civil War. Here is one of those rare books, brilliantly readable and buttressed by scholarship and research, which make you see history through new eyes.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Tudor Period, British Literature, Historical, Biography Memoir

470 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Garrett Mattingly was a Professor of European History at Columbia University. He was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1960 for his The Defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Reviews

[Marigold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent, well-researched historical biography of Catherine, 1st wife of Henry VIII, though a bit dated (pub. 1941). I picked it up at a library book sale in California last spring--& found inside 1) various pressed flowers, 2) a bookmark with an Asian painting on it, 3) a newspaper clipping about a lecture featuring Dr. Benjamin Spock & Dr. S.I. Hayakawa discussing educational reform! OK, that was a digression – but what’s better than finding things inside used books?! What’s better is finding the term “beef-witted” used in a sentence! And having Henry VIII described as a “slobbering hulk”! I’m a history fan & I’ve done quite a bit of reading on Henry & the wives. (Say it with me now – divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived!) But after reading this book I can finally say that I have a better understanding of Catherine, because Mattingly describes her childhood, education, & goes into detail about the long and successful marriage she enjoyed with Henry prior to his involvement with Anne Boleyn. Catherine was the daughter of Ferdinand & Isabella of Spain, & was probably one of the best-educated princesses of her time, extremely qualified to be Queen of England. She was intelligent, courageous, & also fun-loving in her early years – she & Henry both loved books, clothes, music, & hunting. She was deeply involved in his foreign & domestic policy in the first half of their marriage. The people who knew her loved & respected her, & had she chosen, she probably could have begun a successful rebellion against Henry – but she didn’t believe that war was the answer. All the old Tudor faves are here too – Thomas More, Wolsey, Cromwell, & a sympathetic portrayal of Spanish ambassador Chapuys (for a change). Well-written & sympathetic toward Catherine in the context of her times.

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a good read - an EXCELLENT read.

I had no idea this book existed until I saw it on the shelf in a used bookstore. I gasped with happiness to find a book on the Tudors I hadn't read yet and snatched it off the shelf.

The book is chock full of facts from her birth to death, filled with details about her life and the people she interacted with and how her part in events played out, with great looks into motivation without spilling over into pure fan fiction. I suspect this book was the prime source for a ton of historical fiction writers - I definitely recognized a few scenes that have been portrayed in books and film in fictionalized versions of her life, which just goes to show what a good story history makes without any need to change it.

[Laura Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly thorough biography with a lot of pertinent historical detail about the times and political landscape Catherine of Aragon had to navigate. Very interesting also to explore how Catherine's case affected the church and unwittingly aided the rise of Protestantism in Europe.

A couple of missteps, in my opinion, knocked a star off the rating, however. Mattingly tends to be an apologist for Henry VIII to some degree. Why is it some men have a problem admitting some other men are controlled by their d****? I'm a woman and I'll admit that there are women who marry and divorce for money. See, not so hard. Henry VIII's main reason for rejecting Catherine and trying to discredited her was fueled by his lust for Anne Boleyn, after which he tried acting all pious in order to hide the truth. The majority of the British population saw through his act and still held Catherine of Aragon in high regard. And what Henry did in regards to Mary, keeping her away from her mother out of spite, was just plain cruel. Mattingly also tries at one point to equate Catherine's motivations regarding the question of divorce to Henry's which is ridiculous. Catherine was merely trying to retain her good name, keep England out of war, stand for the truth and protect the church, all the while attempting to guard her daughter's reputation as well, the last something Henry seemed to care little about.

Mattingly also neglected to adequately convey the dire situation Queen Catherine was living in the last year or so of her life while banished to the outskirts of the country. There was little to no money for even basic necessities, such as food and clothing. Catherine was also struggling with illness during this time and she desperately missed her daughter. I've read a couple of other books which depict this period of her life much more vividly. Maybe the author had just run out of steam by this point. Who knows?

The early years and the political intrigue swirling around the court and the world at large proved very informative, however. I'm glad I read this book, but I also think a person needs to read other sources on Catherine of Aragon to get a more complete picture of the woman Henry cast aside.

[Lora Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author of this book was a specialist in early modern European diplomacy and came to the study of Catherine of Aragon by way of a study of the diplomatic correspondence of the ambassadors of Spain. Hence, much of this book is taken up with the diplomatic wrangling over the two main issues of Catherine’s life; the dispute over her dowry, and the attempt by Henry VIII to divorce her. Biographies of Catherine are rare; most of what biographical information you hear about her usually shows up as sort of a sidelight in biographies of Henry VIII or Anne Boleyn, or perhaps of Mary Tudor. It is easily possible that most of the remaining records of her life are those of these diplomatic controversies. Given the dry nature of the sources, this is a surprisingly readable book.

[C.S. Burrough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great biography of a great royal consort, England's beloved Queen Cate.

This daughter of Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon was three when betrothed to Arthur, Prince of Wales, heir apparent to the English throne. They were then married by proxy in 1499, corresponding in Latin until Arthur was fifteen, when their parents agreed they were old enough to actually marry.

Henry VII sailed Catherine to England for the marriage. As Prince and Princess of Wales the couple resided on the Welsh borders. Several months later both became ill, possibly with the sweating sickness which swept the area. Arthur died aged fifteen in 1502, leaving Catherine alone in a foreign country, impoverished without a settled dowry.

Henry VII tried avoiding his obligation to return Catherine's dowry, half of which he had not yet received, to her father. To settle matters, it was agreed that Catherine could marry Henry VII's second son, Henry Duke of York, five years her junior.

In 1509, seven years after Arthur's death, Henry became King Henry VIII with Catherine at his side from the outset. She was twenty-three, Henry a few days shy of eighteen.

Catherine's tenure as England's Queen Consort lasted almost twenty-four years. Such was her immense popularity that even her foe, Thomas Cromwell, said of her 'If not for her sex she could have defied all the heroes of history.'

A patroness of Renaissance humanism, Catherine befriended great scholars Erasmus of Rotterdam and Thomas More. She commissioned Juan Luis Vives' book The Education of Christian Women, which claimed women had rights to educations, and was dedicated to her. She also won widespread admiration by founding an extensive programme for the relief of the poor.

In 1513 she became England's regent for six months while Henry VIII was in France. During that time, she played an important part in the England's win of the Battle of Flodden.

After Catherine's many unsuccessful births and only a daughter (Mary) Henry set his eye on Catherine's Lady in Waiting Anne Boleyn, with ideas for a male heir.

Seeking to have his marriage annulled, Henry initiated England's schism with the Catholic Church. When the pope refused the annulment, Henry defied him, assuming personal supremacy over England's church. In 1533 Catherine's marriage was declared invalid and Henry married Anne.

Catherine always considered herself Henry's rightful wife and queen, never accepting him as the Church of England's Supreme Head. Her stance attracted popular sympathy, with the English holding her in such high esteem. Regardless, Henry would only henceforth acknowledge her as Dowager Princess of Wales.

After all those years of struggle to remain Henry's consort, poor Catherine was finally packed off to the country, where she lived out her days at Kimbolton Castle. She was denied contact with even her daughter Princess Mary who, at Anne Boleyn's insistence, was declared illegitimate and removed from the succession in favour if Anne's daughter, Elizabeth.

Sad and alone, Catherine dyed in 1536 aged fifty. The English people hated her usurper and mourned deeply for Catherine.

Heartbreaking material at times, about a widely adored woman of immeasurable human decency and royal dignity, this makes for essential reading for those interested in this period.

Catherine's embittered daughter becomes the infamous Bloody Mary, who we know will take out her troubles on all and sundry - especially Anne Boleyn's daughter, Elizabeth - when Mary wins the crown.

Garrett Mattingly's biography cannot fail to satisfy.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this portrait of a very principled and stubborn woman who would not say what she didn't believe to be true, at the cost of her station and health.

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was immediately struck by the quality of the prose — so immaculately written! Always a good sign when I’m riveted by a story I already know.

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m FINALLY done & let’s just say that this now-destroyed little paper back delivered. Mattingly’s narrative voice is perfect for the subject material, and I am at last rid of “No Way” playing on repeat in the back of my head. Phew.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Catherine of Aragon” by Garrett Mattingly was a delightful adventure. Reading Mattingly’s other masterpiece “The Armada” is what pushed me to follow more of his work…thus I arrived at Catherine of Aragon. As usual Mattingly writes with deep knowledge from his research and a sly wit in his approach to the subject. The book teems with history of the intrigue among seemingly all the European royals in the late-1400s-early 1500s.

Simply, the book takes Ferdinand and Isabella’s youngest daughter Catherine and follows as she is betrothed to Arthur (son of England’s Henry VII)…Arthur dies very early in the marriage…possibly before it ever being consummated. Catherine remains in England and is then (eight years later on the death of Henry VII) betrothed and wed to Arthur’s younger brother Henry…who rises to become Henry VIII. Catherine would be the first of his six wives (remember the high school mantra: divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived), yet provide him with only one child to survive childhood – Mary…who eventually became Queen and played her own large part in English history. Catherine stayed married to Henry VIII for 24 years, until being supplanted by Anne Boleyn.

The intrigue and double/triple dealings of these royals is wonderful history…and probably more interesting than any fiction could hope to be. Among others, Austria, England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain would all be involved; royals such as Henry VII and VIII, Ferdinand and Isabella, Philip I, Emanuel I, Charles VIII and Louis XII, the Emperor Maximillian, Charles V, Francis I, and Alfonso, et al all get to play a role in this pivotal tale; and their aides also figure in as do three Thomases - More, Wolsey, and Cromwell. Mattingly doesn’t miss a move. If you are interested in this period, this is wonderful reading and a great primer on Henry VIII. Highly recommended.

[Redsteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This biography was an outgrowth of the author’s research for Renaissance Diplomacy (also very good), and, as such, focuses closely on diplomatic maneuverings between the kingdoms of early 16th Century Europe. Since in that period, the lines between ambassador and spy were often quite blurred, the notes and letters from diplomats are a key source of information for historians – especially the stuff that governments wanted to keep out of their official records. As a result, ambassadors are frequently quoted in historical nonfiction. Mattingly takes this to a higher level in Catherine of Aragon; here, the ambassadors and diplomatic maneuvering are key to the story of Catherine’s life (from diplomatic maneuvering to arrange her original marriage to Henry’s older brother to Imperial Ambassador Chapuys exceeding his mandate from Catherine’s nephew Charles V and plotting mass uprisings in England in her defense. Published in 1941, the writing in this book may be a bit flowery for some readers (although I enjoyed it),. Here’s one example: “But for the moment only Wolsey’s broad shoulders and sinewy hands seemed equal to the strain, and both the English, who raged at his overbearing pride, and the foreign ambassadors, who described him as “alter rex,” the real ruler of the kingdom, thought of his master, the King, as no more than an idle passenger on the coach of royal absolutism.” Regardless, well researched and a somewhat different perspective than I’ve seen in other biographies. Solid 4 stars.

[J. Alfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mattingly is not the supposedly bias-free voice our current academic historians want us to pay attention to, but in his defense, they are boring and he is not. I really like this guy; both this and his The Armada make excellent and informative reading.
His picture of Catherine makes her something very like a quiet hero, one whose sticking to her own conscience made a real, though difficult to clearly isolate, difference in world history. The whole thing is strong, from the 'sad idyll of the children'-- ie Catherine's few months-long wedding to Arthur Tudor to her magnificent and pitiably loyal attempts at clearing Henry, famously a remarkably bad man, of wrongdoing in her diplomatic letters while she was in political exile and he had broken Christendom apart in order to divorce her. A fascinating read.

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meticulously researched.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge anglophile,especially of Tudor England, so this was right up my alley! What a well written book. It read like a novel, and last week I read a historical fiction novel of Catherine and I could tell that the author of the novel used this novel as the basis of her research. I felt like a detective figuring that one out! I would incourage anyone interested in historical biographies to read this.

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first biography of Catherine of Aragon I read. I got a very old edition, a Spanish edition I think. It is very thorough, albeit a bit outdated (I am eager to check the upcoming book by Patrick Williams). Though I read a spanish translation, I can tell the writing style is quite rich. I think it's a must read for any Catherine enthusiast.

[S Beverage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, solid history of Catherine of Aragon - the daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, who couldn't give Henry VIII a son and led to the English break with Rome. Catherine was a very strong woman, who had a very clear sense of herself and her role. Our world would be very different if she had been able to ensure the Tudor succession. Mattingly has an engaging style.

[Jerome · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew! Exhaustive and tiring at times but a good read nonetheless. The way it is written kept me interested as I read on the el on the way to and from work. If you've ever seen the British series The Forsythe's, you'll appreciate this.

[William Shep · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masterful though now somewhat dated biography of Henry VIII's first queen, Catherine of Aragon. Mattingly set a high standard with this biography, and especially for his more famous work: The Armada.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, it's old, and dated, and it's not exactly balanced—Mattingly loathes Anne Boleyn—but when Anne is usually glorified, Catherine gets thrown in the shadows. Yet, it was with her that Henry VIII spent most of his reign.

Her courage is hard to imagine, and she deserves to be commended for it.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well-written biography that read like a novel. Catherine´s life was frustrating to read about as a modern woman, and her intelligence probably made her life that much harder because it was so out of place in that time.

[Denae · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to read... we read the 1042 edition, and it was not good!!! Found the subject very interesting - but this version... yuck!

[Brittany]

Wonderful book. Very detailed account of Catherine's life, I would highly recommended this.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was great the first 1/3. It was so well written, but it lost me after that as it got muddled up in the facts.

[Russell Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good account of Catherine without getting too much into others in her story.

[Mark Clegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a biography written in 1941 that details the life of the future first wife — and daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain — of King Henry VIII. The book relies heavily on source material from the 16th century from a half-dozen different countries in 4-5 languages, so the sheer feat of researching the subject matter was an impressive accomplishment by the author. The European world in the early 1500's was at least nominally united by a universal church that had resided in Rome for 1,500 years, but the first cracks had appeared in its foundation with the spread of Lutheranism and other reform movements in central Europe. England remained firmly anchored to the Roman Church during this time — in 1521 Henry VIII was annointed "Defender of the Faith" by the Pope for his opposition to the rise of Protestantism. Practical matters , however, eventually superseded spiritual concerns: Henry lacked a male heir and was infatuated with courtesan Anne Boleyn. The de Medici Pope, Clement VII, relied on stall tactics when Henry sought an annulment of his marriage with Catherine. Shifting alliances and hostilities between Henry, the Holy Roman Emperor and the King of France combined with the Turkish invasion of eastern Europe left the papacy preoccupied with political concerns, and the annulment controversy was allowed to metastasize until Henry forced Parliament to make a clean break with the Catholic Church.

Catherine is accurately depicted as both victim and cause of the schism — she was devoted to the Roman Church, but she understandably refused to agree to the annulment (which would have reduced her in status from Queen to a harlot) even though this profoundly difficult decision would have, at least for a generation, saved the Church's position in England. She was possessed of a keen sense of humanity through her almsgiving to the poor and her refusal to ignite a civil war when she was encouraged to do so by many powerful dissident leaders.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The classic 20th century biography of Catherine mostly stands up to 21st century scrutiny. Mattingly is clearly knowledgeable about 16th century international relations and has dug deep into the Spanish and imperial state papers. The book is great about Catherine's life before her marriage to Henry, the ups and downs of her situation and her exceptional abilities at diplomacy and statecraft, in the context of what was going on among the kings of Europe. In my opinion the book begins to falter and show its age once it gets to the last phase of her life, when Henry wanted to dump her for Anne. For one thing, he totally credits everything Chapuys puts on paper, whereas more modern sources try to assess the value of his reportage. But, to me worse - As in all the historical romances I read in the 70s, if Catherine is our heroine then Anne must be a scheming vindictive villain, and if Anne is our heroine then Catherine must be a stubborn old fool; if the Catholics are innocent martyrs then the Protestants must be cynical and cruel, or vice versa. I don't believe this is good biography or true to human nature, and I am spoiled by more recent biography and fiction that allow all participants in the drama to be complex people (even Cromwell, thank you Hilary Mantel). I wonder if Mattingly fell a bit in love with his Spanish princess. No matter, really. Read it for the first half and set it aside once Catherine marries Henry. And appreciate how beautifully written it is. I wish some of the modern biographers of these figures wrote half as well.

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been into Tudor history and this book intrigued me.

Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII. Catherine who came to England with such high hopes and in the fresh blooms of youth, only to die in sadness and casted out by her husband for not giving him a living male heir. There were a few things that I was not aware of about Catherine, especially the greater political climate in Europe and the ambassadors during that time frame.

The book while long was an interesting and worthwhile read. It wasn't boring for a biography (some biographies do get boring with all the facts) and was rather insightful into who she was instead of who she became known as (no thanks to Henry or history).

[Tinus Van vuuren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently picked up a book from the free books crate at the entrance of our local library in Strand, Western Cape, South Africa. Since knowledge of early British history is rather sparse in this part of the world, I found this biography of Catherine of Aragon, a queen about whom we know little, to be a delightful read. It reminded me of scenes from Game of Thrones! Catherine of Aragon was a remarkable woman: intelligent, learned, pious, strong, a beloved queen, faithful to the king, and a loving mother. She is a role model for women even today.

[Angela Gifford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very solid biographical depiction of Catherine’s life, it was interesting to see how much her upbringing influenced the way she operated as Queen and in her post-Queen era. I really thought the author did a great job capturing the tension of what life was like once she was pushed off the throne, but the depictions of Anne Boleyn felt biased at times, painting her almost a mad woman, as it was clear we should be rooting for Catherine.

[Vincent Lombardo · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is too long and too detailed, and the prose is stilted and ornate. Mattingly is at his best when he focuses on Catherine and her relationship with Henry VIII. Unfortunately, he often takes his eye off Catherine and writes in excruciating detail about other subjects. A much shorter book focusing more on Catherine would have been much better.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has done their research and accessed as many primary sources as possible (some were unavailable due to the Spanish Civil War). Very much enjoyed the good scholarship and well written biography.