Arthur Tudor of England married Catherine of Aragon – Event that preceded the schism between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church

Arthur Tudor, the eldest son and heir to the Tudor dynasty was born in 1846 to King Henry VII of England and Wales, and Elizabeth of York. In an astute political move to forge the Anglo Spanish alliance Arthur was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon, daughter of French monarch Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. The decision of marriage was a part of the Treaty of Medina del Campo (1488-89) between the two states.

In October 1501, young Catherine reached England to be married to Arthur who was barely 15 years old. On November 14th 1501, the marriage took place in old St. Paul’s Cathedral.  Post marriage the couple moved to Ludlow Castle in Shropshire. However on April 2nd 1502, barely six months after the marriage Arthur died of “Sweating sickness” and was buried in Worcester. Even though short lived, this marriage had significant impact on the course of English history.

In an effort to continue the alliance, Catherine was betrothed to Arthur’s younger brother Henry.  Post the death of King Henry VII in 1509, Henry ascended the throne and married Catherine. The joint coronation ceremony of King Henry VIII and Catherine was held on June 24, 1509.

Catherine Aragon
Source: Wikipedia

Of their many children only a daughter named Mary (the future Mary I of England) survived.  Henry VIII desperately sought a male heir to the throne and also had fallen in love with an  woman named Anne Boleyn.  It is said that Henry began to regard his marriage to his  brother’s widow Catherine as unlawful under the Cannon Law and the reason why he had no  male heir.  Catherine however maintained that her marriage with Arthur had not been  consummated and hence she was the only true wife of Henry. She maintained this stance  till  the end of her life, despite all odds.

Henry VIII appealed for annulment of the marriage with Catherine. However Pope Clement  VII  did not permit the annulment and this eventually led to the split between England and  the  Catholic Church.  King Henry assumed the position of the Supreme head of the New  English  Church. Following the schism the marriage was annulled by the English Church and  Henry  VIII went on to marry Anne Boleyn.

Catherine was banished from the Royal court and was conferred the title of Dowager  Princess  of Wales implying she was the widow of Arthur. During her exile she lived in  several damp  and ill maintained castles with few servants. She was also separated from  her daughter Mary  and spent the last years of her life in prayer.

Grief coupled with lingering illness led to her death in 1536 at Kimbolton Castle. She was buried with the honor of Princess Dowager and not as the Queen of England.

‘My tribulations are so great, my life so disturbed by the plans daily invented to further the king’s wicked intention, the surprises which the king gives me, with certain persons of his council, are so mortal, and my treatment is what God knows, that it is enough to shorten ten lives, much more mine.’ Katharine of Aragon to Charles V, November 1531.

Source: Britroyals.com ; History Today; English History; The Telegraph