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Catherine of Aragon: Henry's Spanish Queen
The image of Catherine of Aragon has always suffered in comparison to the vivacious eroticism of Anne Boleyn. But when Henry VIII married Catherine, she was an auburn-haired beauty in her 20s with a passion she had inherited from her parents, Isabella and Ferdinand, the joint-rulers of Spain who had driven the Moors from their country. This daughter of conquistadors showed the same steel and sense of command when organising the defeat of the Scots at the Battle of Flodden and Henry was to learn, to his cost, that he had not met a tougher opponent on or off the battlefield when he tried to divorce her. Henry introduced 4 remarkable women into the tumultuous flow of England's history; Catherine of Aragon and her daughter 'Bloody' Queen Mary; and, Anne Boleyn and her daughter, the Virgin Queen Elizabeth. 'From this contest, between 2 mothers and 2 daughters, was born the religious passion and violence that inflamed England for centuries' says David Starkey. Reformation, revolution and Tudor history would all have been vastly different without Catherine of Aragon. Giles Tremlett's new biography is the first in more than four decades to be dedicated entirely and uniquely to the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry's five other wives put together. It draws on fresh material from Spain to trace the dramatic events of her life through Catherine of Aragon's own eyes.
458 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2010
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6969 people want to read
About the author
Giles Tremlett
8 books174 followersGiles Tremlett is the Guardian’s Madrid correspondent. He has lived in, and written about, Spain for the past twenty years.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
June 20, 2011
I started this biography with a very clear notion of what I did not want: merely another rehearsal of the same events and anecdotes of "the King's Great Matter" that has been recounted or fictionalized countless times. Too often, Catherine of Aragon in these accounts is treated--that infamous wedding night with Prince Arthur aside--as if she quite simply sprang into existence the moment Henry VIII decided their marriage was over. The backstory--where this woman came from, how she came to be who she was, and her first sixteen years of married life--usually doesn't merit detailed treatment.
And I've always thought this was a shame. Catherine of Aragon's life was spent at the confluence of three world-changing historical events that had little to do with the validity of her marriage to the King of England or her difficulties bearing him an heir: her parents' completion of the Christian reconquest of Iberia and the resulting expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain; Columbus's discovery of the Americas and the dawn of Spain's colonial empire; and the assembly of Charles V's unwieldy European empire from the patrimonies of his four grandparents. Of course, it's not as if Catherine was that personally involved in any of these things. But at the same time, I've often found myself wondering at how they influenced her perspective, and how her life and the tragedy of its end fit with these other events.
It's for this reason Tremlett's book is such an absolute treat. He begins with a rollicking account of the lives of Catherine's parents, and particularly Isabella's struggles to win the Aragonese throne. And he continues through all the events of her childhood and early adolescence, including fascinating details on Catherine's life at the Alhambra. Tremlett is then duly attentive to the battles Catherine had to fight just to marry Henry VIII in the first place because of the endless intriguing and wrangling of Henry VII and Ferdinand of Aragon. So the reader only reaches Catherine's marriage to Henry half-way through the biography, something which seems to anyone who has studied her early years absolutely fitting.
Tremlett's care in retelling the story of Catherine's early years then helps recontextualize the story of her participation in history's most famous romantic triangle. Tremlett is better able than anyone else I've read on the subject to explain Catherine's trademark obstinance, piety, and indefatigability. Someone familiar with Catherine primarily through the flat or cartoonish depictions of pop culture will really find themselves pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of the actual woman as Tremlett presents her.
Finally, I cannot say enough about Tremlett's attentiveness to the primary sources, including many in Spanish, and in Spanish archives, that previously have not been accessed in writing about Catherine for an English-language audience. And Tremlett's writing is vivid, direct and powerful, without succumbing to the excesses of melodrama or romance novel conventions.
It could not be more successful at what it attempts.
And I've always thought this was a shame. Catherine of Aragon's life was spent at the confluence of three world-changing historical events that had little to do with the validity of her marriage to the King of England or her difficulties bearing him an heir: her parents' completion of the Christian reconquest of Iberia and the resulting expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain; Columbus's discovery of the Americas and the dawn of Spain's colonial empire; and the assembly of Charles V's unwieldy European empire from the patrimonies of his four grandparents. Of course, it's not as if Catherine was that personally involved in any of these things. But at the same time, I've often found myself wondering at how they influenced her perspective, and how her life and the tragedy of its end fit with these other events.
It's for this reason Tremlett's book is such an absolute treat. He begins with a rollicking account of the lives of Catherine's parents, and particularly Isabella's struggles to win the Aragonese throne. And he continues through all the events of her childhood and early adolescence, including fascinating details on Catherine's life at the Alhambra. Tremlett is then duly attentive to the battles Catherine had to fight just to marry Henry VIII in the first place because of the endless intriguing and wrangling of Henry VII and Ferdinand of Aragon. So the reader only reaches Catherine's marriage to Henry half-way through the biography, something which seems to anyone who has studied her early years absolutely fitting.
Tremlett's care in retelling the story of Catherine's early years then helps recontextualize the story of her participation in history's most famous romantic triangle. Tremlett is better able than anyone else I've read on the subject to explain Catherine's trademark obstinance, piety, and indefatigability. Someone familiar with Catherine primarily through the flat or cartoonish depictions of pop culture will really find themselves pleasantly surprised by the depth and complexity of the actual woman as Tremlett presents her.
Finally, I cannot say enough about Tremlett's attentiveness to the primary sources, including many in Spanish, and in Spanish archives, that previously have not been accessed in writing about Catherine for an English-language audience. And Tremlett's writing is vivid, direct and powerful, without succumbing to the excesses of melodrama or romance novel conventions.
It could not be more successful at what it attempts.
November 6, 2018
Most everything in here was pretty agreeable to me.Loved the writing and some of the small details and antidotes that made up her life.This takes you from her privileged childhood in Spain as an infanta to Kimbolton where she died.Her divorce proceedings are the main focus of this work but it was also nice to glimpse some of her happier times before it all fell apart.Her world is vividly recreated in the descriptions of clothing,jewelry,furnishings,people and places.Catherine's importance to English history can never be denied and this bio is a credit to that story.However,the author makes clear he in no way gives benefit of the doubt to her rival and the part she played in Catherine's downfall.Rumor and fact become difficult to perceive so I would recommend this for the well read Tudor fan.
January 30, 2016
Catherine of Aragon was a remarkable woman – the daughter of the great Queen Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, a formidable leader of the Battle of Flodden, and eventually known for being displaced by Anne Boleyn but holding true to her wedding vows. Catherine was born for the history books but is often outshone by the aforementioned Anne Boleyn. Giles Tremlett brings Catherine to the forefront in, “Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII”.
Tremlett begins “Catherine of Aragon” with an initial look at Spain and her monarch parentage before describing Catherine’s childhood. The pace is exceptionally lively, easy-to-understand, and reads very much like a fictional novel. In fact, some readers who prefer a more perfunctory scholarly prose may find “Catherine of Aragon” to be too fluffy for a history book. Yet, the research is still strong and this makes the content memorable and easy-to-retain. “Catherine of Aragon” is great as an introduction into her life for new readers or a light recap for those already familiar as there isn’t too much new information.
The chapters of “Catherine of Aragon” are quite short again easing the workload and lightening the history but it also slightly breaks reader attention because just as a reader is getting “into” a discussion, then the chapter ends.
The major flaw within “Catherine of Aragon” is Tremlett’s overly familiar and casual language which he dips into quite often. For example, Tremlett seems to have an obsession with the term, ‘party’ (used as a verb) and constantly comments on “partying at the court” or “Catherine partying”. There is even a chapter titled, “Partying Queen”. Not only is this overused but it also has no place in such a text. Tremlett also includes speculative statements in the “would have” and “could have” realm plus descriptions which are clearly guesswork and circumstantial. These facets greatly take away from the credibility of the work.
On the other hand, Tremlett does well with not putting Catherine on a pedestal and doesn’t make her a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ figure and merely states her actions objectively but with a live mirth versus just a statement of historical events.
As “Catherine of Aragon” proceeds, it becomes noticeably weaker and rife with repetition and thin material. Tremlett begins each chapter in a way which is stylized like a fictional novel and the content is summarized. “Catherine of Aragon” is definitely a light, personal look at this figure and not a heavy, political, scholarly one. Also weakening the text is Tremlett’s poor citations making unsubstantiated claims. Quite often, Tremlett quotes letters going onwards to state that they are “most certainly fictional” and yet doesn’t cite this hypothesis (these are the same documents which other authors and historians claim as authentic). This continues to lessen the credibility of the text.
A large portion of “Catherine of Aragon” focuses on Henry VIII’s “Great Matter”. Although still feeling like a summary view without new information; Tremlett’s take is fresh is that he doesn’t merely focus on Anne Boleyn, the Reformation, and making Catherine a victim but rather shows how strong and obstinate Catherine was opening up the momentous event in a new way which makes readers think twice about.
The conclusion of “Catherine of Aragon” is very rushed and comes to an anti-climatic abrupt end not really giving Catherine the justice she observes. This is followed by notes (not annotated and quite short) and a bibliography. “Catherine of Aragon” also contains a section of photo plates.
“Catherine of Aragon” is a fast-paced text which flows almost like a novel make it great for those unfamiliar with the material. The issue is that it is a bit too light for those seeking a scholarly work and Tremlett’s text is poorly cited. “Catherine of Aragon” isn’t ‘bad’ (if you can put up with all of the ‘partying’!); it just isn’t academic. Tremlett’s “Catherine of Aragon” is best recommended for readers interested in Tudor England but who aren’t as versed on the matter or well-educated readers who seek a quick, light book used as a refresher or occupier.
Tremlett begins “Catherine of Aragon” with an initial look at Spain and her monarch parentage before describing Catherine’s childhood. The pace is exceptionally lively, easy-to-understand, and reads very much like a fictional novel. In fact, some readers who prefer a more perfunctory scholarly prose may find “Catherine of Aragon” to be too fluffy for a history book. Yet, the research is still strong and this makes the content memorable and easy-to-retain. “Catherine of Aragon” is great as an introduction into her life for new readers or a light recap for those already familiar as there isn’t too much new information.
The chapters of “Catherine of Aragon” are quite short again easing the workload and lightening the history but it also slightly breaks reader attention because just as a reader is getting “into” a discussion, then the chapter ends.
The major flaw within “Catherine of Aragon” is Tremlett’s overly familiar and casual language which he dips into quite often. For example, Tremlett seems to have an obsession with the term, ‘party’ (used as a verb) and constantly comments on “partying at the court” or “Catherine partying”. There is even a chapter titled, “Partying Queen”. Not only is this overused but it also has no place in such a text. Tremlett also includes speculative statements in the “would have” and “could have” realm plus descriptions which are clearly guesswork and circumstantial. These facets greatly take away from the credibility of the work.
On the other hand, Tremlett does well with not putting Catherine on a pedestal and doesn’t make her a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ figure and merely states her actions objectively but with a live mirth versus just a statement of historical events.
As “Catherine of Aragon” proceeds, it becomes noticeably weaker and rife with repetition and thin material. Tremlett begins each chapter in a way which is stylized like a fictional novel and the content is summarized. “Catherine of Aragon” is definitely a light, personal look at this figure and not a heavy, political, scholarly one. Also weakening the text is Tremlett’s poor citations making unsubstantiated claims. Quite often, Tremlett quotes letters going onwards to state that they are “most certainly fictional” and yet doesn’t cite this hypothesis (these are the same documents which other authors and historians claim as authentic). This continues to lessen the credibility of the text.
A large portion of “Catherine of Aragon” focuses on Henry VIII’s “Great Matter”. Although still feeling like a summary view without new information; Tremlett’s take is fresh is that he doesn’t merely focus on Anne Boleyn, the Reformation, and making Catherine a victim but rather shows how strong and obstinate Catherine was opening up the momentous event in a new way which makes readers think twice about.
The conclusion of “Catherine of Aragon” is very rushed and comes to an anti-climatic abrupt end not really giving Catherine the justice she observes. This is followed by notes (not annotated and quite short) and a bibliography. “Catherine of Aragon” also contains a section of photo plates.
“Catherine of Aragon” is a fast-paced text which flows almost like a novel make it great for those unfamiliar with the material. The issue is that it is a bit too light for those seeking a scholarly work and Tremlett’s text is poorly cited. “Catherine of Aragon” isn’t ‘bad’ (if you can put up with all of the ‘partying’!); it just isn’t academic. Tremlett’s “Catherine of Aragon” is best recommended for readers interested in Tudor England but who aren’t as versed on the matter or well-educated readers who seek a quick, light book used as a refresher or occupier.
January 6, 2015
This book may be unique in English-language historical literature; at least, I can't think of another like it. There are many, many books about Henry VIII, or the six wives of Henry VIII, or Anne Boleyn (Catherine of Aragon's successor/usurper), but I can't think of a single full-length biography of Catherine herself. Most of the books about Henry's wives act as if she only stepped onto the scene when Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn. This covers her entire life, beginning with the background stories of her parents, in particular her mother, Isabella of Spain.
The author doesn't waste a lot of time in pointless speculation of "did she or didn't she?" regarding the consummation or otherwise of Catherine's marriage to Henry's brother Arthur; nor does he talk about Anne Boleyn any more than is necessary. Catherine steals the show here. You get to see her here as an intelligent, incredibly strong and tenacious woman in her own right, and you understand better why she acted as she did in opposing the divorce even to the bitter end. Contrary to some accounts, she was not poisoned to death; when they autopsied her body they found a tumor attached to her heart, which had turned black. She died of something very close to a broken heart.
This is a very valuable, downright necessary, addition to the canon of Tudor history. Well worth a read.
The author doesn't waste a lot of time in pointless speculation of "did she or didn't she?" regarding the consummation or otherwise of Catherine's marriage to Henry's brother Arthur; nor does he talk about Anne Boleyn any more than is necessary. Catherine steals the show here. You get to see her here as an intelligent, incredibly strong and tenacious woman in her own right, and you understand better why she acted as she did in opposing the divorce even to the bitter end. Contrary to some accounts, she was not poisoned to death; when they autopsied her body they found a tumor attached to her heart, which had turned black. She died of something very close to a broken heart.
This is a very valuable, downright necessary, addition to the canon of Tudor history. Well worth a read.
November 26, 2010
Very disappointed in this book. It added nothing more than what I knew already from general history . Badly written for example, "She knew she had been good while England had been bad to her" - ehhh. Uncompelling, unsympathetic and generally poor. What a shame.
October 10, 2011
This is a brilliantly well researched book. Starting from Katherine's early life in Spain, being brought up by her two formidable parents Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabel of Castile, it is easy to see where she inherited her determined and strong personality.
From her first marriage to Henry VIII's elder brother Arthur, and what actually happened during that short time (the sources are very conflicted depending on whose side the writer was on) to her years stuck in England before she could marry Henry himself. This book uses new sources and evidence to show how a frightened young girl who couldn't speak any English became the most respected woman in the country, with popularity that matched, and even at times overtook, the King's.
Showing new research that has come to light, the 'King's Great Matter' - the divorce that started the English Reformation is covered in such detail and depth, showing clearly whose side each person that had influence during that time was on.
Touching lightly on Anne Boleyn, we see her in a different light than we would see her in Pro-Boleyn books, I am sure Tremlett is being as impartial as possible, but she is difficult to like as a person in this. It goes to show that two sides to every story must be told, otherwise we just cannot judge a person or time period at all.
Written with the flow of a novel, this is a great read for anyone who wants to know more about Katherine of Aragon, the Tudor period, or especially the beginning of the English Reformation. A fantastic and informative read.
From her first marriage to Henry VIII's elder brother Arthur, and what actually happened during that short time (the sources are very conflicted depending on whose side the writer was on) to her years stuck in England before she could marry Henry himself. This book uses new sources and evidence to show how a frightened young girl who couldn't speak any English became the most respected woman in the country, with popularity that matched, and even at times overtook, the King's.
Showing new research that has come to light, the 'King's Great Matter' - the divorce that started the English Reformation is covered in such detail and depth, showing clearly whose side each person that had influence during that time was on.
Touching lightly on Anne Boleyn, we see her in a different light than we would see her in Pro-Boleyn books, I am sure Tremlett is being as impartial as possible, but she is difficult to like as a person in this. It goes to show that two sides to every story must be told, otherwise we just cannot judge a person or time period at all.
Written with the flow of a novel, this is a great read for anyone who wants to know more about Katherine of Aragon, the Tudor period, or especially the beginning of the English Reformation. A fantastic and informative read.
January 9, 2011
I'm a Tudor history junkie. My mom started me on Jean Plaidy practically in the crib, and I've never looked back.
This is the first truly sympathetic, in depth portrait of Catherine that I've read. It was so interesting to read the other side of the glamorous, scandalous Great Matter of the King. Because Elisabeth I was so beloved and ruled so wisely and long, the world tends to focus on her doomed, tragic, pathetic mother, and Bloody Mary's mom gets relegated to the dowdy impediment to the birth of The Virgin Queen. This book sets about redressing that imbalance.
The Catherine who emerges from these pages is vital, committed, and entirely lovable. She's also smart and able, but outgunned in the end. There's a lot of familiar territory here just the same- hard to present it freshly. The writing is able but not stellar.
Highly recommended for Tudor history fans.
This is the first truly sympathetic, in depth portrait of Catherine that I've read. It was so interesting to read the other side of the glamorous, scandalous Great Matter of the King. Because Elisabeth I was so beloved and ruled so wisely and long, the world tends to focus on her doomed, tragic, pathetic mother, and Bloody Mary's mom gets relegated to the dowdy impediment to the birth of The Virgin Queen. This book sets about redressing that imbalance.
The Catherine who emerges from these pages is vital, committed, and entirely lovable. She's also smart and able, but outgunned in the end. There's a lot of familiar territory here just the same- hard to present it freshly. The writing is able but not stellar.
Highly recommended for Tudor history fans.
November 19, 2015
From BBC radio 4 - Book of the Week
A compelling account of the life of the Spanish Infanta who became Queen of England, then changed the course of Tudor history by refusing to grant Henry VIII the divorce he needed to marry Anne Boleyn.
Yolanda Vazquez reads Giles Tremlett's new biography of Catherine of Aragon, the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry's five other wives put together.
Abridged by Alison Joseph
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w15w2
A compelling account of the life of the Spanish Infanta who became Queen of England, then changed the course of Tudor history by refusing to grant Henry VIII the divorce he needed to marry Anne Boleyn.
Yolanda Vazquez reads Giles Tremlett's new biography of Catherine of Aragon, the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry's five other wives put together.
Abridged by Alison Joseph
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00w15w2
January 14, 2011
Amazingly well done biography. Tremlett combs through account books and diplomat reports and uses them to present a on the ground picture of the life of Catherine of Aragon, showing the life of this remarkable woman in terms both in character and actions.
December 18, 2016
I previously knew very little of Catherine of Aragon other than that she was Henry VIII's first wife and that her tenure in that role lasted longer than that of the other five wives put together. The gap in my knowledge has now been put right by Giles Tremlett's excellent and detailed study of the lady in question; there is even some fresh material from Spanish archives that has not been seen before.
Catherine was of royal descent, being the daughter of Ferdinand V of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile and at the age of three she was betrothed to Henry VII's son and heir Arthur, Prince of Wales, as the intention was to join her native Spain to England and thus she would become an integral part of the Tudor dynasty.
After an itinerant childhood, she spent 13 Christmases of her 16 before she left her native land in different cities, she ventured to England where she first met her future father-in-law, Henry VII, to whom she 'gave an honourable meeting', and then met her betrothed, Arthur, with whom she had previously only exchanged lengthy love letters.
She made a spectacular entry into London, two days before her wedding, and then a lengthy wedding ceremony took place at Old St Paul's Cathedral on 14 November 1501. But the marriage was short-lived for Arthur died on 2 April 1502 and thereafter rumours abounded as to whether the marriage was consummated or not. Whatever the outcome of those debates, the Spaniards wanted Catherine betrothed to Arthur's brother, Henry, and eventually terms were agreed on 23 June 1503 when Henry was just 11 years old.
However, matters did not proceed smoothly for, when Catherine's father did not send over the dowry money, the betrothal was called off. But on the death of Henry VII on 21 April 1509 his son and now heir, 17-year-old Henry, decided that he would after all marry Catherine. She was to become Queen of England, much to the delight of the Spaniards.
First there was a dispensation from the pope to allow the marriage, which duly took place on 11 June 1509 and this was followed by the coronation of the king and queen. The queen very quickly became a favourite of the people and when she gave birth to a son, once again to be named Henry, celebrations were rife - England had an heir. But not for long as the infant died within two months of his birth
The couple tried again for a family and after a miscarriage and a stillborn child their joy was almost complete (a son and heir was really what was required) when Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Mary on 18 February 1516. There was another daughter in November 1518 but she did not survive. However, by this time Henry VIII's eye was wandering and he had taken a fancy to a certain Anne Boleyn and this was the beginning of the end for the Henry/Catherine marriage.
The internecine fighting and the subsequent separation was a long drawn out affair with the pope being called upon by Catherine and Henry using all his ambassadors plus Sir Thomas More and Thomas Cranmer to further his cause. Indeed, it was the latter who performed the secret marriage of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn on 23 February 1533 and there were those who thought of the king as a bigamist for he had not at that time divorced Catherine but there were also those who stated that his marriage to her had been invalid.
Be that as it may, the cardinals unanimously flung out Henry's request for a divorce and declared that his marriage to Catherine was 'valid and canonical'. But by then Henry had wrenched the English church away from Rome and the pope was so worried that he declared, 'I am afraid that I have committed a great sin, for the queen may suffer death by it.' And in early 1535 there were indeed rumours of Catherine's arrest and execution but they turned out to be false.
Catherine eventually died, of natural causes, on 7 January 1536 after, generously, having begged God to set Henry back on the right path and to forgive him for wronging her. The English public had lost a beloved queen, whose most important legacy to England was her daughter, Mary who was later to become Queen Mary I.
The separation from Rome, that Catherine had foreseen, was unstoppable and Catherine's death confirmed the first act in England's Reformation drama.
Giles Tremlett gives us plenty of background to the Catherine's life and also to Tudor times and personalities in a riveting biography.
Catherine was of royal descent, being the daughter of Ferdinand V of Aragon and Isabel I of Castile and at the age of three she was betrothed to Henry VII's son and heir Arthur, Prince of Wales, as the intention was to join her native Spain to England and thus she would become an integral part of the Tudor dynasty.
After an itinerant childhood, she spent 13 Christmases of her 16 before she left her native land in different cities, she ventured to England where she first met her future father-in-law, Henry VII, to whom she 'gave an honourable meeting', and then met her betrothed, Arthur, with whom she had previously only exchanged lengthy love letters.
She made a spectacular entry into London, two days before her wedding, and then a lengthy wedding ceremony took place at Old St Paul's Cathedral on 14 November 1501. But the marriage was short-lived for Arthur died on 2 April 1502 and thereafter rumours abounded as to whether the marriage was consummated or not. Whatever the outcome of those debates, the Spaniards wanted Catherine betrothed to Arthur's brother, Henry, and eventually terms were agreed on 23 June 1503 when Henry was just 11 years old.
However, matters did not proceed smoothly for, when Catherine's father did not send over the dowry money, the betrothal was called off. But on the death of Henry VII on 21 April 1509 his son and now heir, 17-year-old Henry, decided that he would after all marry Catherine. She was to become Queen of England, much to the delight of the Spaniards.
First there was a dispensation from the pope to allow the marriage, which duly took place on 11 June 1509 and this was followed by the coronation of the king and queen. The queen very quickly became a favourite of the people and when she gave birth to a son, once again to be named Henry, celebrations were rife - England had an heir. But not for long as the infant died within two months of his birth
The couple tried again for a family and after a miscarriage and a stillborn child their joy was almost complete (a son and heir was really what was required) when Catherine gave birth to a daughter, Mary on 18 February 1516. There was another daughter in November 1518 but she did not survive. However, by this time Henry VIII's eye was wandering and he had taken a fancy to a certain Anne Boleyn and this was the beginning of the end for the Henry/Catherine marriage.
The internecine fighting and the subsequent separation was a long drawn out affair with the pope being called upon by Catherine and Henry using all his ambassadors plus Sir Thomas More and Thomas Cranmer to further his cause. Indeed, it was the latter who performed the secret marriage of Henry VIII to Anne Boleyn on 23 February 1533 and there were those who thought of the king as a bigamist for he had not at that time divorced Catherine but there were also those who stated that his marriage to her had been invalid.
Be that as it may, the cardinals unanimously flung out Henry's request for a divorce and declared that his marriage to Catherine was 'valid and canonical'. But by then Henry had wrenched the English church away from Rome and the pope was so worried that he declared, 'I am afraid that I have committed a great sin, for the queen may suffer death by it.' And in early 1535 there were indeed rumours of Catherine's arrest and execution but they turned out to be false.
Catherine eventually died, of natural causes, on 7 January 1536 after, generously, having begged God to set Henry back on the right path and to forgive him for wronging her. The English public had lost a beloved queen, whose most important legacy to England was her daughter, Mary who was later to become Queen Mary I.
The separation from Rome, that Catherine had foreseen, was unstoppable and Catherine's death confirmed the first act in England's Reformation drama.
Giles Tremlett gives us plenty of background to the Catherine's life and also to Tudor times and personalities in a riveting biography.
June 27, 2013
Henry VIII boasted to ambassadors of his vivacious eighteen-month-old daughter Mary, 'this child never cries'. The affectionate father was at the same time also a loving husband to Mary's mother, Catherine of Aragon. When that changed so did the child, and there were tears aplenty, as well as a legacy of blood and fire.
Giles Tremlett's book is the first full-length biography of Catherine in forty years. Tremlett lives in Spain, where he works as a journalist for The Guardian, and had immediate access to Spanish sources. He paints an engaging portrait of Catherine's early life in Granada before she was packed off to England to marry Arthur Tudor.
Named after a cuckold, Arthur proved a rather unsatisfactory husband. He died, possibly of TB, after only a few weeks of marriage. According to Catherine, they had slept in the same bed no more than seven times, and never had sexual intercourse. Few Englishmen, however, were inclined to see their prince cast in so feeble a light. It was thought that women were by nature more highly sexed than men, and they preferred to believe Arthur had died after having exhausted himself trying to satisfy Catherine's insatiable lust. When a papal dispensation was sought for the widowed Catherine to marry Arthur's younger brother, Henry, it was thought sensible in the Vatican to appease both the Spanish and the English. It was granted on the stated assumption that the first marriage 'may' have been consummated.
Many years of happy marriage to Henry followed, more than he would enjoy with any of his subsequent wives. But Catherine failed to give Henry the healthy son he wanted. Contrary to myth, the king had male heirs (his nephews). As Anne Boleyn's biographer Eric Ives once observed to me, with Henry the desire for a son was all about his codpiece, and what lay behind it, rather than the Tudor succession and national stability. A male heir from his own loins was a symbol of his manhood, and when Catherine passed childbearing age without giving him one, he was determined to have their marriage annulled. He insisted that he had broken a biblical injunction in marrying his brother's wife, and that the papal dispensation was invalid. Henry did not approve of divorce and would never do so.
Tremlett's account of the subsequent battle of wills between the spouses is gripping. Catherine emerges as an extraordinary character, well deserving of a full-length biography. There is something fascinating and chilling in the detail that even as Henry humiliated Catherine and moved to have their daughter made a bastard, she was always seen smiling and was exquisitely polite to Henry. They would dine together, and at times he even visited her private rooms. With formidable discipline she continued to show him the comfortable familiarity of the affectionate partnership they had once enjoyed, while absolutely refusing to give him the annulment he wanted. In this she had public support.
Henry's mistress Anne Boleyn was the Camilla Parker Bowles to Catherine's People's Princess. Women in particular were vociferous in their hatred of 'that goggle eyed whore'. Catherine claimed that Henry knew full well she had been a virgin when she married him, and whatever the talk of the king's party at court, with their reminiscences of Arthur the groom and his 'erect and inflamed member', the English people continued to regard Catherine as their rightful queen. For six years Anne Boleyn was forced to remain always the betrothed, and never the bride. But the farce, and the spats, descended eventually into tragedy.
Tremlett movingly describes how, as Henry seized absolute power over Church and State, those who opposed him were murdered and martyred. Today, the walls of the Charterhouse in Granada are lined with full-length portraits of the Carthusian monks executed by the king. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, recently observed that without the prayers these men had offered the king, Henry VIII would surely be in hell. Catherine blamed herself for such deaths. But she died less distressed about the creation of martyrs than fearful that she had driven her husband and his subjects into what she regarded as heresy. This is an extract from a review I wrote in the Literary Review
Giles Tremlett's book is the first full-length biography of Catherine in forty years. Tremlett lives in Spain, where he works as a journalist for The Guardian, and had immediate access to Spanish sources. He paints an engaging portrait of Catherine's early life in Granada before she was packed off to England to marry Arthur Tudor.
Named after a cuckold, Arthur proved a rather unsatisfactory husband. He died, possibly of TB, after only a few weeks of marriage. According to Catherine, they had slept in the same bed no more than seven times, and never had sexual intercourse. Few Englishmen, however, were inclined to see their prince cast in so feeble a light. It was thought that women were by nature more highly sexed than men, and they preferred to believe Arthur had died after having exhausted himself trying to satisfy Catherine's insatiable lust. When a papal dispensation was sought for the widowed Catherine to marry Arthur's younger brother, Henry, it was thought sensible in the Vatican to appease both the Spanish and the English. It was granted on the stated assumption that the first marriage 'may' have been consummated.
Many years of happy marriage to Henry followed, more than he would enjoy with any of his subsequent wives. But Catherine failed to give Henry the healthy son he wanted. Contrary to myth, the king had male heirs (his nephews). As Anne Boleyn's biographer Eric Ives once observed to me, with Henry the desire for a son was all about his codpiece, and what lay behind it, rather than the Tudor succession and national stability. A male heir from his own loins was a symbol of his manhood, and when Catherine passed childbearing age without giving him one, he was determined to have their marriage annulled. He insisted that he had broken a biblical injunction in marrying his brother's wife, and that the papal dispensation was invalid. Henry did not approve of divorce and would never do so.
Tremlett's account of the subsequent battle of wills between the spouses is gripping. Catherine emerges as an extraordinary character, well deserving of a full-length biography. There is something fascinating and chilling in the detail that even as Henry humiliated Catherine and moved to have their daughter made a bastard, she was always seen smiling and was exquisitely polite to Henry. They would dine together, and at times he even visited her private rooms. With formidable discipline she continued to show him the comfortable familiarity of the affectionate partnership they had once enjoyed, while absolutely refusing to give him the annulment he wanted. In this she had public support.
Henry's mistress Anne Boleyn was the Camilla Parker Bowles to Catherine's People's Princess. Women in particular were vociferous in their hatred of 'that goggle eyed whore'. Catherine claimed that Henry knew full well she had been a virgin when she married him, and whatever the talk of the king's party at court, with their reminiscences of Arthur the groom and his 'erect and inflamed member', the English people continued to regard Catherine as their rightful queen. For six years Anne Boleyn was forced to remain always the betrothed, and never the bride. But the farce, and the spats, descended eventually into tragedy.
Tremlett movingly describes how, as Henry seized absolute power over Church and State, those who opposed him were murdered and martyred. Today, the walls of the Charterhouse in Granada are lined with full-length portraits of the Carthusian monks executed by the king. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, recently observed that without the prayers these men had offered the king, Henry VIII would surely be in hell. Catherine blamed herself for such deaths. But she died less distressed about the creation of martyrs than fearful that she had driven her husband and his subjects into what she regarded as heresy. This is an extract from a review I wrote in the Literary Review
April 12, 2012
This was a very interesting take on Henry VIII's long suffering queen. What I liked about it was it came across unbiased. Though she is a sympathetic historical figure, a lot of the biographies I read of her skew a lot of facts, and add in unnecessarily biting commentary about Anne Boleyn (because it really takes two to tango and King Henry should get just as much shit, if not more, as her if you're going to do it).
This is the first biography I have read of her that brings up her being (possibly) racist and nonchalant about the Spanish Inquisition, even confronted as an adult by it. This gives her a darker side instead of the martyred queen that didn't, wouldn't, couldn't harm a fly to her sympathizers.
Catherine of Aragon didn't get all the madness her sister, Juana la Loca, did due to the royalty constantly inbreeding, but Tremlett brings up she was very dependent, slightly manic. She was just able to suppress it, control it better. I felt more sorry for her that Henry verbally abused her because he really was her prince in shimmering armor that saved her, thus her extreme attachment. Henry VII was by no means a kind father-in-law to her (she was married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, until his young passing), so for her son to come and whisk her away from poverty and mental abuse when he died, she forever was grateful to him. She always wanted to stay by his side.
Sadly, his paranoia about giving a son the crown instead of a "mere girl" tore them apart. Maybe if Catherine gave him a second child, nothing would have happened as extreme as it did. Tremlett also puts forward an observation she probably couldn't carry full term again due to her fasting for her faith, but is careful to conclude it was probably more on Henry's end than anything.
This book was wonderful, well-written and consistent. It didn't open my eyes too much other than the reasons I noted since this wasn't my first biography of hers, so it repeated a majority of the same beside bringing in something new. Catherine is still such a heartbreaking woman, and this is definitely the book I recommend to anyone that wants to know every little thing about her.
x
This is the first biography I have read of her that brings up her being (possibly) racist and nonchalant about the Spanish Inquisition, even confronted as an adult by it. This gives her a darker side instead of the martyred queen that didn't, wouldn't, couldn't harm a fly to her sympathizers.
Catherine of Aragon didn't get all the madness her sister, Juana la Loca, did due to the royalty constantly inbreeding, but Tremlett brings up she was very dependent, slightly manic. She was just able to suppress it, control it better. I felt more sorry for her that Henry verbally abused her because he really was her prince in shimmering armor that saved her, thus her extreme attachment. Henry VII was by no means a kind father-in-law to her (she was married to Henry VIII's older brother, Arthur, until his young passing), so for her son to come and whisk her away from poverty and mental abuse when he died, she forever was grateful to him. She always wanted to stay by his side.
Sadly, his paranoia about giving a son the crown instead of a "mere girl" tore them apart. Maybe if Catherine gave him a second child, nothing would have happened as extreme as it did. Tremlett also puts forward an observation she probably couldn't carry full term again due to her fasting for her faith, but is careful to conclude it was probably more on Henry's end than anything.
This book was wonderful, well-written and consistent. It didn't open my eyes too much other than the reasons I noted since this wasn't my first biography of hers, so it repeated a majority of the same beside bringing in something new. Catherine is still such a heartbreaking woman, and this is definitely the book I recommend to anyone that wants to know every little thing about her.
x
March 25, 2011
This is an interesting and useful examination of a pivotal moment in European and English history. It goes into more detail than I recall from Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII or Henry VIII: The King and His Court. (Though I'd say that these books are useful background.) Tremlett also consults Spanish sources which (as I recall) Weir did not.
More like 3.5 stars. The things that stopped me from giving it four stars are some instances of word confusion (mother instead of father when referring to Henry VIII, Venice a scenario of European politics rather than a center) and its incomplete citation of sources. (It gave sources for direct quotes, but not paraphrases.)
It was interesting to realize that the storyline in The Curse of Chalion was partly based on the life or Isabel, Catherine's mother. (The Spanish-esque-ness of the setting was clear, but I didn't/don't know enough about Isabel to recognize the specifics.) But it was also terribly sad, as the story got rolling, to be unable to escape the recollection that there was going to be a great deal of unhappiness and death before the relative stability and prosperity of Elizabeth I's reign.
More like 3.5 stars. The things that stopped me from giving it four stars are some instances of word confusion (mother instead of father when referring to Henry VIII, Venice a scenario of European politics rather than a center) and its incomplete citation of sources. (It gave sources for direct quotes, but not paraphrases.)
It was interesting to realize that the storyline in The Curse of Chalion was partly based on the life or Isabel, Catherine's mother. (The Spanish-esque-ness of the setting was clear, but I didn't/don't know enough about Isabel to recognize the specifics.) But it was also terribly sad, as the story got rolling, to be unable to escape the recollection that there was going to be a great deal of unhappiness and death before the relative stability and prosperity of Elizabeth I's reign.
June 2, 2013
I was so excited to come across this book in a bookstore recently! I had read and loved Ghosts of Spain (by Tremlett) 2 summers ago before moving to Madrid for a year. As a Tudors nerd, I was very excited when I saw he had written a biography of Catherine of Aragon, but I could never manage to quite get my hands on a copy.
As a few other people have suggested in the reviews, I found the first half of the book much more interesting, since it focused on the comparatively untold story of Catherine's childhood in Spain and her early years as Queen of England. Once Anne Boleyn enters the picture, the book gets into the same familiar territory that's been rehashed in a thousand recent novels and biographies (re: the King's Divorce, the reformation)and I found myself getting less interested. Over all though, a neat book, filled with a surprising amount of new/little known information, for all that the time period has been studied to death.
As a few other people have suggested in the reviews, I found the first half of the book much more interesting, since it focused on the comparatively untold story of Catherine's childhood in Spain and her early years as Queen of England. Once Anne Boleyn enters the picture, the book gets into the same familiar territory that's been rehashed in a thousand recent novels and biographies (re: the King's Divorce, the reformation)and I found myself getting less interested. Over all though, a neat book, filled with a surprising amount of new/little known information, for all that the time period has been studied to death.
October 21, 2011
I really enjoyed this interpretation of the life of Catherine of Aragon. We get an insight into her childhood and how the influence of her parents was stamped upon her from an early age - and in the midst of Henry's "Great Matter" we see the re-emergence of this parental influence in her stubborness and her new found political acumen.
I found this to be not overly biased in Catherine's favour - we see her both at her best and her worst. We see how, like her own childhood, Catherine was an important influence on her daughter Mary.
I took my time reading this one - not because of the content but work constraints which made it a joy to return to.
Definitely a keeper in my opinion (though alas my copy must be returned to my local library).
I found this to be not overly biased in Catherine's favour - we see her both at her best and her worst. We see how, like her own childhood, Catherine was an important influence on her daughter Mary.
I took my time reading this one - not because of the content but work constraints which made it a joy to return to.
Definitely a keeper in my opinion (though alas my copy must be returned to my local library).
November 14, 2015
Nothing new brought to table here, and without even any sparkle to make this worth while as an also-ran.
blurbification - A compelling account of the life of the Spanish Infanta who became Queen of England, then changed the course of Tudor history by refusing to grant Henry VIII the divorce he needed to marry Anne Boleyn. Yolanda Vazquez reads Giles Tremlett's new biography of Catherine of Aragon, the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry's five other wives put together.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...
blurbification - A compelling account of the life of the Spanish Infanta who became Queen of England, then changed the course of Tudor history by refusing to grant Henry VIII the divorce he needed to marry Anne Boleyn. Yolanda Vazquez reads Giles Tremlett's new biography of Catherine of Aragon, the tenacious woman whose marriage lasted twice as long as those of Henry's five other wives put together.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/...
November 30, 2010
Well written and informative, especially about Catherine's childhood in Spain. My one quibble is that the British edition, unlike the American edition, lacks end notes, but the publisher has made them available online. So you might be better off buying the American edition!
May 9, 2025
Another book that demonstrates my inability to internalize the sunk costs fallacy. I should have given up long ago. An excessive focus on unilluminating details—I really don’t need to know how many cloth-of-gold thingsmajigs were at pick-your-run-of-the-mill royal event.
Catherine is a compelling figure, but this history, which too often trades in wishful thinking about the internal lives of historical personages, has none of the broad scope of, say, virtually anything by J.H. Elliott about imperial Spain of the same period. Catherine too often exists in a vacuum.
The early chapters on her youth in Spain are interesting enough. But while the author trumpets his reliance on long-buried archives in Zaragoza about Henry VIII’s divorce proceedings, the volume pervasively takes an uncritical view of contemporary sources.
Maybe try Mattingly’s 1942 biography of Catherine instead?
Catherine is a compelling figure, but this history, which too often trades in wishful thinking about the internal lives of historical personages, has none of the broad scope of, say, virtually anything by J.H. Elliott about imperial Spain of the same period. Catherine too often exists in a vacuum.
The early chapters on her youth in Spain are interesting enough. But while the author trumpets his reliance on long-buried archives in Zaragoza about Henry VIII’s divorce proceedings, the volume pervasively takes an uncritical view of contemporary sources.
Maybe try Mattingly’s 1942 biography of Catherine instead?
February 5, 2018
A brillant biography on Katherine of Aragon that sheds a light on the life of a woman who is all too often dismissed. Katherine is too often depicted as that matronly, almost zealot woman who refused to step away when Henry VIII decided to marry Anne Boleyn, but there is far more to her than the image from pop culture. Religion had obviously a big influence on Katherine's life, right from the very beginning, but this biography offers a really interesting insight into the ways of thinking of the first half of the 16th century, especially where martyrdom and passionate religious feelings are concerned. Moreover, this biography shows extremely well how Katherine's childhood and the living example of her mother, the fierce Isabella of Castille, shaped her into the woman she became, right until the bitter end.
All in one, it was an extremely well-written biography, absolutely fascinating to read, that puts the spotlight on the whole life and personality of Katherine of Aragon, for once.
I'll check out Giles Tremlett's biography of Isabella of Castille in the future, if it's of the same quality, it's going to be a great ride!
All in one, it was an extremely well-written biography, absolutely fascinating to read, that puts the spotlight on the whole life and personality of Katherine of Aragon, for once.
I'll check out Giles Tremlett's biography of Isabella of Castille in the future, if it's of the same quality, it's going to be a great ride!
September 6, 2017
This biography was just brilliant, it was really well written and informative, it felt very sympathetic to Catherine which to be honest is fine by me. I felt like I learned a lot through this biography especially about Catherine's parents and her years on exile waiting to marry Henry.
This has now gave me an hankering for more Tudor biographies and I am now looking for recommendations for books on Mary Tudor if any of you know of any.
If you are looking for a good biography of a Catherine then I would highly recommend this one.
This has now gave me an hankering for more Tudor biographies and I am now looking for recommendations for books on Mary Tudor if any of you know of any.
If you are looking for a good biography of a Catherine then I would highly recommend this one.
April 15, 2019
Even though I am obsessed with Catherine of Aragon and her life, I didn't enjoy this book. The writing style was not for me...
January 15, 2015
This is an excellent book. I've read extensively on the Tudor and Elizabethan eras; it's probably my favorite subject aside from science fiction. I've never experienced this level of detail and felt such compassion for Henry's first queen, Catherine of Aragon as I did here.
This is the first book that I've read to treat Catherine not as a conservative roadblock, shroud all in black and rosaries, but as a victim (albeit not a helpless one) of a king with the whims of a hummingbird, and a government too cowed to stop him. Details of her life come alive in this biography and I finally feel like I know Queen Catherine as a fully flesh-and-blood figure, not just as "Royal Wife #1."
It's hard to read about the continual humiliations visited upon her, even though her royal blood via the King and Queen of Castille and Aragon elevated her much higher than her successors.
It may have been a small comfort for her to know, had she lived, that the daughter she fought so hard to protect from bastardy, the Princess Mary, would eventually rule as Queen—even though for only a short time.
Highly recommended.
This is the first book that I've read to treat Catherine not as a conservative roadblock, shroud all in black and rosaries, but as a victim (albeit not a helpless one) of a king with the whims of a hummingbird, and a government too cowed to stop him. Details of her life come alive in this biography and I finally feel like I know Queen Catherine as a fully flesh-and-blood figure, not just as "Royal Wife #1."
It's hard to read about the continual humiliations visited upon her, even though her royal blood via the King and Queen of Castille and Aragon elevated her much higher than her successors.
It may have been a small comfort for her to know, had she lived, that the daughter she fought so hard to protect from bastardy, the Princess Mary, would eventually rule as Queen—even though for only a short time.
Highly recommended.
April 14, 2016
A thorough well researched and very readable biography of Catherine of Aragon. The history sits alongside Catherine so that the person isn't lost in the sweep of events. Henry should have looked at his mother-in-law's reputation more closely before he tried to get rid of his wife. The youngest child of Isabella of Castille was the one commentators said was most like her mother.
Read
June 26, 2020Catalina era una princesa española, cuyos padres querían fortalecer la alianza entre Inglaterra y la emergente España con su matrimonio. Catalina de Aragón se casó primero con Arturo y luego se convirtió en la primera esposa del Rey Enrique VIII de Inglaterra. Su hija fue la Reina María.
Catalina de Aragón era la hija menor de la Reina Isabel I de Castilla y del Rey Fernando II de Aragón. Catalina nació el 15 de diciembre de 1485 en Alcalá de Henares, murió el 7 de enero de 1536 en el castillo de Kimbolton en Inglaterra.
En Alemania se la conoce como Catalina de Aragón, la primera esposa (de seis) del rey Enrique VIII de Inglaterra. En Inglaterra fue Catalina de Aragón y también fue llamada la princesa o reina española. En España fue Catalina de Aragón y Castilla y Catalina de Trastámara y Trastámara.
La familia de Catalina de Aragón
Sus padres eran cada uno de los reyes o reinas de su propio imperio, con sus tropas lograron terminar la Reconquista en España, la reconquista de los moros, y en 1492 instruyeron a Cristóbal Colón para encontrar la ruta marítima a la India. Cuando Cristóbal Colón hizo su viaje de descubrimiento, la princesa Katharina tenía sólo siete años. En 1494 el Papa Alejandro VI les dio el título de reyes católicos. Concedido.
Política de matrimonio de la Reina Isabel y el Rey Fernando
Catherine era la quinta y última hija de la pareja real. Sus cuatro hijas usaron a Isabel y Fernando para forjar alianzas contra Francia. Su hija mayor, Isabel, se casó primero con Alfonso de Portugal y después de su muerte con el Rey Manuel I de Portugal. Cuando Isabel murió en 1498, su viudo Manuel se casó con la hija menor, María. Mientras Katharina estaba prometida a Inglaterra, una alianza matrimonial con los Habsburgo se estableció con Johanna al casarse con Felipe I, llamado el Hermoso, (Felipe I español).
Catalina y el matrimonio con el heredero inglés al trono
Catalina nació en 1485, y en marzo de 1489 se firmó un contrato de matrimonio entre la familia real de Inglaterra, los Tudor, y sus padres de España. La princesa Katharina, nueve meses mayor que el príncipe Arturo, tenía poco menos de 3,5 años. Arturo Tudor era el hijo mayor del Rey Enrique VII de Inglaterra, y él también tuvo que asegurar su propio poder con ingeniosas alianzas matrimoniales. Los intentos de arreglar un prestigioso matrimonio para Arturo Tudor comenzaron poco después de la muerte de su padre. Inglaterra era entonces un poder insignificante en Europa, Enrique VII llegó al trono después de la Guerra de las Rosas. Una alianza con España o con los dos reinos Aragón y Castilla, unidos por Isabel y Fernando, era una meta extremadamente deseable para Inglaterra. La boda entre la princesa española y el príncipe inglés debía tener lugar poco después del 14º cumpleaños de Arturo. Catalina se quedó en Castilla, pero la futura pareja comenzó a escribir cartas.
En 1497 hubo un compromiso por poderes, en 1499 y 1500 hubo un matrimonio por poderes. Para Catalina, que aún estaba en España, el embajador español hizo el juramento.
La princesa Katharina viaja a Inglaterra y se casa con Arthur
No fue hasta 1501, cuando Catalina tenía 16 años y Arturo Tudor 15, que la Princesa viajó a su nuevo hogar. Arturo estaba muy entusiasmado con su joven novia. La más que pomposa boda, después de todo Arturo era el futuro rey de Inglaterra, tuvo lugar en la Catedral de San Pablo en noviembre de 1501. Lo que sucedió después de la boda se convirtió más tarde en algo muy relevante para Catalina. Por supuesto, la pareja fue llevada a la cama con un gran séquito. Después de todo, el matrimonio también tenía que llevarse a cabo. En 1501 no había duda de que esto había sucedido. Se dice que al día siguiente el príncipe Arthur se tomó una taza de cerveza traída por uno de sus sirvientes, que había estado en medio de España la noche anterior. Y más tarde el príncipe dijo que era un buen pasatiempo tener una esposa.
El que el matrimonio entre Arthur y Catherine se haya completado es todavía un asunto controvertido. Después de todo, esta cuestión tuvo después un significado decisivo para Catalina e inmensas consecuencias para la historia de Inglaterra.
Después de muchas celebraciones, la joven pareja se mudó a una casa común el 21 de diciembre de 1501. Y la primera Navidad como pareja fue celebrada por Katharina y Arthur a la cabeza de su propia corte.
Catalina se convierte en viuda
El 27 de marzo de 1502, día de Pascua, el Príncipe Arturo enfermó repentina e inesperadamente. La esperanza de Inglaterra murió el 2 de abril de 1502. Aún no está claro de qué murió el joven príncipe, y Katharina también enfermó de la fiebre que llevó al heredero al trono, pero se recuperó. Hay teorías de que Arturo murió de la plaga, pero el cáncer testicular también mató al joven príncipe.
Catalina de Aragón era la hija menor de la Reina Isabel I de Castilla y del Rey Fernando II de Aragón. Catalina nació el 15 de diciembre de 1485 en Alcalá de Henares, murió el 7 de enero de 1536 en el castillo de Kimbolton en Inglaterra.
En Alemania se la conoce como Catalina de Aragón, la primera esposa (de seis) del rey Enrique VIII de Inglaterra. En Inglaterra fue Catalina de Aragón y también fue llamada la princesa o reina española. En España fue Catalina de Aragón y Castilla y Catalina de Trastámara y Trastámara.
La familia de Catalina de Aragón
Sus padres eran cada uno de los reyes o reinas de su propio imperio, con sus tropas lograron terminar la Reconquista en España, la reconquista de los moros, y en 1492 instruyeron a Cristóbal Colón para encontrar la ruta marítima a la India. Cuando Cristóbal Colón hizo su viaje de descubrimiento, la princesa Katharina tenía sólo siete años. En 1494 el Papa Alejandro VI les dio el título de reyes católicos. Concedido.
Política de matrimonio de la Reina Isabel y el Rey Fernando
Catherine era la quinta y última hija de la pareja real. Sus cuatro hijas usaron a Isabel y Fernando para forjar alianzas contra Francia. Su hija mayor, Isabel, se casó primero con Alfonso de Portugal y después de su muerte con el Rey Manuel I de Portugal. Cuando Isabel murió en 1498, su viudo Manuel se casó con la hija menor, María. Mientras Katharina estaba prometida a Inglaterra, una alianza matrimonial con los Habsburgo se estableció con Johanna al casarse con Felipe I, llamado el Hermoso, (Felipe I español).
Catalina y el matrimonio con el heredero inglés al trono
Catalina nació en 1485, y en marzo de 1489 se firmó un contrato de matrimonio entre la familia real de Inglaterra, los Tudor, y sus padres de España. La princesa Katharina, nueve meses mayor que el príncipe Arturo, tenía poco menos de 3,5 años. Arturo Tudor era el hijo mayor del Rey Enrique VII de Inglaterra, y él también tuvo que asegurar su propio poder con ingeniosas alianzas matrimoniales. Los intentos de arreglar un prestigioso matrimonio para Arturo Tudor comenzaron poco después de la muerte de su padre. Inglaterra era entonces un poder insignificante en Europa, Enrique VII llegó al trono después de la Guerra de las Rosas. Una alianza con España o con los dos reinos Aragón y Castilla, unidos por Isabel y Fernando, era una meta extremadamente deseable para Inglaterra. La boda entre la princesa española y el príncipe inglés debía tener lugar poco después del 14º cumpleaños de Arturo. Catalina se quedó en Castilla, pero la futura pareja comenzó a escribir cartas.
En 1497 hubo un compromiso por poderes, en 1499 y 1500 hubo un matrimonio por poderes. Para Catalina, que aún estaba en España, el embajador español hizo el juramento.
La princesa Katharina viaja a Inglaterra y se casa con Arthur
No fue hasta 1501, cuando Catalina tenía 16 años y Arturo Tudor 15, que la Princesa viajó a su nuevo hogar. Arturo estaba muy entusiasmado con su joven novia. La más que pomposa boda, después de todo Arturo era el futuro rey de Inglaterra, tuvo lugar en la Catedral de San Pablo en noviembre de 1501. Lo que sucedió después de la boda se convirtió más tarde en algo muy relevante para Catalina. Por supuesto, la pareja fue llevada a la cama con un gran séquito. Después de todo, el matrimonio también tenía que llevarse a cabo. En 1501 no había duda de que esto había sucedido. Se dice que al día siguiente el príncipe Arthur se tomó una taza de cerveza traída por uno de sus sirvientes, que había estado en medio de España la noche anterior. Y más tarde el príncipe dijo que era un buen pasatiempo tener una esposa.
El que el matrimonio entre Arthur y Catherine se haya completado es todavía un asunto controvertido. Después de todo, esta cuestión tuvo después un significado decisivo para Catalina e inmensas consecuencias para la historia de Inglaterra.
Después de muchas celebraciones, la joven pareja se mudó a una casa común el 21 de diciembre de 1501. Y la primera Navidad como pareja fue celebrada por Katharina y Arthur a la cabeza de su propia corte.
Catalina se convierte en viuda
El 27 de marzo de 1502, día de Pascua, el Príncipe Arturo enfermó repentina e inesperadamente. La esperanza de Inglaterra murió el 2 de abril de 1502. Aún no está claro de qué murió el joven príncipe, y Katharina también enfermó de la fiebre que llevó al heredero al trono, pero se recuperó. Hay teorías de que Arturo murió de la plaga, pero el cáncer testicular también mató al joven príncipe.
June 18, 2020
I started out rather enjoying this book, but that quickly sunk as it approached and then delved into the King’s Great Matter. There was a distinct lack of nuance and analysis in a recitation of one of history’s most turbulent periods. People as significant as Thomas More, Eustace Chapuys, and the Bishop of Rochester are given minimal introductions and little explanations beyond their immediate significance to Catherine’s case. The fact that Rochester became one of Catherine’s most devoted supporters is largely glossed over; More’s long-standing friendship with Henry is essentially ignored, despite the conflict it eventually gave rise to.
I realize that this is a book that centers on Catherine and not solely on the divorce or religious upheaval of the time, but it still seems that all discussion was very surface level.
Then there were things that REALLY bothered me, such as:
•no direct mention of the death of Pope Clement VII and the ascension of Paul III, who handled the divorce/annulment VERY differently. Instead it remains vaguely as “the pope” even past the point of change in power.
•there’s a line where the gossip surround Henry and the Boleyn family is discussed and it says “He had also been told that Henry was the mother of Mary Boleyn’s child...” - the MOTHER. Henry was the MOTHER. How did that not get noticed by the author or editors?
•maybe it’s the years I spent in grad school, but it drives me nuts when there’s no footnotes or endnotes immediately available in the book, and I have to find them elsewhere.
•Catherine’s last few years are crammed into a few chapters, despite the fact that they were FULL of intrigue and back-and-forth with Henry and so much more. She was not just a prisoner wasting away in a manor for 5 years.
The last thing that bothers me is a result of my own bias, which I know and acknowledge and try to be aware of. I’ve spent years, YEARS, studying and researching Anne Boleyn, and I knew going in to this book that it’s portrayal of her would not be favorable, given that Anne was a direct rival to Catherine. However, I do feel that there could have been better nuance to the discussion of Anne than there was. This book portrays her as a shrill, nagging, harpy of a woman who was after one thing and one thing only. There’s no discussion/analysis of the desire of EVERYONE at court for a position of power and wealth, that many families happily offered up their daughter(s) to be the king’s mistress (and the Boleyns were no different). There’s no discussion of Anne’s personal ambition or that of her family; instead she is a gold-digger who was the root of almost all of Henry’s bad decision-making, which also erases all of Henry’s agency.
I realize, again, this is a book about Catherine, but it still just felt very underdeveloped in a lot of places where there was plenty of information and analysis to be had.
Started out as a strong 4, but now a 2.5.
I realize that this is a book that centers on Catherine and not solely on the divorce or religious upheaval of the time, but it still seems that all discussion was very surface level.
Then there were things that REALLY bothered me, such as:
•no direct mention of the death of Pope Clement VII and the ascension of Paul III, who handled the divorce/annulment VERY differently. Instead it remains vaguely as “the pope” even past the point of change in power.
•there’s a line where the gossip surround Henry and the Boleyn family is discussed and it says “He had also been told that Henry was the mother of Mary Boleyn’s child...” - the MOTHER. Henry was the MOTHER. How did that not get noticed by the author or editors?
•maybe it’s the years I spent in grad school, but it drives me nuts when there’s no footnotes or endnotes immediately available in the book, and I have to find them elsewhere.
•Catherine’s last few years are crammed into a few chapters, despite the fact that they were FULL of intrigue and back-and-forth with Henry and so much more. She was not just a prisoner wasting away in a manor for 5 years.
The last thing that bothers me is a result of my own bias, which I know and acknowledge and try to be aware of. I’ve spent years, YEARS, studying and researching Anne Boleyn, and I knew going in to this book that it’s portrayal of her would not be favorable, given that Anne was a direct rival to Catherine. However, I do feel that there could have been better nuance to the discussion of Anne than there was. This book portrays her as a shrill, nagging, harpy of a woman who was after one thing and one thing only. There’s no discussion/analysis of the desire of EVERYONE at court for a position of power and wealth, that many families happily offered up their daughter(s) to be the king’s mistress (and the Boleyns were no different). There’s no discussion of Anne’s personal ambition or that of her family; instead she is a gold-digger who was the root of almost all of Henry’s bad decision-making, which also erases all of Henry’s agency.
I realize, again, this is a book about Catherine, but it still just felt very underdeveloped in a lot of places where there was plenty of information and analysis to be had.
Started out as a strong 4, but now a 2.5.
July 18, 2018
Catherine of Aragon was Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon’s youngest daughter. As the daughter of Spain’s greatest monarchs, her future seemed to be promising as England’s queen. However, once she arrived in England, Catherine’s life was nowhere near as promising and secure as she had hoped. Six months after she married Arthur, she is forced to live in poverty, abandoned by her father and father-in-law. Her future seemed secured once she marries Henry. After decades of marriage, Henry planned to set her aside and marry Anne Boleyn. Catherine of Aragon was willing to remain as Henry’s queen until she died.
We know of Catherine as the mistreated wife of Henry VIII. However, we tend to forget her accomplishments. Catherine was a Renaissance queen. She promoted humanism and was for women having an education. She also proved to be a capable ruler. During her time as Regent, she won the battle with Scotland. Catherine proved to be Henry’s capable opponent, and in many ways she beats him. The author also shows Catherine’s willingness to die as a martyr. Catherine saw her divorce as a religious crusade and was very eager to die for her faith. She even persuaded others to become martyrs. One example is John Fisher. Catherine believed that she was the true queen and fighting against Henry was the best way to save his soul.
Overall, this biography shows Catherine to be a courageous queen. She never stopped fighting for her beliefs. Mr. Tremlett heavily emphasizes Catherine’s willingness for martyrdom. He argues that his reasoning for this was if Catherine had not died in 1536, Henry probably would have sent his wife to the Tower. The chapters were short and made for easy reading. I did think that Catherine’s early life and marriage were rushed, and I wanted more detail. It seems that the author wanted to focus more on her divorce procedures rather than Catherine as a queen. Still, Catherine of Aragon is an essential read for Tudor fans and deserves to have a place in Tudor biography. We should remember Catherine as more than a victim. We should remember her as a bold queen whose valour won her the hearts of the people.
We know of Catherine as the mistreated wife of Henry VIII. However, we tend to forget her accomplishments. Catherine was a Renaissance queen. She promoted humanism and was for women having an education. She also proved to be a capable ruler. During her time as Regent, she won the battle with Scotland. Catherine proved to be Henry’s capable opponent, and in many ways she beats him. The author also shows Catherine’s willingness to die as a martyr. Catherine saw her divorce as a religious crusade and was very eager to die for her faith. She even persuaded others to become martyrs. One example is John Fisher. Catherine believed that she was the true queen and fighting against Henry was the best way to save his soul.
Overall, this biography shows Catherine to be a courageous queen. She never stopped fighting for her beliefs. Mr. Tremlett heavily emphasizes Catherine’s willingness for martyrdom. He argues that his reasoning for this was if Catherine had not died in 1536, Henry probably would have sent his wife to the Tower. The chapters were short and made for easy reading. I did think that Catherine’s early life and marriage were rushed, and I wanted more detail. It seems that the author wanted to focus more on her divorce procedures rather than Catherine as a queen. Still, Catherine of Aragon is an essential read for Tudor fans and deserves to have a place in Tudor biography. We should remember Catherine as more than a victim. We should remember her as a bold queen whose valour won her the hearts of the people.
January 8, 2026
Giles Tremlett’s Catherine of Aragon is an authoritative and compelling biography that restores depth, agency, and historical significance to one of the most misunderstood queens of the Tudor period. Drawing on extensive archival research from both Spain and England, Tremlett offers the first full modern biography in decades to place Catherine firmly at the center of European political, religious, and dynastic power.
Rather than reducing Catherine to the role of Henry VIII’s discarded wife, Tremlett presents her as a formidable political figure shaped by the formidable court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Her education, diplomatic skill, and religious conviction emerge as defining forces that influenced English history for generations. The narrative carefully traces her journey from dynastic pawn to resolute queen, emphasizing her intelligence, resilience, and unwavering sense of legitimacy.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its reassessment of Catherine’s resistance to annulment. Tremlett convincingly frames her refusal not as obstinacy, but as a principled stand grounded in law, faith, and royal duty one that directly precipitated England’s break from the Catholic Church. This reframing positions Catherine as a catalyst for seismic historical change rather than a passive victim of it.
Equally compelling is Tremlett’s attention to Catherine’s role as regent and military leader during Henry’s absence, particularly at the Battle of Flodden. These moments underscore her political competence and authority, challenging long-standing narratives that diminish women’s leadership in early modern Europe.
Elegantly written and meticulously researched, Catherine of Aragon stands among the finest works of Tudor biography. It is an essential read for historians, students, and general readers seeking a fuller understanding of a queen whose endurance and conviction shaped the course of English and European history.
Rather than reducing Catherine to the role of Henry VIII’s discarded wife, Tremlett presents her as a formidable political figure shaped by the formidable court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Her education, diplomatic skill, and religious conviction emerge as defining forces that influenced English history for generations. The narrative carefully traces her journey from dynastic pawn to resolute queen, emphasizing her intelligence, resilience, and unwavering sense of legitimacy.
One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its reassessment of Catherine’s resistance to annulment. Tremlett convincingly frames her refusal not as obstinacy, but as a principled stand grounded in law, faith, and royal duty one that directly precipitated England’s break from the Catholic Church. This reframing positions Catherine as a catalyst for seismic historical change rather than a passive victim of it.
Equally compelling is Tremlett’s attention to Catherine’s role as regent and military leader during Henry’s absence, particularly at the Battle of Flodden. These moments underscore her political competence and authority, challenging long-standing narratives that diminish women’s leadership in early modern Europe.
Elegantly written and meticulously researched, Catherine of Aragon stands among the finest works of Tudor biography. It is an essential read for historians, students, and general readers seeking a fuller understanding of a queen whose endurance and conviction shaped the course of English and European history.
June 5, 2021
When beginning this book, I had two things in mind that I wanted to achieve: Learn more about Catherine's life before becoming our Queen and more about her character of person as opposed to her overlapping story with Anne.
This book certainly helped me achieve these objectives. After finishing this brilliant biography I feel I know Catherine much better than ever before. Her obstinate, unrelenting and pious character shines through on every page.
The book is well written and certainly well paced, I never once felt that it was sluggish or boring, in fact it felt more like a drama unfolding before me, as opposed to a biography of a life long since lived and ended.
My only quarrel with this book is the use of commas - maddening! there are just so many and it was putting me off the rhythm of reading to begin with, but once I could move past this, I felt myself really enjoying what I was reading.
It was also fairly easy to read - you do not need a degree in either history or English language in order to understand what is being said, and this is always a bonus with historical biographies.
Overall I would certainly say 5/5 and I reccomend to all abd any with a love of history ♡
This book certainly helped me achieve these objectives. After finishing this brilliant biography I feel I know Catherine much better than ever before. Her obstinate, unrelenting and pious character shines through on every page.
The book is well written and certainly well paced, I never once felt that it was sluggish or boring, in fact it felt more like a drama unfolding before me, as opposed to a biography of a life long since lived and ended.
My only quarrel with this book is the use of commas - maddening! there are just so many and it was putting me off the rhythm of reading to begin with, but once I could move past this, I felt myself really enjoying what I was reading.
It was also fairly easy to read - you do not need a degree in either history or English language in order to understand what is being said, and this is always a bonus with historical biographies.
Overall I would certainly say 5/5 and I reccomend to all abd any with a love of history ♡
January 16, 2024
My Amazon review on July 2, 2015: Good account of difficult life
Pretty good overview of Catherine's interesting but sad life as far as I could tell, not being an expert on the era. Probably not a scholarly treatment but being written by a journalist had a fairly easy style of writing. He certainly appears to have done his research however based on the notes and fairly extensive bibliography. I quibble with the single map in the book which is of Spain, although most of the action is in England. A simple map of where the castles were in southern England would have helped. The portrait are very nice, mostly the classics you've seen elsewhere. A few photos of the old castles that may still exist would have been a nice addition. You come away not liking Henry VIII at all (no surprise there) and admiring Catherine despite her unyielding stance. She was clearly in the right from a moral standpoint. Would the Reformation have occurred without this entire drama? Tremlett asks the question but does not delve into what is speculation anyway. I would guess probably yes, but perhaps with far less impact if England were somehow not to have gone Protestant.
Pretty good overview of Catherine's interesting but sad life as far as I could tell, not being an expert on the era. Probably not a scholarly treatment but being written by a journalist had a fairly easy style of writing. He certainly appears to have done his research however based on the notes and fairly extensive bibliography. I quibble with the single map in the book which is of Spain, although most of the action is in England. A simple map of where the castles were in southern England would have helped. The portrait are very nice, mostly the classics you've seen elsewhere. A few photos of the old castles that may still exist would have been a nice addition. You come away not liking Henry VIII at all (no surprise there) and admiring Catherine despite her unyielding stance. She was clearly in the right from a moral standpoint. Would the Reformation have occurred without this entire drama? Tremlett asks the question but does not delve into what is speculation anyway. I would guess probably yes, but perhaps with far less impact if England were somehow not to have gone Protestant.
May 25, 2023
Abandoning this at about two thirds through as I can't get on with the author's voice at all. He does offer an interesting wealth of detail about Catherine's youth and upbringing, which makes for a nice change, as there are way too many narratives that seem to assume Catherine of Aragon sprung into being as a fully formed 40-yo barren husk once Henry had no use for her anymore, as if hers wasn't the longest, politically significant, and initially loving, of the six marriages. However, there's something about Tremlett's particular mix of source-citing and complete conjecture that just rubs me the wrong way. He also approaches the question of whether or not Catherine and Arthur consummated their marriage (which, given the existence of the papal dispensation, is factually irrelevant anyway, elaborate judicial proceedings at Henry's insistence notwithstanding) with a level of salaciousness (the whole first chapter consists of overly detailed descriptions of two 16-year-olds in bed and what they may or may not have got up to) that I found both unnecessary and borderline gross.
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