Unravelling the Mystery: Catherine of Aragon's Last Letter
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- Dive into the enigmatic world of Tudor history as I explore the intriguing tale of Catherine of Aragon's purported last letter to her husband, King Henry VIII. Join me on a journey of discovery as I unravel the mysteries surrounding this poignant correspondence and delve into the debate over its authenticity.
1. The Lost Letter:
Explore the shadowy origins of Catherine's last letter and the controversy that surrounds its existence. Delve into the historical records and alleged transcripts as we piece together clues to uncover the truth behind this elusive missive.
2. A Testament of Love:
Discover the heartfelt sentiments expressed in Catherine's alleged final words to Henry VIII. Journey through the poignant prose as we examine Catherine's plea for her husband's soul and her enduring love for him despite their tumultuous history.
3. Fact or Fiction? The Debate Rages On:
Step into the midst of scholarly debate as historians and experts weigh in on the authenticity of Catherine's last letter. From assertions of forgery to heartfelt belief in its veracity, explore the divergent opinions that continue to fuel discussion to this day.
4. Catherine's Legacy:
Reflect on the legacy of Catherine of Aragon and her enduring impact on English history. Consider the significance of her final words and the profound insights they offer into her character, convictions, and enduring devotion to her husband.
5. Join the Conversation:
Share your thoughts and opinions on Catherine's last letter. Do you believe it to be a genuine expression of her innermost thoughts, or do you suspect it to be a fabrication? Engage with fellow history enthusiasts as we delve into this captivating historical enigma.
Embark on a journey through the annals of Tudor history and uncover the truth behind Catherine of Aragon's last letter. Subscribe now to join the discussion and unlock the secrets of one of history's most compelling mysteries! 🖋️👑 #CatherineOfAragon #TudorHistory #HistoricalMystery
Catherine of Aragon loved Henry very deeply despite all the humiliation and pain he caused her. I do believe this last letter is authentic because of the heartfelt concerns she expressed for Henry’s soul, his relationship with their daughter, Mary and her requests that her servants would be taken care of.💔
I've always believed the letter was genuine. Katherine loved Henry very much and I can believe after all those years, she wanted to see him one more time before she died.
The callous way Henry treated such a sincere and loving person is shameful. What a loaded narcissist! I think Henry suffered from narcissistic personality disorder.
I think she dictated a letter to her beloved husband and pleaded for sympathy for their daughter. She was very thoughtful towards her husband. She was a pious woman. Yearning to save Henry’s soul. I like to see it this way in my mind. Thank you Claire for this video.
I’m not too familiar with Catherine of Aragon but what I’ve always gathered from almost everyone’s perspective of her is that of a very regal and dignified woman. The letter seems to coincide with that. A Queen until the end. 👸🏻
If the letter isn't authentic then it should be. 😢
It seems like people accepted death much more gracefully than today. Of course we don’t know surely the letter is real, but it feels true.
True or not it is still sad.
I'm amazed by how dignified and restrained the letter is. There is no detectable anger. She is not condemning or berating Henry. Instead, she is so selfless even in her dying moments, she is thinking of others, of Henry's soul, of her servants and of her daughter. I do believe that is her letter, because it is the kind of letter that Catherine would write, after all, she was known to be regal, dignified, religious and kind-hearted.
It is very true to her character.
Agree with you Claire. Thank you. Does ring true
Interesting Claire, for some reason, I have never questioned if this letter was genuine or not. I have always believed it was as it rings through with how we think of Catherine. She loved Henry till the end and never gave up so of course she'd want to say goodbye.
I also find it hard to believe Henry didn't feel any sense of emotional upset at Catherine's death, the women he'd knew since boyhood and who we was married to for 24 years.
In my layperson's opinion, Henry suffered from a severe personality disorder, maybe narcissism? I am not sure he could have grieved in the way a healthy person would.
@@p.s.shnabel3409 I don't deny that but I find it hard to believe he wasn't moved just a Little bit by Catherine's death
@@Shane-Flanagan Who knows? I'd like to think nobody is that callous, too.
But then again, Henry didn't exactly make choices in life I can understand.
Queen 👸 Catherine kept her dignity and loyalty until her last breath , very remarkable lady. Thanks Claire , sending love ❤️ Judy from California .
Yes, indeed.
Although Catherine and Henry seemed to have had a strong marriage, we know things changed drastically when he became obsessed with having a son. And became obsessed with Anne Boleyn in his quest. In so doing, Henry denied the validity of his marriage to Catherine, denied their daughter, denied the Catholic Church and we all know the rest. Catherine's letter sounds believable to me. And as another commenter says, if it's not true, it should be.
I find it fascinating that both this letter and the one allegedly written by Anne when she was in the Tower address Henry's immortal soul.
From what I understand, bringing this up would have been considered a crime for a normal person? Basically implying the king was going to hell for his misdeeds.
Which makes me think the letters are real. Who but his queens would have had the courage to do so - if I were a forger, I'd forge something that wouldn't immediately get me killed if it could be traced back to me.
On a side note, when both the first and second wife warn you about the state of your soul, you might want to start paying attention.
It is so very sad how things changed for Catherine.
Loving your recent videos!!
Yay! Thank you! I'm so very glad.
You know what I noticed? Never once does it mention any intent to forgive Anne for her part especially in her treatment of Mary. She must have decided, as a pious woman that she couldn’t die in peace if she left hating everyone who wronged her so I want to think she at least quietly forgave Anne
I wonder if Catherine came to realize that Anne had had no choice in the matter, either.
What if Anne demanded marriage because she thought that was so impossible it would allow her to rebuff the king completely? It's not like Henry was willing to take her no, was it? And Anne definitely did not want to become his mistress.
When the plan backfired and Henry actually got rid of his wife, Anne might have been caught in a trap. She knew he was ruthless and he had just shown he would go to any lengths to get what he wanted, including cutting ties with the pope.
At that point, it might have been marry him or die.
Catherine was an extremely intelligent woman. If this is what happened, she would have figured it out eventually. She would (obviously) never have spoken about that, but she might have felt some amount of pity for Anne, rather than hate.
I know there are "love" letters from Anne to Henry. So who knows what she felt. Anne might have at first enjoyed the attention of the king, thinking to have a harmless flirt? Or she might have truly cared for him (or his position as a king) and really wanted to become his wife.
@@p.s.shnabel3409 she was an absolutely intelligent woman and no doubt she would have sympathized with the position that Anne was in. She had every reason to hate her but maybe she did understand there was a difficult position for Anne once she had made it into Henry’s radar and did sympathize, at least
I think Catherine was a forgiving person and would also have felt incredibly sorry for Anne as she could probably see how things were heading, although she would have had no idea quite how serious things would get.
Thank you for another great talk, Claire. I don't know if the words in the letter are Catherine's, but I think they sound true to the person we know she was from other evidence. What a lonely and sad death this great queen had. Heartbreaking.
That letter always breaks my heart. There’s so many tones to it, motherly, religious, and the final sentence says it all, she would never stop loving him. Love your channel! 😀
I feel as though this letter IS authentic. Catherine didn’t seem to become bitter, as many do, when her husband turned away from her. She had a hard life since arriving in England, the limbo after Prince Arthur’s death, the loss of most of her babies, Henry turning from her & rejecting their daughter. Death was a cruel captor in that time and she seemed to bear it all with Grace and Dignity.
She kept her dignity even with all she went through.
I hope it's a true letter written by Catherine. I've always thought it was wonderful and dignified. And if Henry did read it, I hope it inspired some shame and uneasiness regarding his immortal soul.
Yet another mystery! It does seem to ring true to me, but lack of provenance always gives room for doubt. Do we know if the three maids received their dowries, or the other servants a year’s pay?
I'm not entirely sure. She did leave a will too, so I think so.
Fantastic video, Claire ❤
Thank you so much!
I think it's real, for all the reasons given. It's in keeping with her well-known beliefs. Completely plausible that it is what should would have thought, what she would have felt, and what she would have done.
I believe that The letter is genuine. It rings true as to the person Catherine was. She truly loved Henry & forgave him despite how treacherously he dealt with her. Her Expressions show her true colors. Such a dignified lady!
This might seem a silly question, but evidence is there that Henry loved Katherine and vice versa. I've seen lots of speculation about Anne and Henry, but have just only heard historians say his first marriage was loving with out much detail.
I think he did. He didn't have to marry her, and he chose to, and their marriage seems to have been very happy and full of affection in its early years.
I believe the letter is real. She love her husband very much. Dont know why but one cant help who they love!❤ xo
Attachment styles can be unlearned nowadays. Catherine would have had no way of knowing that, though. Nor access to the kind of professional help she would have needed to do so.
It makes you wonder what kind of childhood she had, looking at who she loved.
I think Henry could very charming, very generous and affectionate, until he turned on you.
I have always believed that those are her genuine words. There is such a loving, womanly quality to those words, that we are hearing what is in her heart. How Henry took it, we will never know. The public rejoicing at her death may have been a show of bravado.
Yes, it rings true to the way we know she felt.
Loving the new videos!! ❤
Yay! Thank you!
Thank you for this video. Thank you for the beautiful close up shots of this exquisite ring!💜
It sounds like something she would have written, but who knows? History is often a blend of facts and myths. I like the idea that she did write it, because it’s so well done. Great video, as always!
Hmm I'm not sure what to think. I do think it is a beautiful letter, very haunting and compelling in its message. So I guess I'm sort of hoping it is true and I can imagine it being within Catherine's character to write such a letter. To, even in her final moments, not be angry or disparaging towards Henry but only asking him to be good to their daughter, her servants and take care of his soul and that she longs for him. It is very clear she was a very spiritual woman who held very vast to her beliefs. So I think it could be true.
And then I wonder if perhaps the 'official' letter got lost because of the relationship Henry and Catharine had in the end, mostly on his part. That he didn't want her to be remembered as the caring, loving and devout woman she had always been to his people and quite possibly to him as well.
In the end, I do very much hope he grieved her lost but then I also find it incredibly hard to think of all the things Henry has said and done and not think of him as a very selfish and self-indulgent monster. And I feel kinda bad saying that because in the end, he was just another human being too. Just one that also really did some terrible terrible things.
i believe Claire is correct abut Catherine hoping Henry changing. But I fail to see any evidence that he did.
Sounds true to me. Why would someone fake it?
It's a pity that it can't be authenticated, because it certainly rings true. It has exactly the loving, dignified tone that I would expect in a deathbed letter from Catherine.
I believe it was a legitimate letter written by Catherine, and have always wondered if some of the animosity, and the crumbling of Anne Boleyn and Henry's relationship was in fact because Henry had gone so much farther than he had ever intended to go. Much like Lady Macbeth to go back would have been just as costly as continuing on, so whatever his real feelings by the point of Catherine's death he continued on with the path he chose and I wonder if it was an underlying anger, contempt and regret for what he did that allowed him to send Anne Boleyn to her death.
Honestly, I do not know. It may not or may be. One thing is certain - given what both did, they both are in Hades, for the evil they both engaged in.
Thanks Claire. Quite interesting regardless of authenticity. I doubt that Henry was receiving letters from Catherine. They would have come through intermediaries who were interested parties.
I don't know about the letter but when he lost Catherine his humanity started slipping away.
Suggestion? Can you give us a little background on Tudor-era medicine, for multiple classes? People often seemed to know when they were dying. How so? But there was also the question of childbirth fever? What caused that? Just curious. Really enjoy your videos.
I believe the letter. It is authentic to the spirit and nature of the woman Catherine was. Tragic too that to the last she most wished to see Henry.
I think the letter was genuine. Catherine certainly had many thoughts bothering her during her final weeks.
Yes!
Queen Catherine wasn't wrong about Henry and Hell. King Henry was probably given the letter, read it, and who knows what after that. The Queen Anne letter is more suspect.
Off topic but where did you get the figurine of the Tudor woman behind you?
A friend gave it to me as a present, but you can sometimes find them on eBay.
I think its real, because I think a forger would make much more of the break with Rome. If someone was to make a forgery, they would have an angle, some idea they wanted to push. This letter is well written, but tells us really nothing new about Catherine, which makes it feel genuine. I also think, for all its beautiful protestations of love and concern, there is a bit of a piqued undertone, like she is trying to make Henry feel guilty by saying she's fine, she's not angry, nothing is wrong. Diplomacy at its finest
Very interesting
I'd like for it to be true, but accosting Henry for causing her many calamities does not seem to fit with her long-standing stoic grace. Perhaps parts are true and parts embellished.
I think its authentic.
Me too.
I would like to think it was real and I in would also like to think Henry cried and did mourn in private
Thank you.
Is there any evidence that Henry paid her staff or made marriage portions for her maids?
I dont have the vast knowledge that you do, but from What I know, the letter sounds exactly like something Catherine wouldve written.
If not genuine, the fabricator did a phenomenal job of sounding like her.
Yes, indeed.
I do believe in her last stars of death She would have wanted to see him no matter how much pain your spouse has done to you believe me I know this one when you are very near death you have to see the especially if you've chosen and refused a divorce as the answer. For certain reasons. I also know she would have been very worried about the care of the people who took care of her She would have wanted to make sure that they were cared for because she had nothing left All of her monies had gone to him and what little she had left since she was living in a basically prison situation would have been gone her diary would have long been gone I don't know if she would have even had any jewels left because he would have probably confiscated them He might have held them for Mary We don't know He was a very greedy evil person He thought everything was his but I think he would have held her jewels for Mary her clothing would have been divided among her ladies in waiting because Mary was too young back then they would have cut it down done what they could with it because fabric was so expensive and she would have had the most expensive clothing but all of her stuff would have been out of style because she was not seen at court so her clothing would have been old fashioned and out of date. She's such a gentle person. She had her faith It was the underpining of her upbringing and the reason she married Henry because she thought that it would strengthen their countries to be partners and she firmly believed There had been nothing between her and the brother My brother was too young and had been sick so there was no relationship Henry should never have married her if the country thought this was an illegal marriage They should never have allowed it So the whole thing was false on his basis but everything had to happen to allow the grip of Catholicism to be released so that mankind was not held down by the unfortunate misguided hand of the Pope which was to terrorize the Kings instead of saying hey on this beneficent person here who will allow you to run your kingdoms as long as you allow us to run the churches All we ask is tithing from the people to help us run the churches so we can provide the free hospitals through the monasteries and conference that's all is that okay but they thought they could tell the kings what to do and that's where they made their mistake The kings were growing more powerful and they needed to step back.
I think she loved him deeply and was so very concerned about the destiny of his immortal soul after all he'd done. It's sad that she spent her last hours worrying about him.
Was Catherine of aragon related to ann boylen in any way?
Yes, distantly. All of Henry VIII's wives, and Henry too, were descended from Edward III.
@@anneboleynfiles thanks for the answer to the greatest tudor guru
I often wonder how history would have changed if Catherine bore a son.
She loved him.
The last letter of Catherine of Aragon, surely thats N
It makes sense to me that the letter is real. 😊
I Wish it was True. It's a Very Elegant Letter. Elizabeth is my Favorite Monarch. I still think Henry could of been a Kinder Husband and Father. That's just a Dream, Henry was Cruel Vicious Killer at Heart. What's going on with the Royals today?!!!! Could this be the End of the Monarchy?
Nothing is going on with the royals today other than a media led disloyal frenzy.
It's so very elegant and dignified, isn't it?
Claire's hair has grown. Can't keep up with the many hairstyles 😅
What a ridiculous comment! What has Claire s hairstyle got to do with this conversation. Grow up!
@@lizlyon2902 Being a long serving viewer and commenter on this channel, Claire knows what I mean.
Also, I have already left a separate comment relating to the video content so you can kindly back off now Liz or whoever you are
It does keep growing!
@lizlyon2902, I have had rather a lot of different hairstyles through the years of my youtube channel. I don't believe Shane meant any harm with his comment. I certainly don't mind it. I've had very long hair, a pixie cut, all sorts!
This letter is real. Catherine was born during advent and died at the Feast of the Epiphany. Ironically our lady of guadalupe is said to have appeared on December 6, 1531. Within 10 years, 9 million Natives converted. Isabella had sent Columbus and Ponce de Leon in 1492. Highly Ironic.
That is why Catherine was afraid for his soul.