Katherine my favorite of historical characters associated with Henry. She was a good wife, Queen and mother. She was the first female ambassador ever. She was intelligent, humble and beautiful. I love it they still bring gifts to her tomb to this day.
I'm so mad that only now as an adult that she was a warrior queen! Textbooks always painted her as a dumpy, pious, dour, boring woman. It's interesting how as time goes on, Henry is becoming the least interesting person in the story of the Tudors.
Piety is one's DUTY toward God. In our age it has become sadly common to impute piousness as a negative characteristic as if duty to one's Creator made one dull. She, Thomas More, Fisher, Queen Isabella, Erasmus and other pious contemporaries were never dull.
@@kinkyscartoons Yes, Anne is a very fascinating historical figure and I enjoy reading about her, in large part because of all of the mythology built around her and there has been so many different the academic perspectives used to view her through. However, Katherine is just as interesting and sympathetic a figure as Anne, even without all the mythology. Even though The Spanish Princess was an Emma Frost show, and therefor my expectations of it were not high, I was kind of excited for a show focused on Katherine. Now I'm sad because it was terrible.
Yeah, exactly, it annoys me so much how textbooks do that, because in reality she was actually very beautiful and savage. The way she stood up to Henry and his men when she was in exile 🔥🔥
That would have been British propaganda - they did the same to Diana making her out to be mad and crazy....Catalina de Aragon was one of the most wronged women in history
Catharine of Aragon was one of the most powerful, educated and strategic minded women in history. She was an ambassador, a warrior, lindquist, an activist (if I remember correctly it was she who helped promote women learning to read in the English courts), a loving mother, devoted wife and completely loyal to her faith. She was a survivor. It saddens me that she is not remembered for all of her accomplishments, yet instead remembered for being Henry's cast aside wife. Like she failed as human being not giving him a surviving son. It does make me ponder how would history had changed if she and Henry had parted ways and she returned to rule Castille instead of her sister.
All of her early years, but particularly from 16 to 23, must have been an incredible psychological strain for Katherine. Can any of us women imagine being such a pawn in this game? All those years in a foreign land, wondering how all this was going to work out, as her political value went up or down. I am glad she had some years of happiness with Henry, but all in all, the poor woman led a doomed life.
Carol Barclay: I believe our good thoughts reach those departed so wishing Catherine well is not a wasted exercise. I think Anne gets credit because of Elizabeth, although I think that queen was just as savage as her father. The Tudors were wastrels in the area of honor, cutthroat dealmakers, useful only as examples of how NOT to behave
IF only Katherine had been able to return to her country sooner.....she would have have suffered all she did, & England would have had to suffer " Bloody Mary"! A woman that inherited her fathers mad & evil ways!! I believe his son May have taken from him b/c of his adulterous affair & evil ways (who's to say that..He might have taken on his father's unrepentant philandering ways? And I fully believe.... that Elizabeth Was Meant to b Queen, as his son did not live long... Mary reigned only a short time, producing No heirs..... Then look how long Elizabeth reigned & how MANY attempts against her were never successful !
I thought, when Dr. Kat was telling the story, how different royal life is than normal life. Catherine must have been used to the vagaries of court life. That’s not saying she wasn’t sad and tormented at times, but she knew the score and she dealt with it as a warrior.
There was a bad storm on the way to England, which some of her party took as a bad omen. They were right. She should have returned to Spain after Arthur''s death. Her pride kept her from doing it as she didn't wish to return unmarried.
I would really love a video about Catherine's sister Juana. She was not an English Queen but she did have a pretty amazing life during this same period. I think seeing the sister's side by side as well as understanding their mother Queen Isabel gives a better insight into the iron of will that both had
Unfortunately, Juana became worse as Catalina was fortunate to move out of their mother's often abusive views on religion. Juana became known as Juana la loca or Joanna the mad/crazy in English because of her abusive parents, husband, and eventually son.
As an actress, her courtroom speech to Henry is one of my favorite monologues from Shakespeare. He did not stray far from her real speech in its eloquence and poignant tone.
Katherine has always fascinated me. She grew up in the beautiful surroundings of the Alhambra Palace, in the women’s section with running water, etc., and then goes to cold, wet England where is is married to Arthur and shipped to Wales. She has amazing resilience during her window hood and subsequent marriage - as you say, a true warrior queen. Sign up for the channel and watch the Spanish Princess - there is obviously poetic license in the series, but the Katherine they portray is a strong determined woman. I think you’ll enjoy
I always forget that she and Henry were initially happily married for so many years. I have great admiration for her parents and of course Katherine herself. I feel very sad for how she was eventually demeaned and undermined by Henry and ultimately cast aside. So much wasted potential once more imho. I sometimes wonder why her powerful relatives didnt intervene more in the run up to the eventual forced annulment of her marriage and agree that I don't think Henry understood her resolution and determination at all. What a wretched ending to a life with such initial success and potential. Thank-you, as ever Dr Kat. Hoping that you and your family are safe and well ♥️.
I've read that she told the Pope and her nephew The Holy Roman Emperor that she didn't want any bloodshed on her part. That's a true testament to her character.
@@NCKrypotonite33 Absolutely, I was thinking of her cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in particular. Also because Spain is a fairly near neighbour to us here in England it wouldn't have been impossible to return there to a convent or similar. Saying that I think that you're absolutely correct about the strength of her character. A true warrior Queen.
I think many of us do, in part because so many Tudor dramas/novels/etc. start when their marriage is failing and even many histories - with the benefit of hindsight - put weight on some of the earlier problems which would have been entirely forgotten by history if she’d had a son and reigned until her or Henry’s death
It's more complicated.You need to get a full grounding on the political and religious machinations going on. For instance the Pope was effectively Charles Vth prisoner, so he wasn't going to upset the applecart, there would likely have been wars and people had different political alliances all the time. They shifted like the wind,depending on what they stood to gain. No different to Modern politics in a way. Katherine was always a bargaining chip. As were all Royal daughters. She was a pretty lowly one.By the time of her divorce Spain had nothing to gain from her. The political landscape had shifted and demanding her back wasn't worth the strop.Beside,she would not have gone! In her mind she was Queen of England, not Abbess fodder in some Spanish Convent. It is this intrasigence that led to a lot of grief.As Kat said, she and Mary could have lived comfortably for the rest of their days, just like Anne of Cleeves did, if she hadn't been so stuck in her religion. I don't find her particularly inspiring,any more than I do her parents. Religious fanatics who caused countless suffering and death. I know that is a modern take, but that is what they did. With that parentage it is hardly surprising that Katherine could not 'think out of the box' By the way, another reason that Henry VII hung onto her for so long and left the 'betrothal' dangling was because he would have had to return her dowry with her. .As a skint miser,he could not bring himself to do that! So he kept her isolated in penury instead. It's a 'what if?' 'What if they had sent her back to Spain and she had been married off to some wealthy Duke or minor Catholic king who shared her devoutness? She may have borne him many sons and everyone wouldhave been a lot happier! Lol
I too have sometimes wondered what would have happened had she surrendered, like Anne of Cleves, and like her, might have enjoyed a comfortable and respected life, perhaps even as one of Henry's inner circle due to his respect for her attainments and intellect. But that would have been a very different Katherine.
Since I share Katherine's Faith and Church, I can explain. We are taught that this life on Earth is a gift from God but gifts can be misused. If we place comfort or worldly riches above truth, faith, love, and the Commandments, we imperil our immortal soul.
@@avantibev7759 But, the only reason an annulment, something that would be completely in alignment with Katherine's faith, was not granted was that she opposed it. Had she not--see Dr. Kat's example of Eleanor and Louis of France--an annulment would surely have been granted. No mortal soul imperilment at all.
Or at least to retreated back to Spain, trading the miserable wet weather and bad health she suffered in her castle in England for the gorgeous Alhambra, her childhood home.
If she would have accept the annulment there would have always been those whispers and rumors that the annulment confirmed she had lied all those years. That she and Arthur had fully consummated their marriage. Her image as a queen of pure and unadulterated faith would have thrown away and history would have viewed her as a liar. A impoverished scheming princess who lied and cheated to trick a king into marrying her. She knew this. A daughter of the Catholic monarchs was raised around such politics. She knew as well if she did so Mary's marriage value would go down to nothing. The heir to the English throne gets a lot better offers than an illegitimate removed heir. Sad to say but that's how it was
I loved the Spanish Princess as a modern piece of drama that of course has lots of holes an inaccuracies. But I loved how it portrayed Catherine as feisty and showed her fighting on so many different levels.
There is very, very little known about her other than the names of her parents and that her father was a servant. Knowing her mother's name is actually kind of a big deal considering how we don't even know it Anne or Mary was older. Unfortunately, there isn't much to tell about Bessie because of this.
I can understand why she fought for her position. She was the Queen who's only issue was the inability to produce the King a son ( no fault of hers of course). I don't blame her at all for fighting for her crown of that of her daughters.
What is often forgotten is she and Henry did have a son who lived two months or so. I realize he died in infancy, but history glosses over this child in the claim of Henry’s that the marriage produced no male heirs.
To me, she tried hard to change the son-king rule from the British monarchy being herself an excellent example of ruling and because in Spain women ruled, as did her mother way before getting married.
I’m no fan of Henry’s believing his accident left him brain damaged and dangerously so but let’s remember he had the fate of an entire nation on his shoulders.
Thank you so much for explaining this History. I’ve been studying a lot the Tudor histories and there is still more for me to learn however, it’s such a shame that Queen Catherine was treated so poorly for which she did not deserve that. She was an exceptional intelligent woman and to this day she is still being given great honor and tribute for who she was. May God bless Her soul. ❤🕊️🌸
This was such an interesting piece. I am reminded of a comment you, Dr. Kat, made while discussing the women who were slain by Jack the Ripper. As I recall, you talked about the fact the the criminal is the centre of the story, while the women are virtually nameless. It is something the same with Henry VII’s wives. Although they are not nameless, they seem to be cast as two-dimensional characters. Thank you for bringing these women to light and life. Would men who had played such significant roles in history be virtual supporting characters if roles were reversed?
I would really recommend the book The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, she wrote about the lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper and it's truly so interesting to learn about these women & the lives they had, rather than their final, tragic moments.
I never knew she rode into battle as queen & was definitely surprised to learn she was pregnant at the time. I’ve always admired her resilience in regards to her marriage, but this new insight makes her even more remarkable to me. Hail to the True Queen
Yeah!!! So glad you dived into Katerine of Aragon. This was fabulous, once again you explore the other sides and other stories of historical figures. She had a robust and interesting life. She is always referred to as Henry's VII first wife, and those last years as queen. Treated like a footnote to the larger tale. Thanks for being such a thorough historian and women advocate. You have helped empower the women of the past.
This is a wonderful approach to this forgotten Queen, thank you! Catalina de Aragon was educated also by Beatriz Gallindo, La Latina, the girl/woman who studied Latin in the University of Salamanca! Isabel took her out of the convent thinking she would make a better use merrying her and placing near the court so that she could teach the royal children. So she taught Latin as a woman master, in the royal court! What an amazing exaple of strong woman, apart from her mother, Katherine was surrounded by. When Betriz became a widow, she turned out to be a really self-determined woman, she founded a hospital for people who needed help, just for the people from the neighborhood. The hospital didn´t survive till today, but when you go to Madrid, you may happen to get off at La Latina metro station, this is where Beatriz, La Latina lived, the teacher of Katherine, the English Queen.
Thank you, you placed Katherine in historical context for me. I feel she was justified in not quietly slipping away into obscurity; the Tudors treated her shabbily.
From what I have heard is that most adaptations of Henry viii or his six wives Catherine is always showed as this wife Henry hates and is trying to get rid of just the preamble to Anne Boleyn not focusing on Catherine and only Anne and I don’t think that’s fair as much as I like Anne’s story
Agree. In The Tudors she’s displayed as being fairly pathetic, and her rich history is glossed over. I’m not a huge fan of the casting either, as the actress is about 13 years older than Jonathan Rhys Meyers. She looks like his aunt, not his wife. It’s all wrong. I realise she was older than he was (and Anne Boleyn), but the age gap was five years. Anyway. Love Dr Kat’s video ❤️
@@TessDurbeyfield The Tudors is fiction? It's couch potato bait. If you are interested in history you owe it to yourself to learn it properly.I am sure you are worth more than couchbait fodder
@@hogwashmcturnip8930 Did you actually bother to read what I wrote? I just excoriated the show for its inaccuracy. Your comment makes zero sense in reply to me.
@@TessDurbeyfield Ooh Excoriated! Now there is a woody word! How much googling did it take for you to come up with that one? Or are you the Queen of Spelling Bees? I think maybe you should re read what I wrote, as I am actually agreeing with you? A little less time with a dictionary and more time actually communicating with living beings may be in order?
She was too good for him, ha!! His need for a son took on abnormal proportions and the irony is Elizabeth was a great monarch after all that he did, sigh. Thank you Dr. Kat for bringing Catherine to life as she deserves, keep well❣️
It's probably because of her upbringing that she was a great monarch. She learned to bend and not break and to give others the same option, when possible. If she had married, her husband would've had a lot of input in what decisions she made as a monarch. Or maybe made the decisions for her. Could be a totally different England/world right now (could've lost to the Spanish Armada, no Sir Walter Raleigh colonizing America, etc) if her father hadn't been such a bast***. One never knows how our childhood will shape us.
The show is based on a P. Gregory novel. It’s historical fiction and the historical part is there were real people with those names. If you go into it with low expectations you might not be disappointed.
Gregory does know the actual history, but has stated that when it comes to making a cohesive story, decisions have to be made. It's a loose general outline with lots of fabricated details to fill in the plot holes. I like to read her books as a way to challenge myself to spot what's incorrect.
@@Author.Noelle.Alexandria that's an interesting way to think of it. I haven't read any of her books as I like to have accuracy but you've made me think again.
The Spanish princess is a good show although like many other shows it does take some historical license. For example, portraying Katherine riding into battle in full armor five months pregnant swinging a sword. While she was instrumental in the decision making for the battle, she did not actually fight
That armor made me cringe SO hard! If I would have seen it to begin with, I never would've watched the first episode. I enjoyed the Tudors and reign, even the white queen/princess, but the liberties they've taken with the Spanish Princess are just flat out absurd. It's honestly heartbreaking because I would love for them to tell Katherine's story and do it justice.
Thanks for the video.Katherine was indeed a warrior, as her mother was. But I also think it's worth mentioning that her religion may have played a strong role in her opposition to the divorce. Her mother, Isabella, has been credited with starting the Spanish Inquisition. I think it's likely that Kathrine was raised in a home environment where the care of the soul took precedence over politics.
The Tudors have always been a huge part of my life - I worked at Hampton Court Palace in 2014 and my fiance worked there for 12 years. Thank you so much for bringing life to these women who are often overlooked or forgotten about - they're so much more than "the 6 wives." your channel is a real treasure and you're such a delight to watch/listen to!
I have really respected and liked Katherine of Aragon every since I have gotten her true story from scholars like yourself All I knew about her was from novels, movies, and television. She is always depicted as a hard old wife to the lovely Anne Boleyn as well as others. She is always dark and moody never the wife she was in her youth. Thank you for clearing this up for us. Please continue to clear up so much misinformation about the people of history
Fantastic! Her sister Juana had a very, very interesting life too. She was bullied and betrayed by her dad, husband and son. She was not mad alt all as you mentioned here.
Henry did not expect that a small, pious, seemingly innocuous woman would have stood up to him to wage a war. In fact, that woman was virtually all alone in a foreign land. He genuinely feared Catherine, whom he believed was every inch like her mother, the warrior-queen Isabella, and whom he imagined would lead an army in the battlefield against him. Catherine, after all, was a tenacious Spaniard, gifted with a latent fire burning deep in her heart. and with an iron will, as sharp as a Toledo sword. Like a true daughter of Isabella, Catherine never wavered - she won the war against Henry.
She was treated very shabbily by VII & VIII, although I can understand VIII's desire for a male heir, and I didn't know about the annulment precedent. I've always loved the disputed portrait: so serenely lovely the subject was. I certainly hope she looked like that and NOT like the other one...
Love Queen Katherine. Gets me upset how underrated she is and that Anne Bolyen became popular. And yes I highly recommend Spanish Princess. There is also white Queen and the white princess. My love for Queen Katherine came after watching Spanish Princess
So many details that are not usually presented about Katherine of Aragon. As a novice of history, what I knew for the most part was she was Henry's first wife, she was cast aside when he wished to marry someone else. I knew she had not been able to produce a son for Henry, and that only one of their children survived, Mary of course. I was not aware of how fascinating her early life was, her upbringing, her bloodlines, her strengths. The hardships she had endured, the triumphs and disappointments, and ultimately her refusal to agree with Henry's terms, along with the consequences of that choice. As other comments have pointed out, you have a gift of bringing these historical figures to life in a way that helps us understand they were real people. They lived long ago but their lives were real, and complicated. Always appreciate your videos Dr. Kat!
The Spanish Princess is NOT very good... but I'd definitely watch you reacting to it. It's very in line with "Reign" style re-imagining of historical events.
It’s actually very good. Why do people worry about that historical accuracy as if it’s not meant for TV? Lol geez it’s TV not history class. If you want boring & mundane historical facts then go to a library lol.
@@Leno323 I didn't go very far in depth in my comment, but now I feel like you're asking me for my review of the show... and also being kinda rude about it, so I won't mince words. I'm not really worried about historical accuracy. I really enjoyed and was entertained by "Reign" and "The Tudors" and knew it was 90% fiction. I don't like "The Spanish Princess" because the lead actress' HORRENDOUS Spanish accent is HORRENDOUS and distracting. They could have hired a more talented actress who was either A. from Spain or B. better at accents. Every other actor on that show is acting circles around her. I also didn't get the point of making her character love everything Islamic about Spain (The Alhambra, the bath houses, etc.) and yet be totally ignorant of what her parents were doing to Muslims. That was a weird choice that absolved her character of any responsibility or need to for growth, understanding, and accountability. What message is that sending? You can love it. I can not love it. You will see several comments saying it's enjoyable... and I didn't comment on any of them insinuating that their opinions were wrong, bad, dumb, etc. Go agree with them instead of disagreeing with me 🤷♀️
@@Leno323 I think the issue is that many people believe it?I have read comments from people quoting the script and incidents in various tacky tv shows as if they actually happened and they get very upset if you say that they didn't. The TV companies have a responsibility to ensure what they do is accurate, as does any writer, and if it isn't it should be made very clear it is FICTION. What is wrong with them simply changing all the names? They won't do that,because it will no longer have the drawing power.Who wants to read or watch Bubba the first and his wives, Kayley, Aggie, Mary Lou, Becky, Daisy and Sue Ellen?
I find her the opposite a jerk who goes around, after her divorce insisting that she is the legitimate queen of england. She may not like the divorce but she should've moved on
Keep in mind that, for the era, kings were expected to have mistresses, and he actually had very, comparatively speaking, and he was under outrageous pressure to have a legitimized son. That kind of pressure would have been awful. Marriages and sex were entirely about that male bloodline. Love within a marriage was odd, and it was sheer luck that they had it. I don't think Henry should make you wary of marriage itself, but the unfair burden put on people should. Had the pressure not have been there, a pressure that all but deemed him a failure in the eyes of a country he was supposed to leave with an heir, I bet they'd have lived happily together until she died.
@@Author.Noelle.Alexandria Having mistresses was normal. having mistresses in court and openly, less so; having mistresses get precedence over your queen was absolutely outrageous and divorce was unthinkable. This isn´t Versailles yet and most of what he did was not acceptable. Our modern standards see the random sleeping around and the "second wife in court" situation as more similar than people did back then. No to mention that "expected in a cynical sense", "common", "normalized" and "accepted" aren´t the same. Thing about modern politicians having mistresses or being corrupt, for example.
My favourite of the six queens, followed by Anne of Cleves and Katherine Parr. I often wondered what would have happened if she had had a son that survived. Her only failure as a wife was not being able to achieve this. I love that you give her the respect that I think she deserved.
Thank you! Such a different view of her than is seen in movies; so many historical women have been reduced to shadows of themselves and I've always thought she was one of them. You brought her back to life; she seems much more real to me now. btw--Just wondering...have you ever considered portraying her? I loved your Tudor pirate, but when you put up that side by side of you speaking and the the portrait of Katherine, I thought, hey....you two related or something?
I am quite impressed by Katherine. She was strong, courageous, she endured many torment. Thinking of her youth I cannot forget she was the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of the Spanish inquisition reputation. She certainly had a very strict, very pious education. Divorce was a big no no, annulment ? after so many pregnancies and so many years of marriage ..... Any way it was refused by the pope. That was a line that could not be crossed. Could she have marry again? Not if what I believe is true. Her faith would not have let her do so. With a husband living it would not have been recognized by Rome. She could not. She lived true to her belief, true to herself. Much to be admired. Thank you for this video. Very interesting
I think that you are right in suggesting that Henry would have been Katherine's to command had she accepted the annulment. You only have to look at how Anne of Cleves was treated by Henry after she accepted an annulment.
only in the last 5 years have I learned about how interesting this woman was. History seems to have painted her as dour and forbidding. who knew she had unappreciated knowledge and assisted Henry with his battles? you don't have to agree with her religious faith to admire that spine of steel
I say yes to the reaction!!! But before you do Spanish Princess, please do White Queen (A good portion of the war of the Roses), White Princess (covers most of Henry IIV and Elizabeth of York’s life), then Spanish Princess.
Wow! Katherine is my favorite English Queen. Thank you for a brief biography of this formidable and courageous woman. The person who really irks me is Henry VII. Loathsome behavior and a loathsome man.
Really love your videos. Catherine was a remarkable woman. The more I have re read about this era while expanding my horizons over other eras, the more respect I gain for her.
What surprises me to this day is her parents’ reactions to her predicament at the first Tudor’s court. Why did they ( or Ferdinand , her father, after Queen Isabella’s death) not themselves call her back to Spain after prince Henry’s repudiation of their betrothal? Could they not have “used” her for another diplomatic marriage?
[regarding the Spanish Princess] ‘Do you want me to sign up and stream my reactions to the first episode?’ Before you said it I hadn’t even thought of it, but now you say it YES. Also thanks for another very informative video!!
Thankyou for doing this history of katerina. She was, a beautiful princess and a loyal wife to Henry regardless of all his faults. I regard her as a true Queen of England. Her daughter, , Mary has been much maligned and therefore her reign has not been adequately documented. I applaud your work.
I admit I was shocked to hear, for the first time, that Henry had a legal "out" if he got his annulment from Katharine and that their daughter Mary would Not automatically be declared a bastard. In everything I've ever read that was Katharine's reason for fighting the annulment. Is it possible that she was that stubborn and almost literally shot herself in the foot? Was she so determined to be a martyr? But perhaps she was never offered that as a solution and once she defied Henry her goose was cooked, so to speak. Shines a whole new light on this. Thanks for that.
To be honest I always thought KoA was just way too stubborn and ruined her own life with it. I (and I say this as an Anne Boleyn fan) completely understand her reaction, but it wasn't really wise. She could have lived a much better life after Henry. Look at Anne of Cleves. She did it right and had a good time at court.
She would have known it was an option for Mary. Henry's sister Margaret had an annulment and her daughter Margaret Douglas remained legitimate as the pope considered her mother's marriage to have been made in good faith. So Katherine absolutely would have had this example and I don't know of any reason that it wouldn't have been an option for her. I think she probably just felt that her marriage was legitimate, so she wouldn't agree to any form of annulment. It also didn't help that her stubbornness had served her well before when Arthur died so she probably assumed that it would again.
@@daughteroftime8047 She had to be an example for her daughter. Her choice was to be faithful to her motherhood, not take a "deal" from a betraying tyrannical psychopath
@@daughteroftime8047 Yes. Henry wanted her to say she had lied all those years ago when she had said her marriage to Arthur was not consummated. Maybe, she had told the truth and would not say otherwise.
Love this! I released a video all about Katherine of Aragon a while back - she's so darn cool and while people love the Tudors, Katherine's earlier history isn't covered anywhere near enough!
You’ve def made Katherine come alive for me. I always kind of rooted for Anne, and still do. But I have as of late come to realize what a badass woman Katherine also was. You always do that for me, bring alive the people you profile. Have you seen or heard the newish musical Six?? I love the music and it’s a 🔥 musical play, however it does tend to exaggerate or play into the more salacious rumors of the wives lives. I’d love to see you do a comprehensive breakdown of it and each wife’s solo song. Thanks again for a truly wonderful and informative video.
Henry did seem to be attracted to badass women Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boylen, Katherine Parr. Jane Seymore didn't live long enough for us to judge. Henry didn't really pick Anne of Cleaves, so whatever her capacity to be a badass, Henry neither knew or cared. Katherine Howard was an old man wanting to prove he was a young man and doing what many, many old, rich, powerful men do, he picked a trophy wife.
Long time sub and admirer. I so look forward to your very insightful videos. I understand the wonderfully time consuming responsibilities of motherhood, yet your posts are better than ever. 💙💛💚🧡💜
Lovely video. Catherine of Aragon is one of my favorite historical figures from Tudor England. One thing I always wonder about is why when her marriage to Arthur arranged so young and rather stable as those situation ever were her parents didn't make sure she at least learned a decent amount of English before leaving Spain. Catherine was obviously very bright with how she learned Latin so well, so I can't believe it was a ability issue. Her parents gave all of there children particularly their daughters for the time a solid education so seems like an odd decision. As for why she didn't give in, I think it fundamentally came down to religious devotion. The Pope had said their marriage was valid until he said otherwise it was in her mind. Additionally, having grown up around her strong female leaders and being one herself I think she took issue with the idea of Mary being passed over even if she remained legitimate, because she believed it was God's will Mary rule. After Matilda and the War of Roses the English had an phobia around female leadership that was rather extreme even for the time period.
Another great video! Always look forward to seeing an upload :) The Spanish Princess is a mixed bag. Like most Philippa Gregory adaptations (the show is based on her novel The Constant Princess), rumours and scandals from the time period are used as plot devices. In the case of the show and the book, the whole plot hinges on the idea that Katherine did in fact consummate her marriage with Arthur and then lied about it. This is still up for debate and obviously only Katherine and Arthur know the truth of it. The highlight of the series was finally seeing an accurate Katherine in terms of her physical appearance. Everyone forgets that most Spanish royals at the time had light/red hair, so seeing her cast as a red head was excellent! They also included a lot of the events you mentioned in some fashion, like Henry VII insisting on seeing Katherine when she arrived. However, the biggest issue with the series in terms of accuracy was that they aged Henry up and created a pseudo love triangle between Katherine, Arthur and Henry. I would instead recommend you watch the Spanish series Isabel if you can find it with English subtitles. It is much more accurate and authentic when it comes to Katherine's story when depicted in the show's third season. I'd love to see your reaction to either show!
I would highly recommend anyone interested in history to watch the Spanish series "ISABEL" it is the most historically accurate and authentic TV series or film I have ever watched. Clips with English subtitles are available to view on the U tube channel Lilli1127.
Actually, they didn't get her accurate. Though yes, one historical depiction states she had red-golden hair, which to us nowadays mean auburn, the language was not always so precise. It evolves. Based upon original portraits by Sittow(not those photoshopped ones) I'd say she was more strawberry blond very much into golden shades, not that much into the red. So maybe that person would nowadays write gold-red(=strawberry blond) instead. She certainly wasn't auburn and miniature later from her lifetime by Horenbout proves that. In it her hair is dark blond, which could still be possible for strawberry blond hair, but not for auburn hair. Not a chance. ... Catherine's mum and sister Juana both had strawberry blond hair also, but most of their portraits darkened due to a less known phenomenon that causes hair paint(especially) in portraits so old to turn to dark brown. And it confuses people greatly. Many historians then wrongly assume that was the sitter's original hair color. In many cases, it wasn't. Unfortunately, the chemical reaction which turns hair dark brown is irreversible. But period illuminations don't seem to have this problem. But I've seen plenty of them photoshopped too. ... Catherine was also never that slim. And frankly, Henry liked his wives to be on the heavier side. ... Spanish Princess is 99% fiction, and horribly inaccurate. I mostly dislike the Flodden episode. In reality, Catherine raised reinforcement army yes-but one month late! She wasn't ready to defend England had Surrey failed(the reinforcement army she organized had3-4 weeks of march to the border before them when the battle occurred!), and she certainly didn't save Surrey nor fought in Flodden. It is just a myth she did well as Regent, let alone that her inspirational speech boosted English captains so much they slaughtered Scottish(that was written by a chronicler working for her daddy who wasn't ever in England), in reality, she was never in the North that year, so that speech could have only been told to reinforcement army which never saw any action. Surrey won purely on his own, against a much stronger Scottish army-any other man in that situation would lose and North of Engalnd would be screwed because Catherine as regent acted too late and her army wasn't in the North to protect it. But also, real Catherine would never risk her baby! Hell, the woman didn't dance for fear of shaking the baby out of the womb. She wouldn't go to battle!
@@janehaylay1152 Thank you for your very thoughtful reply, I did not realise that most of the images of Isabel on the internet had been "Photoshopped" I always assumed her hair was auburn, although I thought many of the events of her life time that were portrayed were very accurate in ISABEL. I totally agree with your comments about the Spanish Princess especially about the Flodden episode.
@@bluebellthesecond8353 Not Isabella's portraits, Catherine's. Isabella's show dark brown hair due to darkening of hair pigments phenomenom that often occures in portraits so old. Hence most show her as brunette, but all of Catherine's portraits by Sittow have been photoshopped . Though in case of Madonna portrait the discoloured varnish layer is also partly to blame. But hell, most version that google shows you...are photoshopped. And it can take while to find unaltered portraits. Both women were strawberry blond, not auburn. More towards literal gold, than red.
What I like about this community is that nobody's pitting the wives against each other. On other channels you can read the most hateful things people write about women who've been dead for about 500 years... "KoA was his true wive"/"KoA was boring and old" "AB was so fierce and intelligent"/"AB was a homewrecker who deserved what she got" "JS was an angel"/"JS was a cruel bitch" "Catherine Howard was an innocent child"/"Catherine Howard was so stupid she had it coming" I've read all that. Awful. This community stays respectful and I really enjoy that!
Yes, I hate that! People do it about historical figures in general, but Henry's wives are particularly prone to it, & it's utterly disgusting cos if there's anyone who should be criticised in this situation, it's Bloody Henry. The Anne Boleyn Files channel is good like that too; people might particularly like one wife but it doesn't mean they hate or viciously criticise the other wives. It's possible to admire Catherine of Aragon AND Anne Boleyn, we don't have to "take sides"!
She does! Although the last portrait is likely an inaccurate version of how Catherine looked, since it was not an original portrait made from looking at her. It was made around two centuries after her death. Dr Kat still does have some resemblance to her though
Greetings from Spain.Catalina was a good Queen,wife and mother.She proved her loyalty to the people of England commanding an army to stop the invasion of the scottish King in the absence of Henry VIII who was in France.Her husband was a bad and very cruel man. As her grand mother was Catalina of Lancaster she had english blood in her veins
Juana definitely was Not mad. She was used and abused by her husband, father and son. But mad? Nope! Read her story. Ask the people in the places she was imprisoned, especially Tordesillas and I am reliably informed that she is seen as almost a martyr. Not something I have discussed with many Spanish people ,but all of them I have spoken with see her as a victim in a power game, just as many see Anne Boleyn in the UK. Juana is rather more 'innocent' than Anne, from the point of view that she was born into it and had no choice.
Katherine of Aragon is one of my favourite Tudor people. She was so strong and never wavered in her conviction that she was the true Queen of England. I do think it is a good point that Henry was shocked by her defiance. You knew who her parents were so that should be no surprise. Although if she had always been seen my him as the "biddable wife" then her not doing as he asked might have thrown him off.
I love Katherine of Aragon & have read so many books about her. I liked her so much that I wanted to read books about her mother Queen, Isabella of Castile, but surprisingly couldn’t find many. Thanks for doing this video 😊
The spanish princess... Oh yes it's a great watch. The others by Phillipa Gregory were great also, but it's a dramatized version of historical ppl. I would recommend all 3. I think I watched all the white queen in a day
Katharine of Aragon has been my favorite queen of all time precisely because SHE DID NOT GIVE UP! SOOO much was a stake there! Especially after Pope Clement (?) Upheld the marriage! I believe that Her Grace knew well the sort of schism this would cause in the Church, and she wanted to do nothing to contribute to it. Besides, as a true daughter of the Church she would've done as she was commanded BY the pope (whichever direction the decision lay).
Thank you for this! Katherine is such a fascinating figure and the general view of her is skewed so much to her situation once Henry started pursuing Anne that the bulk of her life, highs and lows, tends to get glossed over.
Ok, let me get this sussed out. Queen Catherine had to wait 7 years to marry Henry. Henry waited 7 yrs to finally marry Anne. Catherine and Arthur proxy married May 19th, Anne B gets her head clipped on May 19th. All this sounds like a Krama plot!
Another wonderful lecture. You are terrific. I always learn so much. Wish I could time travel. Poor woman. To be so cruel and separate a mother and daughter. Boy did he have a hole in his heart.
Every time I watch an English historian talk about Flodden they make this bizarre claim that James IV invaded England because Henry VIII was away to war and he thought Katherine being regent meant an easy win. At that point Scotland had been allies with France for over two hundred years. France called for support, that’s why James invaded. He didn’t have much choice. Genuine question, is this what they teach in English history in England? Because it’s the only explanation I ever see.
Katherine my favorite of historical characters associated with Henry. She was a good wife, Queen and mother. She was the first female ambassador ever. She was intelligent, humble and beautiful. I love it they still bring gifts to her tomb to this day.
Me too! After the life she lived, I'm happy that she's remembered and honored still. She's my favorite of Henry's Queens.
I have respect and empathy for all of Henry's wives but I like Katherine the best. She was a very strong person.
I completely agree. She was such a powerhouse, wasn't she? Standing up for herself in a foreign country, on her own. She was so courageous.
Agreed!!!!!!
God Bless her Soul...
I'm so mad that only now as an adult that she was a warrior queen! Textbooks always painted her as a dumpy, pious, dour, boring woman. It's interesting how as time goes on, Henry is becoming the least interesting person in the story of the Tudors.
Piety is one's DUTY toward God. In our age it has become sadly common to impute piousness as a negative characteristic as if duty to one's Creator made one dull. She, Thomas More, Fisher, Queen Isabella, Erasmus and other pious contemporaries were never dull.
Well, textbooks have a non-subtle agenda to fulfill, specially in elementary schools.
@@kinkyscartoons Yes, Anne is a very fascinating historical figure and I enjoy reading about her, in large part because of all of the mythology built around her and there has been so many different the academic perspectives used to view her through. However, Katherine is just as interesting and sympathetic a figure as Anne, even without all the mythology.
Even though The Spanish Princess was an Emma Frost show, and therefor my expectations of it were not high, I was kind of excited for a show focused on Katherine. Now I'm sad because it was terrible.
Yeah, exactly, it annoys me so much how textbooks do that, because in reality she was actually very beautiful and savage. The way she stood up to Henry and his men when she was in exile 🔥🔥
That would have been British propaganda - they did the same to Diana making her out to be mad and crazy....Catalina de Aragon was one of the most wronged women in history
Catharine of Aragon was one of the most powerful, educated and strategic minded women in history. She was an ambassador, a warrior, lindquist, an activist (if I remember correctly it was she who helped promote women learning to read in the English courts), a loving mother, devoted wife and completely loyal to her faith. She was a survivor. It saddens me that she is not remembered for all of her accomplishments, yet instead remembered for being Henry's cast aside wife. Like she failed as human being not giving him a surviving son. It does make me ponder how would history had changed if she and Henry had parted ways and she returned to rule Castille instead of her sister.
yesss
All of her early years, but particularly from 16 to 23, must have been an incredible psychological strain for Katherine. Can any of us women imagine being such a pawn in this game? All those years in a foreign land, wondering how all this was going to work out, as her political value went up or down. I am glad she had some years of happiness with Henry, but all in all, the poor woman led a doomed life.
Carol Barclay: I believe our good thoughts reach those departed so wishing Catherine well is not a wasted exercise. I think Anne gets credit because of Elizabeth, although I think that queen was just as savage as her father. The Tudors were wastrels in the area of honor, cutthroat dealmakers, useful only as examples of how NOT to behave
IF only Katherine had been able to return to her country sooner.....she would have have suffered all she did, & England would have had to suffer " Bloody Mary"! A woman that inherited her fathers mad & evil ways!! I believe his son May have taken from him b/c of his adulterous affair & evil ways (who's to say that..He might have taken on his father's unrepentant philandering ways?
And I fully believe.... that Elizabeth Was Meant to b Queen, as his son did not live long... Mary reigned only a short time, producing No heirs..... Then look how long Elizabeth reigned & how MANY attempts against her were never successful !
I thought, when Dr. Kat was telling the story, how different royal life is than normal life. Catherine must have been used to the vagaries of court life. That’s not saying she wasn’t sad and tormented at times, but she knew the score and she dealt with it as a warrior.
There was a bad storm on the way to England, which some of her party took as a bad omen. They were right. She should have returned to Spain after Arthur''s death. Her pride kept her from doing it as she didn't wish to return unmarried.
Bravo. Henry had no idea how formidable Catherine was. She had a backbone of steel, unlike her unstable husband.
She was remarkable! Henry never gave her the admiration and value she deserved! I admire her perseverance!
Truth!!! She taught him to rule, without her he'd have had nothing.
She was born and bred to be a queen. Unlike Henry’s other wives save Anne of Cleves.
She was a true Queen. It was so sad how he treated her she didn't deserve it
What a relief to have such a thorough, properly complicated, intelligent reading of these facts! Very well done.
Agreed, it was very interesting.
As usual, I think your idea of Catherine as a warrior to the end was spot on. She could not and would accept that she was not the legitimate queen
Henry was the illegitimate one
@@EverTheTwain yes!
I would really love a video about Catherine's sister Juana. She was not an English Queen but she did have a pretty amazing life during this same period. I think seeing the sister's side by side as well as understanding their mother Queen Isabel gives a better insight into the iron of will that both had
Unfortunately, Juana became worse as Catalina was fortunate to move out of their mother's often abusive views on religion. Juana became known as Juana la loca or Joanna the mad/crazy in English because of her abusive parents, husband, and eventually son.
As an actress, her courtroom speech to Henry is one of my favorite monologues from Shakespeare. He did not stray far from her real speech in its eloquence and poignant tone.
Catherine is my favorite Queen and wife of Henry the eighth. Thank you for making this episode Dr. Kat!
mine too! She was the best by far, in my opinion
Mine too!!
Katherine has always fascinated me. She grew up in the beautiful surroundings of the Alhambra Palace, in the women’s section with running water, etc., and then goes to cold, wet England where is is married to Arthur and shipped to Wales. She has amazing resilience during her window hood and subsequent marriage - as you say, a true warrior queen. Sign up for the channel and watch the Spanish Princess - there is obviously poetic license in the series, but the Katherine they portray is a strong determined woman. I think you’ll enjoy
I'm so glad that you didn't skip over the years between Arthur and Henry
I always forget that she and Henry were initially happily married for so many years. I have great admiration for her parents and of course Katherine herself.
I feel very sad for how she was eventually demeaned and undermined by Henry and ultimately cast aside. So much wasted potential once more imho.
I sometimes wonder why her powerful relatives didnt intervene more in the run up to the eventual forced annulment of her marriage and agree that I don't think Henry understood her resolution and determination at all.
What a wretched ending to a life with such initial success and potential.
Thank-you, as ever Dr Kat. Hoping that you and your family are safe and well ♥️.
I've read that she told the Pope and her nephew The Holy Roman Emperor that she didn't want any bloodshed on her part. That's a true testament to her character.
@@NCKrypotonite33 Absolutely, I was thinking of her cousin Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor in particular.
Also because Spain is a fairly near neighbour to us here in England it wouldn't have been impossible to return there to a convent or similar. Saying that I think that you're absolutely correct about the strength of her character. A true warrior Queen.
I think many of us do, in part because so many Tudor dramas/novels/etc. start when their marriage is failing and even many histories - with the benefit of hindsight - put weight on some of the earlier problems which would have been entirely forgotten by history if she’d had a son and reigned until her or Henry’s death
@@NCKrypotonite33 I had no idea, wow...
It's more complicated.You need to get a full grounding on the political and religious machinations going on. For instance the Pope was effectively Charles Vth prisoner, so he wasn't going to upset the applecart, there would likely have been wars and people had different political alliances all the time. They shifted like the wind,depending on what they stood to gain. No different to Modern politics in a way. Katherine was always a bargaining chip. As were all Royal daughters. She was a pretty lowly one.By the time of her divorce Spain had nothing to gain from her. The political landscape had shifted and demanding her back wasn't worth the strop.Beside,she would not have gone! In her mind she was Queen of England, not Abbess fodder in some Spanish Convent. It is this intrasigence that led to a lot of grief.As Kat said, she and Mary could have lived comfortably for the rest of their days, just like Anne of Cleeves did, if she hadn't been so stuck in her religion. I don't find her particularly inspiring,any more than I do her parents. Religious fanatics who caused countless suffering and death. I know that is a modern take, but that is what they did. With that parentage it is hardly surprising that Katherine could not 'think out of the box' By the way, another reason that Henry VII hung onto her for so long and left the 'betrothal' dangling was because he would have had to return her dowry with her. .As a skint miser,he could not bring himself to do that! So he kept her isolated in penury instead. It's a 'what if?' 'What if they had sent her back to Spain and she had been married off to some wealthy Duke or minor Catholic king who shared her devoutness? She may have borne him many sons and everyone wouldhave been a lot happier! Lol
I too have sometimes wondered what would have happened had she surrendered, like Anne of Cleves, and like her, might have enjoyed a comfortable and respected life, perhaps even as one of Henry's inner circle due to his respect for her attainments and intellect. But that would have been a very different Katherine.
Since I share Katherine's Faith and Church, I can explain. We are taught that this life on Earth is a gift from God but gifts can be misused. If we place comfort or worldly riches above truth, faith, love, and the Commandments, we imperil our immortal soul.
@@avantibev7759 But, the only reason an annulment, something that would be completely in alignment with Katherine's faith, was not granted was that she opposed it. Had she not--see Dr. Kat's example of Eleanor and Louis of France--an annulment would surely have been granted. No mortal soul imperilment at all.
Or at least to retreated back to Spain, trading the miserable wet weather and bad health she suffered in her castle in England for the gorgeous Alhambra, her childhood home.
Admire Katherine but learn from Anne of Cleves
If she would have accept the annulment there would have always been those whispers and rumors that the annulment confirmed she had lied all those years. That she and Arthur had fully consummated their marriage. Her image as a queen of pure and unadulterated faith would have thrown away and history would have viewed her as a liar. A impoverished scheming princess who lied and cheated to trick a king into marrying her. She knew this. A daughter of the Catholic monarchs was raised around such politics. She knew as well if she did so Mary's marriage value would go down to nothing. The heir to the English throne gets a lot better offers than an illegitimate removed heir. Sad to say but that's how it was
Katherine is my favourite historical character. Her fortitude and sheer bloody mindedness were true forces of nature,. Fascinating video. Thank you!
agreed!
Same
I loved the Spanish Princess as a modern piece of drama that of course has lots of holes an inaccuracies. But I loved how it portrayed Catherine as feisty and showed her fighting on so many different levels.
I love The Spanish Princess too! But yeah... inaccuracies abound.
Tough woman. I have a recommendation: Can you present the story of Bessie to us?
Bump
Awesome idea
@@crazywanch101 Just commenting to say how much I love your TH-cam handle. It brightened up my morning!
@@jessi5872 it is good
There is very, very little known about her other than the names of her parents and that her father was a servant. Knowing her mother's name is actually kind of a big deal considering how we don't even know it Anne or Mary was older. Unfortunately, there isn't much to tell about Bessie because of this.
I can understand why she fought for her position. She was the Queen who's only issue was the inability to produce the King a son ( no fault of hers of course). I don't blame her at all for fighting for her crown of that of her daughters.
What is often forgotten is she and Henry did have a son who lived two months or so. I realize he died in infancy, but history glosses over this child in the claim of Henry’s that the marriage produced no male heirs.
@@darrylclark563 Exactly. And she had another one who was still born....which of course was no fault of her own.
I agree! I love her
@@NCKrypotonite33 and another one that died very shortly after birth (1513)
To me, she tried hard to change the son-king rule from the British monarchy being herself an excellent example of ruling and because in Spain women ruled, as did her mother way before getting married.
So interesting Dr Kat. Catherine of Aragon was brave, and Henry VIII and his reputation suffered for it to this day.
Me too Jenny. She had such a will of iron to hold out so bravely x
th-cam.com/video/zMbRlgWn1IA/w-d-xo.html
I’m no fan of Henry’s believing his accident left him brain damaged and dangerously so but let’s remember he had the fate of an entire nation on his shoulders.
Thank you so much for explaining this History. I’ve been studying a lot the Tudor histories and there is still more for me to learn however, it’s such a shame that Queen Catherine was treated so poorly for which she did not deserve that. She was an exceptional intelligent woman and to this day she is still being given great honor and tribute for who she was. May God bless Her soul. ❤🕊️🌸
This was such an interesting piece. I am reminded of a comment you, Dr. Kat, made while discussing the women who were slain by Jack the Ripper. As I recall, you talked about the fact the the criminal is the centre of the story, while the women are virtually nameless. It is something the same with Henry VII’s wives. Although they are not nameless, they seem to be cast as two-dimensional characters. Thank you for bringing these women to light and life. Would men who had played such significant roles in history be virtual supporting characters if roles were reversed?
👍👍👍👍👍
the men were significant because their women empowered them
I would really recommend the book The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, she wrote about the lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper and it's truly so interesting to learn about these women & the lives they had, rather than their final, tragic moments.
Henry 7 or 8?
Can't believe no one else saw that.
I never knew she rode into battle as queen & was definitely surprised to learn she was pregnant at the time.
I’ve always admired her resilience in regards to her marriage, but this new insight makes her even more remarkable to me.
Hail to the True Queen
I'd love for you to make a video about Catherine de Medici.
Yes yes yes yes yes yes.....
Yes! Me too
Yes and Lucretia Borza
Love Dr Kats channel and I would also like a video about Catherine de Medici
Yes please!
Yeah!!! So glad you dived into Katerine of Aragon. This was fabulous, once again you explore the other sides and other stories of historical figures. She had a robust and interesting life. She is always referred to as Henry's VII first wife, and those last years as queen. Treated like a footnote to the larger tale. Thanks for being such a thorough historian and women advocate. You have helped empower the women of the past.
Have you read Philippa Gregory's books? Would love your take on the figures.
This is a wonderful approach to this forgotten Queen, thank you! Catalina de Aragon was educated also by Beatriz Gallindo, La Latina, the girl/woman who studied Latin in the University of Salamanca! Isabel took her out of the convent thinking she would make a better use merrying her and placing near the court so that she could teach the royal children. So she taught Latin as a woman master, in the royal court! What an amazing exaple of strong woman, apart from her mother, Katherine was surrounded by. When Betriz became a widow, she turned out to be a really self-determined woman, she founded a hospital for people who needed help, just for the people from the neighborhood. The hospital didn´t survive till today, but when you go to Madrid, you may happen to get off at La Latina metro station, this is where Beatriz, La Latina lived, the teacher of Katherine, the English Queen.
Hi. My names Amy. My best friend is Henry the 8th. He's very friendly to Catherine in my opinion. Not to brag.
Thank you, you placed Katherine in historical context for me. I feel she was justified in not quietly slipping away into obscurity; the Tudors treated her shabbily.
From what I have heard is that most adaptations of Henry viii or his six wives Catherine is always showed as this wife Henry hates and is trying to get rid of just the preamble to Anne Boleyn not focusing on Catherine and only Anne and I don’t think that’s fair as much as I like Anne’s story
Agree. In The Tudors she’s displayed as being fairly pathetic, and her rich history is glossed over. I’m not a huge fan of the casting either, as the actress is about 13 years older than Jonathan Rhys Meyers. She looks like his aunt, not his wife. It’s all wrong. I realise she was older than he was (and Anne Boleyn), but the age gap was five years. Anyway. Love Dr Kat’s video ❤️
@@TessDurbeyfield The Tudors is fiction? It's couch potato bait. If you are interested in history you owe it to yourself to learn it properly.I am sure you are worth more than couchbait fodder
@@hogwashmcturnip8930 Did you actually bother to read what I wrote? I just excoriated the show for its inaccuracy. Your comment makes zero sense in reply to me.
@@TessDurbeyfield Ooh Excoriated! Now there is a woody word! How much googling did it take for you to come up with that one? Or are you the Queen of Spelling Bees? I think maybe you should re read what I wrote, as I am actually agreeing with you? A little less time with a dictionary and more time actually communicating with living beings may be in order?
She was too good for him, ha!!
His need for a son took on abnormal proportions and the irony is Elizabeth
was a great monarch after all that he did,
sigh.
Thank you Dr. Kat for bringing Catherine to life as she deserves, keep well❣️
It's probably because of her upbringing that she was a great monarch. She learned to bend and not break and to give others the same option, when possible. If she had married, her husband would've had a lot of input in what decisions she made as a monarch. Or maybe made the decisions for her.
Could be a totally different England/world right now (could've lost to the Spanish Armada, no Sir Walter Raleigh colonizing America, etc) if her father hadn't been such a bast***.
One never knows how our childhood will shape us.
The show is based on a P. Gregory novel. It’s historical fiction and the historical part is there were real people with those names. If you go into it with low expectations you might not be disappointed.
Gregory does know the actual history, but has stated that when it comes to making a cohesive story, decisions have to be made. It's a loose general outline with lots of fabricated details to fill in the plot holes. I like to read her books as a way to challenge myself to spot what's incorrect.
@@Author.Noelle.Alexandria that's an interesting way to think of it. I haven't read any of her books as I like to have accuracy but you've made me think again.
I love the title "Warrior Queen". Thank you Dr Kat, for the enlightening portrayal. She did get short shrift by history...as too often happens.
The Spanish princess is a good show although like many other shows it does take some historical license. For example, portraying Katherine riding into battle in full armor five months pregnant swinging a sword. While she was instrumental in the decision making for the battle, she did not actually fight
That armor made me cringe SO hard! If I would have seen it to begin with, I never would've watched the first episode. I enjoyed the Tudors and reign, even the white queen/princess, but the liberties they've taken with the Spanish Princess are just flat out absurd. It's honestly heartbreaking because I would love for them to tell Katherine's story and do it justice.
The treatment she suffered under the control of her father in law was a chilling foretelling of how her husband would treat her years later.
You make history SOOOOOO much more real and interesting. Thank you! 😊
Thanks for the video.Katherine was indeed a warrior, as her mother was. But I also think it's worth mentioning that her religion may have played a strong role in her opposition to the divorce. Her mother, Isabella, has been credited with starting the Spanish Inquisition. I think it's likely that Kathrine was raised in a home environment where the care of the soul took precedence over politics.
The Tudors have always been a huge part of my life - I worked at Hampton Court Palace in 2014 and my fiance worked there for 12 years. Thank you so much for bringing life to these women who are often overlooked or forgotten about - they're so much more than "the 6 wives." your channel is a real treasure and you're such a delight to watch/listen to!
I loved the Katherine portrayed in The Tudors series.
I have really respected and liked Katherine of Aragon every since I have gotten her true story from scholars like yourself
All I knew about her was from novels, movies, and television. She is always depicted as a hard old wife to the lovely Anne Boleyn as well as others. She is always dark and moody never the wife she was in her youth. Thank you for clearing this up for us. Please continue to clear up so much misinformation about the people of history
Fantastic! Her sister Juana had a very, very interesting life too. She was bullied and betrayed by her dad, husband and son. She was not mad alt all as you mentioned here.
Yes her life was incredibly sad. And her family treated her so badly.
Thank you so much ! Katharine of Aragon is my idol!
I have been looking forward to this one since you said you would “read” her!
Henry VIII didn’t know who he married. He truly didn’t.
He married a daughter of the kings.
Henry did not expect that a small, pious, seemingly innocuous woman would have stood up to him to wage a war. In fact, that woman was virtually all alone in a foreign land. He genuinely feared Catherine, whom he believed was every inch like her mother, the warrior-queen Isabella, and whom he imagined would lead an army in the battlefield against him. Catherine, after all, was a tenacious Spaniard, gifted with a latent fire burning deep in her heart. and with an iron will, as sharp as a Toledo sword. Like a true daughter of Isabella, Catherine never wavered - she won the war against Henry.
I have love & respect for all 6 of the wives, but I have to say that Catherine of Aragon is my favorite ❤
She was treated very shabbily by VII & VIII, although I can understand VIII's desire for a male heir, and I didn't know about the annulment precedent. I've always loved the disputed portrait: so serenely lovely the subject was. I certainly hope she looked like that and NOT like the other one...
I did go to Peterborough has it not far from me in Leicester and I did leave her a pomegranate 2 years ago .
Love Queen Katherine. Gets me upset how underrated she is and that Anne Bolyen became popular.
And yes I highly recommend Spanish Princess. There is also white Queen and the white princess. My love for Queen Katherine came after watching Spanish Princess
So many details that are not usually presented about Katherine of Aragon. As a novice of history, what I knew for the most part was she was Henry's first wife, she was cast aside when he wished to marry someone else. I knew she had not been able to produce a son for Henry, and that only one of their children survived, Mary of course. I was not aware of how fascinating her early life was, her upbringing, her bloodlines, her strengths. The hardships she had endured, the triumphs and disappointments, and ultimately her refusal to agree with Henry's terms, along with the consequences of that choice. As other comments have pointed out, you have a gift of bringing these historical figures to life in a way that helps us understand they were real people. They lived long ago but their lives were real, and complicated. Always appreciate your videos Dr. Kat!
The Spanish Princess is NOT very good... but I'd definitely watch you reacting to it. It's very in line with "Reign" style re-imagining of historical events.
It’s actually very good. Why do people worry about that historical accuracy as if it’s not meant for TV? Lol geez it’s TV not history class. If you want boring & mundane historical facts then go to a library lol.
@@Leno323 I didn't go very far in depth in my comment, but now I feel like you're asking me for my review of the show... and also being kinda rude about it, so I won't mince words. I'm not really worried about historical accuracy. I really enjoyed and was entertained by "Reign" and "The Tudors" and knew it was 90% fiction. I don't like "The Spanish Princess" because the lead actress' HORRENDOUS Spanish accent is HORRENDOUS and distracting. They could have hired a more talented actress who was either A. from Spain or B. better at accents. Every other actor on that show is acting circles around her. I also didn't get the point of making her character love everything Islamic about Spain (The Alhambra, the bath houses, etc.) and yet be totally ignorant of what her parents were doing to Muslims. That was a weird choice that absolved her character of any responsibility or need to for growth, understanding, and accountability. What message is that sending? You can love it. I can not love it. You will see several comments saying it's enjoyable... and I didn't comment on any of them insinuating that their opinions were wrong, bad, dumb, etc. Go agree with them instead of disagreeing with me 🤷♀️
@@mirandapontarelli5485 ITS A TV SHOW. WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH? Find something to do love lol.
@@Leno323 why do you care so much about my opinion on a show? Does my opinion affect you in any way? Leave me alone!
@@Leno323 I think the issue is that many people believe it?I have read comments from people quoting the script and incidents in various tacky tv shows as if they actually happened and they get very upset if you say that they didn't. The TV companies have a responsibility to ensure what they do is accurate, as does any writer, and if it isn't it should be made very clear it is FICTION. What is wrong with them simply changing all the names? They won't do that,because it will no longer have the drawing power.Who wants to read or watch Bubba the first and his wives, Kayley, Aggie, Mary Lou, Becky, Daisy and Sue Ellen?
Thank you for this video! I learned so much about Katherine that I’d never heard before! I hated to see it end! Can’t wait for your next video!
Never been this early for a video in my TH-cam life ❤️
Same haha
I almost squee’d when I got the notification! I have been looking forward to this one so much
Hahaha same, I love Katherine of Aragon!
Same here!🙂
@@justanothernicole same!
Honestly, I find catherine fascinating and henry viii a jerk, womanizer and weak. Henry viii made me really wary of getting married hahaha
I find her the opposite a jerk who goes around, after her divorce insisting that she is the legitimate queen of england. She may not like the divorce but she should've moved on
I suspect Elizabeth I felt the same way XD
Agreed! I admire her so much
Keep in mind that, for the era, kings were expected to have mistresses, and he actually had very, comparatively speaking, and he was under outrageous pressure to have a legitimized son. That kind of pressure would have been awful. Marriages and sex were entirely about that male bloodline. Love within a marriage was odd, and it was sheer luck that they had it. I don't think Henry should make you wary of marriage itself, but the unfair burden put on people should. Had the pressure not have been there, a pressure that all but deemed him a failure in the eyes of a country he was supposed to leave with an heir, I bet they'd have lived happily together until she died.
@@Author.Noelle.Alexandria Having mistresses was normal. having mistresses in court and openly, less so; having mistresses get precedence over your queen was absolutely outrageous and divorce was unthinkable. This isn´t Versailles yet and most of what he did was not acceptable. Our modern standards see the random sleeping around and the "second wife in court" situation as more similar than people did back then. No to mention that "expected in a cynical sense", "common", "normalized" and "accepted" aren´t the same. Thing about modern politicians having mistresses or being corrupt, for example.
My favourite of the six queens, followed by Anne of Cleves and Katherine Parr. I often wondered what would have happened if she had had a son that survived. Her only failure as a wife was not being able to achieve this. I love that you give her the respect that I think she deserved.
I think Katerine of Aragon has been, to my opinion, a marvellous medieval queen, a type "A" queen .
Thank you! Such a different view of her than is seen in movies; so many historical women have been reduced to shadows of themselves and I've always thought she was one of them. You brought her back to life; she seems much more real to me now. btw--Just wondering...have you ever considered portraying her? I loved your Tudor pirate, but when you put up that side by side of you speaking and the the portrait of Katherine, I thought, hey....you two related or something?
I am quite impressed by Katherine. She was strong, courageous, she endured many torment. Thinking of her youth I cannot forget she was the daughter of Isabella and Ferdinand of the Spanish inquisition reputation. She certainly had a very strict, very pious education. Divorce was a big no no, annulment ? after so many pregnancies and so many years of marriage ..... Any way it was refused by the pope. That was a line that could not be crossed. Could she have marry again? Not if what I believe is true. Her faith would not have let her do so. With a husband living it would not have been recognized by Rome. She could not. She lived true to her belief, true to herself. Much to be admired. Thank you for this video. Very interesting
Well said.💚
I think that you are right in suggesting that Henry would have been Katherine's to command had she accepted the annulment. You only have to look at how Anne of Cleves was treated by Henry after she accepted an annulment.
Very helpful! Thank you for throwing light on this much maligned queen.
only in the last 5 years have I learned about how interesting this woman was. History seems to have painted her as dour and forbidding. who knew she had unappreciated knowledge and assisted Henry with his battles? you don't have to agree with her religious faith to admire that spine of steel
This brings tears to my eyes...
I say yes to the reaction!!! But before you do Spanish Princess, please do White Queen (A good portion of the war of the Roses), White Princess (covers most of Henry IIV and Elizabeth of York’s life), then Spanish Princess.
Great job! Would just have liked a physical description of Catherine...
Finally another type of analysis that doesn't involve Henry VIII as much!
Wow! Katherine is my favorite English Queen. Thank you for a brief biography of this formidable and courageous woman. The person who really irks me is Henry VII. Loathsome behavior and a loathsome man.
Agreed
Really love your videos. Catherine was a remarkable woman. The more I have re read about this era while expanding my horizons over other eras, the more respect I gain for her.
What surprises me to this day is her parents’ reactions to her predicament at the first Tudor’s court. Why did they ( or Ferdinand , her father, after Queen Isabella’s death) not themselves call her back to Spain after prince Henry’s repudiation of their betrothal? Could they not have “used” her for another diplomatic marriage?
This just made my day :) love history .
Another great vid Dr.Kat !
[regarding the Spanish Princess] ‘Do you want me to sign up and stream my reactions to the first episode?’ Before you said it I hadn’t even thought of it, but now you say it YES.
Also thanks for another very informative video!!
This is exactly what I needed to motivate me to finish up my projects before the weekend! 💜
Thankyou for doing this history of katerina. She was, a beautiful princess and a loyal wife to Henry regardless of all his faults. I regard her as a true Queen of England. Her daughter, , Mary has been much maligned and therefore her reign has not been adequately documented. I applaud your work.
I admit I was shocked to hear, for the first time, that Henry had a legal "out" if he got his annulment from Katharine and that their daughter Mary would Not automatically be declared a bastard. In everything I've ever read that was Katharine's reason for fighting the annulment. Is it possible that she was that stubborn and almost literally shot herself in the foot? Was she so determined to be a martyr? But perhaps she was never offered that as a solution and once she defied Henry her goose was cooked, so to speak. Shines a whole new light on this. Thanks for that.
To be honest I always thought KoA was just way too stubborn and ruined her own life with it. I (and I say this as an Anne Boleyn fan) completely understand her reaction, but it wasn't really wise.
She could have lived a much better life after Henry. Look at Anne of Cleves. She did it right and had a good time at court.
@@90sHONEY yes me too.
She would have known it was an option for Mary. Henry's sister Margaret had an annulment and her daughter Margaret Douglas remained legitimate as the pope considered her mother's marriage to have been made in good faith. So Katherine absolutely would have had this example and I don't know of any reason that it wouldn't have been an option for her. I think she probably just felt that her marriage was legitimate, so she wouldn't agree to any form of annulment. It also didn't help that her stubbornness had served her well before when Arthur died so she probably assumed that it would again.
@@daughteroftime8047 She had to be an example for her daughter. Her choice was to be faithful to her motherhood, not take a "deal" from a betraying tyrannical psychopath
@@daughteroftime8047 Yes. Henry wanted her to say she had lied all those years ago when she had said her marriage to Arthur was not consummated. Maybe, she had told the truth and would not say otherwise.
Love this! I released a video all about Katherine of Aragon a while back - she's so darn cool and while people love the Tudors, Katherine's earlier history isn't covered anywhere near enough!
I love Katherine of Aragon. One of my favorite queens in history 💕
I love history and your lectures are top - shelf!
Your knowlege and the way you transfer it is remarkable. Thank you😊
You’ve def made Katherine come alive for me. I always kind of rooted for Anne, and still do. But I have as of late come to realize what a badass woman Katherine also was. You always do that for me, bring alive the people you profile. Have you seen or heard the newish musical Six?? I love the music and it’s a 🔥 musical play, however it does tend to exaggerate or play into the more salacious rumors of the wives lives. I’d love to see you do a comprehensive breakdown of it and each wife’s solo song. Thanks again for a truly wonderful and informative video.
Henry did seem to be attracted to badass women Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boylen, Katherine Parr. Jane Seymore didn't live long enough for us to judge. Henry didn't really pick Anne of Cleaves, so whatever her capacity to be a badass, Henry neither knew or cared. Katherine Howard was an old man wanting to prove he was a young man and doing what many, many old, rich, powerful men do, he picked a trophy wife.
@@percysowner true
Two magnificent womens' lives sacrificed to a psychopath.
Long time sub and admirer. I so look forward to your very insightful videos. I understand the wonderfully time consuming responsibilities of motherhood, yet your posts are better than ever. 💙💛💚🧡💜
One of my favourite Queens of England !!
Lovely video. Catherine of Aragon is one of my favorite historical figures from Tudor England. One thing I always wonder about is why when her marriage to Arthur arranged so young and rather stable as those situation ever were her parents didn't make sure she at least learned a decent amount of English before leaving Spain. Catherine was obviously very bright with how she learned Latin so well, so I can't believe it was a ability issue. Her parents gave all of there children particularly their daughters for the time a solid education so seems like an odd decision. As for why she didn't give in, I think it fundamentally came down to religious devotion. The Pope had said their marriage was valid until he said otherwise it was in her mind. Additionally, having grown up around her strong female leaders and being one herself I think she took issue with the idea of Mary being passed over even if she remained legitimate, because she believed it was God's will Mary rule. After Matilda and the War of Roses the English had an phobia around female leadership that was rather extreme even for the time period.
Agreed!
Another great video! Always look forward to seeing an upload :)
The Spanish Princess is a mixed bag. Like most Philippa Gregory adaptations (the show is based on her novel The Constant Princess), rumours and scandals from the time period are used as plot devices. In the case of the show and the book, the whole plot hinges on the idea that Katherine did in fact consummate her marriage with Arthur and then lied about it. This is still up for debate and obviously only Katherine and Arthur know the truth of it.
The highlight of the series was finally seeing an accurate Katherine in terms of her physical appearance. Everyone forgets that most Spanish royals at the time had light/red hair, so seeing her cast as a red head was excellent!
They also included a lot of the events you mentioned in some fashion, like Henry VII insisting on seeing Katherine when she arrived.
However, the biggest issue with the series in terms of accuracy was that they aged Henry up and created a pseudo love triangle between Katherine, Arthur and Henry.
I would instead recommend you watch the Spanish series Isabel if you can find it with English subtitles. It is much more accurate and authentic when it comes to Katherine's story when depicted in the show's third season.
I'd love to see your reaction to either show!
I would highly recommend anyone interested in history to watch the Spanish series "ISABEL" it is the most historically accurate and authentic TV series or film I have ever watched. Clips with English subtitles are available to view on the U tube channel Lilli1127.
Actually, they didn't get her accurate. Though yes, one historical depiction states she had red-golden hair, which to us nowadays mean auburn, the language was not always so precise. It evolves. Based upon original portraits by Sittow(not those photoshopped ones) I'd say she was more strawberry blond very much into golden shades, not that much into the red. So maybe that person would nowadays write gold-red(=strawberry blond) instead. She certainly wasn't auburn and miniature later from her lifetime by Horenbout proves that. In it her hair is dark blond, which could still be possible for strawberry blond hair, but not for auburn hair. Not a chance.
...
Catherine's mum and sister Juana both had strawberry blond hair also, but most of their portraits darkened due to a less known phenomenon that causes hair paint(especially) in portraits so old to turn to dark brown. And it confuses people greatly. Many historians then wrongly assume that was the sitter's original hair color. In many cases, it wasn't.
Unfortunately, the chemical reaction which turns hair dark brown is irreversible.
But period illuminations don't seem to have this problem.
But I've seen plenty of them photoshopped too.
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Catherine was also never that slim. And frankly, Henry liked his wives to be on the heavier side.
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Spanish Princess is 99% fiction, and horribly inaccurate. I mostly dislike the Flodden episode. In reality, Catherine raised reinforcement army yes-but one month late! She wasn't ready to defend England had Surrey failed(the reinforcement army she organized had3-4 weeks of march to the border before them when the battle occurred!), and she certainly didn't save Surrey nor fought in Flodden.
It is just a myth she did well as Regent, let alone that her inspirational speech boosted English captains so much they slaughtered Scottish(that was written by a chronicler working for her daddy who wasn't ever in England), in reality, she was never in the North that year, so that speech could have only been told to reinforcement army which never saw any action.
Surrey won purely on his own, against a much stronger Scottish army-any other man in that situation would lose and North of Engalnd would be screwed because Catherine as regent acted too late and her army wasn't in the North to protect it.
But also, real Catherine would never risk her baby! Hell, the woman didn't dance for fear of shaking the baby out of the womb. She wouldn't go to battle!
@@janehaylay1152 Thank you for your very thoughtful reply, I did not realise that most of the images of Isabel on the internet had been "Photoshopped" I always assumed her hair was auburn, although I thought many of the events of her life time that were portrayed were very accurate in ISABEL. I totally agree with your comments about the Spanish Princess especially about the Flodden episode.
@@bluebellthesecond8353 Not Isabella's portraits, Catherine's. Isabella's show dark brown hair due to darkening of hair pigments phenomenom that often occures in portraits so old. Hence most show her as brunette, but all of Catherine's portraits by Sittow have been photoshopped . Though in case of Madonna portrait the discoloured varnish layer is also partly to blame. But hell, most version that google shows you...are photoshopped. And it can take while to find unaltered portraits. Both women were strawberry blond, not auburn. More towards literal gold, than red.
What I like about this community is that nobody's pitting the wives against each other. On other channels you can read the most hateful things people write about women who've been dead for about 500 years...
"KoA was his true wive"/"KoA was boring and old"
"AB was so fierce and intelligent"/"AB was a homewrecker who deserved what she got"
"JS was an angel"/"JS was a cruel bitch"
"Catherine Howard was an innocent child"/"Catherine Howard was so stupid she had it coming"
I've read all that. Awful. This community stays respectful and I really enjoy that!
Yes, I hate that! People do it about historical figures in general, but Henry's wives are particularly prone to it, & it's utterly disgusting cos if there's anyone who should be criticised in this situation, it's Bloody Henry. The Anne Boleyn Files channel is good like that too; people might particularly like one wife but it doesn't mean they hate or viciously criticise the other wives. It's possible to admire Catherine of Aragon AND Anne Boleyn, we don't have to "take sides"!
Is it just me seeing it or does Dr. Kat strongly resemble Katherine of Aragone in the last image at the end of the video?
She does! Although the last portrait is likely an inaccurate version of how Catherine looked, since it was not an original portrait made from looking at her. It was made around two centuries after her death. Dr Kat still does have some resemblance to her though
Greetings from Spain.Catalina was a good Queen,wife and mother.She proved her loyalty to the people of England commanding an army
to stop the invasion of the scottish King in the absence of Henry VIII who was in France.Her husband was a bad and very cruel man.
As her grand mother was Catalina of Lancaster she had english blood in her veins
Thanks, Dr Kat for those beautiful words for Katherine of Aragon.
So perhaps Juana wasn’t “mad”? Let’s hear more about that, please!
Juana definitely was Not mad. She was used and abused by her husband, father and son. But mad? Nope! Read her story. Ask the people in the places she was imprisoned, especially Tordesillas and I am reliably informed that she is seen as almost a martyr. Not something I have discussed with many Spanish people ,but all of them I have spoken with see her as a victim in a power game, just as many see Anne Boleyn in the UK. Juana is rather more 'innocent' than Anne, from the point of view that she was born into it and had no choice.
@@hogwashmcturnip8930 Thanks! I definitely will take a closer look at Juana.
Katherine of Aragon is one of my favourite Tudor people. She was so strong and never wavered in her conviction that she was the true Queen of England. I do think it is a good point that Henry was shocked by her defiance. You knew who her parents were so that should be no surprise. Although if she had always been seen my him as the "biddable wife" then her not doing as he asked might have thrown him off.
What a long time to wait in Widowhood; I never knew that. Then to be discarded in such a way. Poor lady.
I love Katherine of Aragon & have read so many books about her. I liked her so much that I wanted to read books about her mother Queen, Isabella of Castile, but surprisingly couldn’t find many. Thanks for doing this video 😊
The spanish princess... Oh yes it's a great watch. The others by Phillipa Gregory were great also, but it's a dramatized version of historical ppl. I would recommend all 3. I think I watched all the white queen in a day
Katharine of Aragon has been my favorite queen of all time precisely because SHE DID NOT GIVE UP! SOOO much was a stake there! Especially after Pope Clement (?) Upheld the marriage! I believe that Her Grace knew well the sort of schism this would cause in the Church, and she wanted to do nothing to contribute to it. Besides, as a true daughter of the Church she would've done as she was commanded BY the pope (whichever direction the decision lay).
Love your content:)
I love the Spanish Princess. Yes, please. I'd love a reaction video. The series is worth it.
It’s a good show no doubt but incredibly dramatized and they writer take a lot of creative license with the history of it all.
@@mattquintana7814 Every series takes liberties. I still like it.
Thank you for making this video. I've been looking for a video about Catherine of Aragon before her marriage...👍😸
Thank you for this! Katherine is such a fascinating figure and the general view of her is skewed so much to her situation once Henry started pursuing Anne that the bulk of her life, highs and lows, tends to get glossed over.
Great video as usual. Thanks😷
Ok, let me get this sussed out. Queen Catherine had to wait 7 years to marry Henry. Henry waited 7 yrs to finally marry Anne. Catherine and Arthur proxy married May 19th, Anne B gets her head clipped on May 19th. All this sounds like a Krama plot!
astrology
And Catherine was buried on Jan 29th, which was the same day Anne miscarried her baby and sealed her fate
@@katestevens4606 Good catch on that one! WOW!
@@Gaylafay thank you! It's crazy, isn't it?
@@katestevens4606 I wrote it in my "fun facts" diary! THANK YOU!!!
Another great video! Thanks 😊
Your videos are really wonderful! Thank you. Would love to see your reaction to The Spanish Princess
Another wonderful lecture. You are terrific. I always learn so much. Wish I could time travel. Poor woman. To be so cruel and separate a mother and daughter. Boy did he have a hole in his heart.
Every time I watch an English historian talk about Flodden they make this bizarre claim that James IV invaded England because Henry VIII was away to war and he thought Katherine being regent meant an easy win. At that point Scotland had been allies with France for over two hundred years. France called for support, that’s why James invaded. He didn’t have much choice. Genuine question, is this what they teach in English history in England? Because it’s the only explanation I ever see.
Thank you, kat...loved this perspective of her life. She was a stubborn one!!!
She was stubborn on behalf of her daughter, her honor, and the law, which Henry flouted and changed as he liked
@@EverTheTwain very true
This is the episode I've been waiting for! Thanks!!
Katherine of Aragon "Daughter of Spain, Queen of England" my favorite line of the Spanish Princess. 👸💜
I love your style of presentation, many thanks. Still subbed.