The first wife

A painting by Juan de Flandes of 11 year old Catherine

Catherine of Aragon was born on the sixteenth of December 1485. She was the youngest surviving child of Ferdinand and Isabella, the rulers of Spain, who were famous for sponsoring Columbus's voyages of discovery to the New World.

She became Henry's first wife in the year 1509, and although she gave birth several times, her only offspring to survive childhood was Mary, who would eventually be Queen of England and known as Bloody Mary.

Because Catherine failed to give him a male heir and Henry VIII fancied Anne Boleyn, he asked the Pope to annul their marriage. His excuse was that the marriage was never legal because she had previously been married to his older brother Arthur. The Pope would not allow a divorce so Henry took matters into his own hands.

Henry made himself the head of the Church of England and severed connections with the Catholic Church. He went on to take back power and property from the monasteries in England.

Henry married Anne Boleyn and banished Catherine from court. She lost the title Queen of England and became Princess Dowager. She was separated from her daughter, Mary, and spent the remaining years of her life at Kimbolton Castle where she died in the year 1536. She was buried at Peterborough Abbey.

Henry and Catherine's marriage declared null and void in 1533