Person    | Female  Born 16/12/1485  Died 7/1/1536

Catherine of Aragon

Categories: Royalty, Seriously Famous

Countries: Spain

First wife of Henry VIII and married to him for longer (1509 - 1533) than the other five put together. Unlike them she was a powerful royal in her own right. Daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, born near Madrid, she came to England as a Spanish princess to marry Henry's elder brother, Arthur, but he was dead within 5 months of the wedding. The two 15-year-olds had not managed to conceive (a queen's main function) so what to do with her, that did not involve losing the valuable connection with Spain, nor returning her dowry?

Her miserable 7 years as Arthur's widow, with an uncertain future and little money, brought on anorexia, which may partially explain many failed pregnancies that followed. There was a suggestion that she could marry her father-in-law, Henry VII, but marriage to her brother-in-law was chosen. For the Pope to allow this Catherine had to declare that her marriage to Arthur had never been consummated and was thus null and void. All well and good, but when Henry wanted rid of Catherine to make way for Anne Boleyn, his grounds for divorce rested on his assertion that she had lied then and so his marriage to Catherine should be annulled. The site of the preliminary meetings where this divorce was discussed with the papal delegation seems to be in dispute: Black Friars and/or Bridewell Palace. Henry got his way and Catherine ended up with the title "Dowager, Princess of Wales", i.e. Arthur's widow. Died Kimbolton Castle.

She produced one daughter, who later become Queen Mary I.


In 1507 she was the Spanish Ambassador to England, the first female ambassador in European history. In 1513 while Henry was off fighting the French she was Governor of the Realm and Captain General of the King's Force, with which titles she waged war on Scotland, addressing the army and wearing full armour.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Catherine of Aragon

Commemorated ati

49 Bankside

Here lived Sir Christopher Wren during the building of St Pauls Cathedral. He...

Read More

Black Friar pub

The plaque is a perfectly nice pub plaque but the pub is adorned with many lo...

Read More

Our Lady of Hal

{Next to an image of the Virgin Mary:} Shrine of Our Lady of Hal The catholic...

Read More

Wall of the Ancestors - rightmost

According to the plaque these are, clockwise from top left: Debra Lee, Phinea...

Read More

Other Subjects

Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

The fiftieth anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II.  The Golden Jubilee Weekend took place between 1 and 4 June 2002 in London.

Event, Royalty

11 memorials
William the Conqueror

William the Conqueror

England's first Norman king. Originally known as William the Bastard. Invaded England in 1066 and at the Battle of Hastings defeated Harold and the Saxons Born at Falaise Castle. Died at Rouen, Fr...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous, France

3 memorials
King Olaf II of Norway

King Olaf II of Norway

King of Norway 1015 - 1028.  Before becoming king he was in London fighting the Danes alongside Ethelred II.  Their strategy involved pulling down London Bridge, according to Londonist which has a ...

Person, Royalty, Norway

3 memorials
King Edward VII

King Edward VII

Reigned: 1901 - 1910. Born and died at Buckingham Palace. Victoria's eldest son, born as Prince Albert and known as Bertie in the family, he took the name Edward when he became king, aged almost 60...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

43 memorials
Prince Michael Duke of Kent

Prince Michael Duke of Kent

Grandson of King George V and son of George, Duke of Kent. Born Michael George Charles Franklin at Coppins, Iver, Buckinghamshire. Married to Princess Michael. He helps out with some royal duties, ...

Person, Commerce, Royalty

5 memorials

Previously viewed

Prince Consort Lodge

Prince Consort Lodge

SE11, Kennington Park, Prince Albert's Cottages

Nearby information panel: "Prince Consort Lodge - Originally part of the 1851 Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, the building was intended as...

2 subjects commemorated
Calthorpe Community Gardens

Calthorpe Community Gardens

WC1, Gray's Inn Road

The Calthorpe Project was opened by the Worshipful the Mayor of Camden, King's Cross Ward Councillor Barbara Hughes, on the 29th Septemb...

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators
James Gardiner

James Gardiner

Crew member of the 'Olga'. Died during the voyage bringing Cleopatra's Needle to London.

Person, Tragedy

1 memorial
Daily Express

Daily Express

The first edition of the Daily Express was published in Fleet Street. It was one of the first papers in Britain to carry gossip, sports, women's features and a crossword. Their magnificent 1932 bu...

Media, Journalism / Publishing

2 memorials
Stanley G. Shaw

Stanley G. Shaw

Worked for the St. Pancras Housing Society from 1929 to 1958.

Person, Politics & Administration, Social Welfare

1 memorial