Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII
Drawing on his deep knowledge of both Spain and England, Giles Tremlett has produced the first full biography in more than four decades of the tenacious woman whose marriage to Henry VIII lasted twice as long (twenty-four years) as his five other marriages combined. Her refusal to divorce him put her at the center of one of history's greatest power struggles, one that has resonated down through the centuries— Henry's break away from the Catholic Church as, bereft of a son, he attempted to annul his marriage to Catherine and wed Anne Boleyn. Catherine's daughter, Mary, would controversially inherit Henry's throne; briefly and bloodily, she returned England to the Catholicism of her mother's native Spain, foreshadowing the Spanish Armada some three decades later.
From Catherine's peripatetic childhood at the glittering court of Ferdinand and Isabella to the battlefield at Flodden, where she, in Henry's absence abroad, led the English forces to victory against Scotland to her determination to remain queen and her last years in almost monastic isolation, Giles Tremlett vividly re-creates the life of a giant figure in the sixteenth century. Catherine of Aragon will take its place among the best of Tudor biography.
Review: I was really interested in reading this biography of Henry VIII's first wife, because although I have encountered Catherine as a character in numerous novels and other historical works, I knew little about her life before becoming queen. Most Tudor novels focus on the drama of the end of Catherine's marriage and Henry's remarriage to Anne Boleyn, and Catherine is generally portrayed as the older, stubborn, barren wife, preventing Henry from annulling their marriage, and demonstrating a deep-seated Catholic faith. That being said, it was interesting to learn more about Catherine's childhood and early life.
Catherine was born the youngest child and fourth daughter of the legendary Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. Her mother is still known today for her bravery and leadership, and her parents had a true partnership and remarkable equality in terms of their power. If anything, Isabella wielded more power, since her holdings were wealthier. Catherine was engaged as a child to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, the heir to of Henry VII of England. Catherine had a rigorous education, making her one of the most learned women in Europe, and would certainly have been raised with the expectation that she should know how to run a kingdom. Although married to Arthur as planned, her young husband died just a few weeks after their wedding, leaving Catherine in limbo in England for years until she finally married the much younger son, Henry, who became King Henry VIII. Catherine displayed her fortitude during this uncertain time between marriages with diplomacy and determination, although she frequently suffered from illness, possibly due to anorexia, which may also have contributed to her fertility troubles later in life. To demonstrate his belief in his intelligent daughter, her father Ferdinand appointed her his ambassador in Europe before her second marriage; "Who could serve his interests better than a loyal, loving and noble subject already living in London and with excellent access to Henry VII? Catherine herself was to be his ambassador" (124).
Although Catherine and Henry's marriage appears to have been very happy for many years, marred only by the deaths of several infants and the survival of only one child, Princess Mary, and the constant squabbling across Europe, it turned sour in time. Catherine was well loved by the British people and remained a devoted wife and strong royal partner for Henry. Catherine, following in the footsteps of her mother, ruled in Henry's name while he was away at war in 1513. "Catherine now became 'Regent and Governess of England, Wales, and Ireland, during our absence...for the preservation of the Catholic religion, and recovery of our rights...and to issue warrants under her sign manual...for payments of such sums as she may require from our treasury.' She could raise armies, appoint sheriffs, approve most church appointments and spend money exactly as she wished" (167).
Yet Henry's wandering eye and desire for a son led him to seek to put an end to his marriage with Catherine after nearly twenty years of marriage. This led to numerous years of fighting a stubborn and tactical Catherine, who demonstrated that she would rather be a martyr than declare her marriage invalid or retire quietly to a nunnery. Catherine died in 1536, stripped by Henry of her servants, possessions, and kept from her daughter, Mary, who remained fiercely loyal to her mother. Catherine was Henry's longest standing marriage, and the only wife who demonstrated the skill, trust, and upbringing to help rule England like a true partner.
I enjoyed Tremlett's account of Catherine's life. His short chapters made this easy to read, and he covered portions of Catherine's life I knew nothing about previously. Additionally, he handled the great question that even today hangs over Catherine's life well - the question of her virginity after her brief marriage to Arther. As Tremlett argues, the truth will never be known. It is clear that Catherine of Aragon lied on other occasions if it was in her interest, so it is possible she lied about being a virgin when she married Henry, but it's also clear that she was tactically trying to preserve both her marriage and life, so the truth is fairly irrelevant. I most liked the image Tremlett painted of Catherine's childhood, living a charmed and enlightened existence in the beautiful Spanish Alhambra. It is a shame that the worst years of her life are the ones best remembered by history.
Stars: 3
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