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| Jun 16 2009, 9:02 PM EDT | MsSquirrly | 1 word deleted |
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Queen Katherine of Aragon as played by Maria Doyle Kennedy
Infanta of Aragon & Castille & Queen of England
Mottoes: "Not for my Crown" (As Princess of Wales) & "Humble & Loyal" (As Queen of England)
MEMORABLE CHARACTER QUOTES
DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES
PHOTOS & PICTURES
More on Katherine of Aragon - click links
<<Back to The Tudors Characters
Queen Katherine of Aragon as played by Maria Doyle Kennedy
Infanta of Aragon & Castille & Queen of England
Mottoes: "Not for my Crown" (As Princess of Wales) & "Humble & Loyal" (As Queen of England)
| Born December 16th, 1485 - died January 7th, 1536 Crowned June 25th, 1509 Separated & Banished July 1531 Marriage annulled January 1533 Character's backstory: Born an Infanta of Spain, to "Los Reyes Catolicos', Ferdinand and Isabella, Katherine came to England at the age of 15 to wed Arthur, Prince of Wales. After Arthur’s death Katherine lived in abject poverty for several years while her father and her father-in-law argued over what was to become of her, because the notoriously miserly Henry VII did not want to have to return Katherine and her dowry to Spain; at one point he even considered marrying her himself after the death of his wife Elizabeth of York. At first, she was betrothed to Henry VIII when he was a boy, but he later repudiated her at his father's instigation so Henry VII could look for a more advantageous marriage for his son. With the death of Ferdinand - Isabella had passed sometime before - , the balance of power in Europe had shifted away from Spain and Katherine had lost her status as a desirable match. However, upon the death of Henry VII his son, the 18-year-old Prince Henry, who long before had been taken with his pretty Spanish sister-in-law who was six years his senior urged by his privy council married her and crowned her his Queen on June 11, 1509. For a time Katherine served as her father's ambassador in Henry's court, but eventually was forced to choose between her loyalty to her father and her husband. Of course she chose Henry. In 1513, during Henry's absence in France on military campaign that culminated in the inconclusive Battle of the Spurs, Katherine was an able administrator. As Henry's regent, she presided over the war against the invading Scots, mustering and rallying the troops, as well as providing 'standards, banners, and badges". At the beginning of September 1513, Katharine left Richmond at the head of an army that may have been composed of as many as 40, 000 and waited at Buckingham for news and to provide reinforcements to the armies fighting in the north if needed. She had not long to wait. On September 9th, the English forces led by the Earl of Surrey, Thomas Howard, father of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, (Surrey would later become the 2nd Duke of Norfolk and pass the title on to his son) won a decisive victory over James IV of Scotland at Flodden, putting an end to the Scottish threat. Katherine's martial spirit likened to that of her mother Isabella was commented on in the courts of Europe. Upon the conclusion of the Battle of Flodden, she sent the coat of the defeated and defunct James IV to Henry with her congratulations, giving him, of course, all the credit for a victory that was greater then his own in France, as a proper wife of the time who 'knew her place'. Through the years, she had many pregnancies, but only one living child, Princess Mary Tudor , whom she adored. As the daughter of a Queen regnant, Katherine hoped to see Mary designated heir to England's throne, but although England did not have the Salian Laws prohibiting a female ruler, the English had by custom avoided Queens regnant, and Henry was insistent on a male heir, even going to far as to grant titles, and lands to his illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, that made it seem that he was preparing to designate Fitzroy his heir. Of course, Katherine protested. The idea of divorcing Katherine began to be discussed shortly after which Henry became infatuated with Anne Boleyn. Then the matter became more urgent to the King, and he began in earnest to pursue an invalidation of his first marriage to Katherine's horror and dismay. She refused to accept the divorce, her demotion to Princess Dowager, and Mary's removal from the succession for the rest of her life, although Henry exiled her from court, separated her from Mary, and imprisoned her in a succession of damp, gloomy manors and castles. Katherine died at the age of 51 on January 6th, 1536 at Kimbolton. Henry granted her the funeral due to a Princess Dowager, relict of his brother, Prince Arthur, a title Katherine had refused in life, continuing to call herself Queen of England in her correspondence and considering herself Henry's only lawful wife. She was buried in Peterborough Abbey. In 1891, during restoration at the abbey, Queen Katherine's remains were moved to the north presbytery aisle just outside the sanctuary. By order of Queen Mary, wife of King George, V, the royal banners of an Infanta of Spain and Queen Consort of England are suspended above her grave. Gold lettering on the grillework reads, "Katharine, Queen of England". It was clear that Henry & Katherine loved and respected one another in the early years which made his eventual disinterest all the more painful for the queen to bear. Even after he no longer loved her, Henry for a long time retained a respect for her and openly sought her advice and opinion. Gentility: Princess, daughter of Isabella of Castille and Ferdinand of Aragon , Queen of England. Position: Infanta of Spain, Princess of Wales, Princess Dowager of Wales, Queen of England. Personality type: She had charm, graciousness, intelligence & naturally evoked positive responses wherever she went. She had a more reserved character than her husband and blushed at his ribald jests, but she entered into the spirit of frivolity which pervaded their court.Strong willed and always aware of her royal heritage & role in life.,She always gave Henry credit and as a wife knew her "place". She was a deeply pious woman, growing more so as she aged. She also wore hair shirts and prayed for hours on end. She raised Mary to be the same way. She thought Wolsey far too worldly to be a man of the church. She was also peeved that her role as Henry's confidante and adviser was slowly stolen away by Wolsey. Katherine was jealous of the Cardinal's influence with her husband, particularly since it meant a subsequent decline in her own influence. Signature look: Dignified,formal in demeanor, light and strawberry blond in complexion (unlike most motion picture portrayals) Katherine had English ancestry in John of Gaunt and her maternal grandmother and namesake, Catherine of Lancaster and was more of an English, than a Spanish complexion. She favoured more formal & conservative attire. Although Katherine was attractive in her youth, the years and repeated childbearing were not kind to her. In 1519 Francis I is known to have said Henry was "Young & Handsome" while he ungallantly said Katherine was " Old & Deformed" probably due to her being overweight and under 5 foot in height. Endearing trait(s): Compassion, courage, intelligence, devotion to her daughter Mary, loyalty, patronage of education, tenacity, & her strength in adversity. A devoted & pious catholic. Annoying trait(s): She was stubborn & proud but this was in the main due to her grand pedigree. Blind unwavering affection for Henry & belief in his blamelessness with regard to "the King's Great Matter" . |
 Royal seal of Katherine of Aragon (Catalina de Aragon)
*Click here to view the Historical Timeline of Katherine's life
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CHARACTER CONNECTIONSFamily members:Father: Fernando II de Aragon (Ferdinand II of Aragon) Mother: Isabel de Castilla Sister: Juana the mad, (Queen of Castille after he mother's death and wife to Philip the Beautiful), Isabella of Asturias, and Maria of Aragon Brother: the Infante Juan Nephew: Charles V,Holy Roman Emperor (also known as Charles I of Spain) Great-nephew: Philip II Great grandmother: Katherine of Lancaster. Marriage(s): Arthur Tudor -Prince of Wales - married 14 November 1501 - 2 April 1502 - Arthur died of the sweating sickness King Henry VIII in 1509. | Children: Daughter - still born 31 January 1510 Prince Henry, Duke of Cornwall born 1 January 1511 - died 52 days later Henry Born November 1513 - died a few hours later Daughter - stillborn - December 1514 Princess Mary Tudor - born 18 February 1516 Daughter - still born 10 November 1518 Friends: Ambassador Mendoza, Ambassador Chapuys,Thomas More,Cardinal John Fisher,Maria de Salinas,Lady Elizabeth Darrell Enemies: The Protestant & Reformer Faction. The Boleyn and Howard Factions. |
MEMORABLE CHARACTER QUOTES
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| More on Katherine of Aragon - click links |
PHOTOS & PICTURES
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| Maria Doyle Kennedy as Queen Katherine (this slideshow is now full) |
  | Miniature by Lucas Horenbout / Horenbolte. |
| | Short history of Katherine in words & pictures. |
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| See alsoThe Tudors Cast | The Tudors Episode Guide | |
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