When she arrived at Plymouth in 1501, she could hardly speak or understand any English. Tis made her first years in England quite difficult. Arthur died five months later and Catherine was subsequently married to Arthur’s younger brother Henry VIII. On top of that, Catherine was made to feel unwelcome due to the population not supporting the marriage as they thought that she might favour Spanish affairs. But she was strong and educated with a lot of training in how to be a queen. With time, she managed to adapt and learn to love England. Her loyalty to her new country was shown while the king was in France when, as Queen Regent, Catherine fought and won the Battle of Flodden against the Scottish. Tis was a turning point for her popularity and from that moment on it only in- creased. During the following 20 years, Catherine was happily married
to Henry but they never had a son and the possibilities to have one with Catherine were quite low. For Henry, it was almost an obsession to have a male heir to the throne. So when Henry fell in love with Anne Boleyn and she promised him what he wanted, a son, he became determined to find a way to dissolve his union with Catherine and marry Anne. For Anne and Henry to be legally married, the Pope had to declare Catherine and Henry’s
marriage null and void. Te son had to be legitimate if he was to become the Prince of Wales. Henry’s determination to get rid of Catherine was a big blow
for her, and she opposed the annulment with all her might until she died. She decided to fight for what she perceived as righteous- ness and the future of her daughter Mary, even if she was lonely and surrounded by powerful men in court and counsellors that had to obey Henry. He was the King, Catherine was just his ‘for- eigner’ wife.
Tis fight made Henry separate from Rome to get the divorce he so desired. He named himself the head of a new religion, the Church of England. Te English Reformation started and those who didn't bow to it were punished. Catherine was banished from court and sent away to live in
very poor conditions. But what hurt her the most was the fact that she was forbidden to have any contact with her daughter. Henry didn't allow Mary to go to Kimbolton Castle to be at her dying mother’s bedside. She wasn't even allowed to attend her fu- neral.
Why such persistence from Catherine?
Catherine was thinking about her daughter, who was by then Princess of Wales and the future Queen of England by her own right. If her marriage was annulled, as Henry wanted, Mary would be declared illegitimate and consequently not recognised as heiress to the throne of England anymore. Unfortunately, this was what happened to Mary.
Catherine had been an obedient and loyal wife. Te fact that Anne infatuated Henry was not a good enough reason to divorce or annul their marriage. He had mistresses before, he even had an extra-marital child, but she never complained about it. Te English people loved her, especially women. Every time she showed herself in public, they shouted their support to her and called her Queen even if it was forbidden. Mary, who always sup- ported her mother, was also cheered when she went out. Catherine also had the support of her nephew, Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.
22 FOCUS The Magazine May/June 2019
www.focus-info.org
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