The trial of Catherine of Aragon ( 1485 - 1536 ) Catherine was the daughter of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand. Catherine was married to Prince Arthur the brother of Henry VIII upon Arthurs death, his parents didnt want to give back the dowry, she married Henry VIII and became Queen of England. Katherine never relinquish her crown, even after her husband tried to divorce her in his quest for a son and heir to the English throne. Catherine of Aragon was the last child born to King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile. Catherine was described as a beautiful,small and plump princess with pink cheeks, light skin, and reddish-gold hair. Her childhood was filled with battles and celebrations. Catherine was a dedicated student who was capable of speaking romance languages of the Iberian peninsula,French, Latin, Greek, Spanish and later English. She trained in law, genealogy (the study of family histories), the Bible, and history. Catherine also worked to develop her skills in dancing, drawing, and music, and she learned how to weave. Henry VIII went against the advice of his council and took Catherine as his bride, a mere six weeks after taking the throne. Catherine was well received by the English people as their Queen. Catherine gave birth to several children, all of whom were stillborn (dead upon birth) or died during infancy. Despite Henrys frustration, he comforted his wife during each loss. In February 1516 the birth of Princess Mary was much celebrated. While Henry was away at war, he named Catherine as the Queen Regent of the Kingdom. This showed how much faith he had in her. When the Scots invaded, they were defeated at the Battle of Flodden Field, with Catherine addressing the army, and riding north with some of the troops. Catherines religious dedication increased with her age, as did her interest in academics. She continued to broaden her knowledge and provide training for her daughter. Education among women became fashionable, partly from Catherines influence. She also donated large sums of money to several colleges and the needy. godmother of poor children. In the end, Henry was cruel to Catherine. He forced her to live in seclusion and refused to allow her to see their daughter, Mary. Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle near Huntington in 1536.
Posted on: Sun, 06 Jul 2014 11:54:08 +0000