While very rare, recurrent pregnancy loss is incredibly tragic and traumatic for pregnant people. Lina and Rosa talk about Edward, and Lina reminds her its an honor to attend Princess Catherine. She had been ill for a few months but felt worse after drinking a draught of Welsh beer in December 1535 and this, combined with the embalmers report that all of her organs were healthy apart from her heart, which was quit black and hideous to look at, gave rise to rumours that Catherine had been poisoned. These were the questions preying on her mind during her last days. Shed sent her husband a piece of the Scottish kings bloodied surcoat (for your banners) but lamented that shed originally hoped to send a much more macabre trophy: the embalmed body of James himself. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The new details involve the queen more deeply as a director of events rather than a passive figurehead managed by those of Henrys counselors left in England, Sean Cunningham, the archivist who discovered the papers, told the Times Mark Bridges in May. Lina instructs the servants where to place Catherine of Aragons belongings. Was this because she was lying? "Flodden," the second episode of The Spanish Princess's second season, showcases Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) in her element. For a moment there, Catherine had it all. Catherine is often portrayed as a dowdy, overly pious, stubborn old woman who refused to yield her position for the good of the kingdom. They believe God is keeping Princess Catherine away. Richard Pole breaks the tension, introducing himself and his wife. She explains, It is really important to talk about PCOSbut no one really talks about it because it's not a cool thing to bring up on a first date. It could also be because, as Dr. Conti says, Any condition that poses potential infertility also carries stigma. Queen Catherine of Aragon, played by Charlotte. Throughout the battle's proceedings, Catherine was more a "director of events" than "passive figurehead" managed by Henry's counselors, according to an archivist who unearthed new papers about her pivotal role in 2020. 1485 - d. 1536. But, it was also talked about in the 16th century with Catherine of Aragon trying desperately to produce a male heir for her husband, the King, Henry the VIII. As records recently found at the United Kingdoms National Archives testify, this daughter of Ferdinand and Isabellatwo famously bellicose rulers whod spent Catherines childhood driving the Muslim Moors out of the Iberian Peninsulaleft the safety of London and headed north toward the English-Scottish border with 1,500 sets of armor, as well as a golden headpiece with crown that Tremlett likens to an armored sun hat, in tow. Season 2 of The Spanish Princess premieres on Sunday, October 11 on Starz. Queen Isabella and her men emerge from the battle victorious. Lina wakes Princess Catherine from her nap when she sees King Henry approaching the house. He then reveals hell be leading her up the aisle for her wedding. The queen eventually gave birth to Princess Mary (who would be later known as Bloody Mary, due to her violent reign) on February 18, 1516, according to the same report. Unfortunately, the queen reported, she soon realized that our Englishmens hearts would not suffer it.. "There wasn't even a discussionMatthew just said, 'I know what the poster is," Frost recalls, adding that the image was inspired by Demi Moore's Vanity Fair cover, in which she posed nude while pregnant. I entreat you also, on behalf of my maids, to give them marriage portions, which is not much, they being but three. Scotland is practically at [Englands] mercy.. Though Spain and England initially sought to maintain their alliance by marrying Catherine to another member of the Tudor family (both Henry and his father, Henry VII, were suggested as potential suitors), negotiations soured as diplomatic relations shifted. Princess Catherine watches her mother ride into battle and sinks to her knees, plunging a knife into the earth and reciting, Daughter of Spain, Queen of England, wife to Prince Arthur, in ever-increasing volume and surety. She lost because Henry had chosen Thomas Cranmer as the new Archbishop of Canterbury in 1533, knowing he would immediately grant a divorce. Catherine truly believed she was in love, and now she wonders if it was all a sham, a trick played by some other nobleman. But the new evidence suggests that the queen intended to travel further north, if not directly into battle like Joan of Arc, then at least into the vicinity of combat. It is instead one of those worst nightmare scenarios, just begging for it not to happen, knowing that everyone is going to come and see. That way, if King James IV's troops were victorious, she and her army would be waiting. She said as a result she kind of lived with this fear for most of my early to mid-20s that I really needed to hurry my shit up and get married and have kids. That was balanced by the fact that she was working as an actor, traveling all of the time, and not in any stable long-term relationships. Catherine barely acknowledges his greeting, wanting only to enter the house and get out of her wet clothes. Queen Elizabeth explains two young men were killed so that they could not challenge Prince Arthurs claim to the throne. Catherine of Aragon served as regent for her husband, Henry VIII, for six months when he was in France in 1513. I tend to Arthurthat is all, says Margaret, extremely uncomfortable with the turn this conversations taken. As Catherines leaving, Prince Harry confesses he wrote the love letters. Talking to all of them, and processing it all existentially and at times fatalistically, highlighted the diverse experience of womanhood. Despite her status as a Spanish Claire is going live on YouTube on 11 February! He softens his comments by complimenting Catherine, saying she and Rosas beauty brighten the day. "Facts About Catherine of Aragon." Categories: Six Wives, Tudor EventsTags: Catherine of Aragon, Katherine of Aragon, Copyright 2023 The Anne Boleyn Files | READ MORE. The season focuses on Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) and Henry VIII's (Ruari O'Connor) marriage and struggle to have children. She's pregnant, wearing full battle armor. For more ways to live your best life plus all things Oprah, sign up for our newsletter! One of the young men was Margaret Poles brother, Edward Plantagenet. In addition it is quite curious why Catherine prayed for hours, practiced penance and wore a hair shirt as a form of self-punishment. For my part I pardon you everything and I wish to devoutly pray to God that He will pardon you also. He is a starving man and you are bread, says Queen Elizabeth. Prince Harry joins her at the door and removes her shoes. , LP x. Facts About Catherine of Aragon. In fact, they were married for about 23 years before Henry, frustrated with their inability to produce a male heir, decided to break with the Catholic Church and thereby have his marriage annulled. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. passionate marriage between Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) and King Henry VIII (Ruari O'Connor) seen here with their first son, Henry, who later tragically dies. That grit and hope was something Charlotte also found in many of the women she talked to in researching her role. The battle of wills continues, with Lady Margaret tossing Catherines words back in her face. ThoughtCo. She was haunted by the deaths that had resulted from Henrys Great Matter and the fact that it had led to England breaking with Rome were they down to her stubbornness, her refusal to go quietly? Yet, while Catherine goes through immense pain, her strength helped Charlotte cope all along. According to Fox, the Battle of Flodden (which draws its name from nearby Flodden Edge) left Scotland in a powerless situation. She adds, Not only have you just defeated them in a spectacular way, but [the kingdom is] in disarray. Given how perfectly it encapsulates her personality, the powerful image of Catherine wearing armor ahead of battle ultimately serves as the main poster image for season 2 of The Spanish Princess. After more than a decade of marriage negotiations, Catherine was to marry Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, eldest son of Henry . children: Catherine was pregnant six times during her marriage to Henry VIII: January 1, 1511: son, Henry, lived 52 days, September or October 1513: son, stillborn, November 1514 - February 1515: son, Henry, stillborn or died shortly after birth, February 18, 1516: daughter, Mary, the only one of her children to survive infancy. Elizabeth believes Margaret would be aware of any plots against their family. 28-year old Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) played a major role in the Battle of Floddenall while pregnant. When she questions him about being a Muslim and drinking, he explains its because theres nothing else safe to drink. She was, of course, buried as the Dowager Princess of Wales, not as Queen, but her grave is now marked with the words Katharine Queen of England. Background, Family of Catherine of Aragon. Miscarriage, abortion, stillbirth, and even maternal death are all storylines that, while unpopular and uncomfortable to unpack, are lived truths for many people. Charlotte adds, I think those kind of stories are really important to be told, if for nothing else than to encourage people to be more aware about what these issues are, and that they're not scary and overwhelming and that it's something that so many women are dealing with in their day to day lives, even now.. Lady Margaret greets Catherine with, Welcome to England, child, and their initial conversation sets the stage for later conflicts. Catherine matched the breadth of her husbands intellectual interests, and she was a competent regent while he was campaigning against the French (151214). Neither her former husband, Henry VIII, nor her daughter, Mary, attended the funeral. She was allowed in. February 7 Sir Francis Bryan loses an eye and Henry VIII has a new love, An interview with historical novelist Sandra Byrd, Henry VIII and His Six Wives event open for registration, January 25 Anne Boleyn finally marries Henry VIII, January 15 Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, is crowned queen, Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands, 7 January 1536 The death of Catherine of Aragon, first wife of King Henry VIII, December 31 Sir William Skeffington, Lord Deputy of Ireland. They run into Prince Harry (Ruairi OConnor) and he asks if Catherine likes it here. King Henry reports to Queen Elizabeth hes officially met Catherine of Aragon. She emphasizes that stress is too often and incorrectly blamed for miscarriages and so people historically (and still do) suffer in silence for fear of being blamed for being too stressed (or, perhaps, in Catherines case, fighting in a battle). The English customs are different, and Catherine continues to prove shes fierce and unafraid of speaking her mind. Catherine of Aragon is portrayed on screen by actress Charlotte Hope in historical drama The Spanish Princess Why did Henry VIII 'divorce' Catherine of Aragon? Additionally, Catherine would not budge from her position that she was his wife and queen in the eyes of both God and Man. Henrys desire for a legitimate male heir prompted him in 1527 to appeal to Rome for an annulment on the grounds that the marriage had violated the biblical prohibition against a union between a man and his brothers widow. However, when she was first diagnosed, the doctor told her if you want to have kids you should have them before you are 30 and that mentality stuck with her (in part because the anxiety was so much it actually prevented her from talking to other doctors or hearing more opinions). She began by emphasizing Floddens significance, writing, [T]o my thinking this battle hath been to your grace, and all your realm, the greatest honour that could be, and more than should you win all the crown of France. As one might expect of such a deeply religious individual, the queen proceeded to thank God for the victoryand subtly remind Henry to do the same. Henry had also become infatuated with one of his wife's . Queen Elizabeth warns, Do not cross me, Catherine. (Years after Catherines death, her beloved daughter, Mary I, followed in her mothers footsteps by rallying troops to her cause and seizing the throne from those who had sought to thwart her. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. My Lady the Kings Mother (as she was referred to at the time) is unaware Catherine has ordered their ship to dock elsewhere, not wishing to see her other lady-in-waiting, Rosa (Nadia Parkes), continue suffering from seasickness. Anne and Jane's bond seemed to have improved, they were a lot closer now Almost like how things used to be. According to contemporary historian Peter Martyr, Catherine really did address English troops ahead of the Battle of Flodden, wearing armor to accommodate her pregnant body, as she does in The Spanish Princess. My heart is very good to it," Catherine wrote in an 1813 letter to Thomas Wolsey, who was with Henry VIII in France at the time. It was a good political move. She was also concerned about the impact the annulment would have on their only living child, Mary. Catherines legacy, adds the historian, is that of a wronged woman who did not accept defeat, who fought for what she believed to be right until the breath left her body., Henry, for his part, never forgot the tenacity his wife had demonstrated in the days leading up to Flodden. Charlotte learned that ultimately, there are many different paths you can take, and you are not defined by any one of them. Tremlett describes how Catherine could barely sit up, yet alone stand, that she had been unable to keep food down and that she was unable to sleep due to severe pains in her stomach. Catherine won and lost her case. Sixty years prior, another foreign-born princess, Margaret of Anjou, took charge of the kingdom amid the Wars of the Roses, fighting for her sons inheritance and making major decisions on behalf of her disastrously incompetent husband, Henry VI. Giles Tremlett writes of how Mara had rushed up from London on hearing the news of Catherines illness and that she acted out an elaborate charade to force her way into the house, claiming the letter licensing her to enter was on its way and pretending that she had been thrown from her horse and was in urgent need of shelter. Catherine may not call herself Princess of Wales until after the wedding. When Catherine says King Henry was rude to her, Elizabeth disagrees. But by 1527, Henry had a big problem: His first marriage, to Catherine of Aragon, had failed to produce a son and male heir to the throne. As far as Katherine had happily noticed, most of the tension had dissolved between her sisters. | Shes embarrassed she shared her heart and passion with the letter-writer. And for Charlotte herself, playing Catherine was personal. She could empathize with the pain. Prince Arthur makes it to Dogmersfield House where Margaret and Richard Pole are currently residing. ), Combined with the example set by Isabella and other relatives, says Tremlett, Catherine had some very strong role models for women who could rule, for women who could fight.. It was unlawful for communion to be taken before daylight but Jorge de Athequa, Catherines confessor and the Bishop of Llandaff, could see that his mistress did not have long to live and so administered communion and listened to her confession. Her final resting place was Kimbolton Castle, where she lived out her days, according to Britannica. Register before the end of 31 December! One contemporary, Peter Martyr, reported that the queen, in imitation of her mother Isabella, regaled her reserve army with a speech compelling them to defend their territory and remember that English courage excelled that of all other nations., This incident is widely referencedincluding in an upcoming episode of The Spanish Princess, which will feature a highly exaggerated version of Catherine, clad in armor fashioned to accommodate her visible pregnancy, riding directly into battlebut many historians now consider Martyrs account apocryphal. When she is left as regent, she is in her element, says Julia Fox, author of Sister Queens: The Noble, Tragic Lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile. Shocked, she reminds him theyre in service to Princess Catherine and Spain. This happened many times for Charlotte Hope as she played Queen Catherine in the Starz original limited series the Spanish Princess, which returned for Part 2 this month. Queen Isabella (Alicia Borrachero) and members of the Spanish army accompany Princess Catherine on the first part of her perilous journey. empathized with Catherine as she herself has grappled with the question of fertility. Omissions? Catherine had very powerful relatives. During his initial meeting with Princess Catherine, King Henry had mentioned something to the effect of what was done to bring Catherine to England, and Lina, Rosa, and Catherine now believe thats another thread in this tale of deception. She refused to acknowledge Anne's place in the monarchy, going so far as to refuse to send the crown jewels to Henry's second wife. On May 23, 1533five months after he married Anne Boleynhe had his own archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Cranmer, annul the marriage to Catherine. Tremlett writes of how Catherine then prayed, asking God to set Henry back on the right path and forgive him for wronging her before asking her Fathers pardon for her own soul. Catherines impressed with Arthurs writing, and her heart is warmed by his passion. This unique concert which will only ever be performed this evening will feature music Catharine would have heard at court, and also a piece reputedly written especially for her by Henry VIII. According to England's National Archives, Catherine was determined to bring King James IV's body back to her husband, as a battlefield memento.