Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon, the youngest daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, was born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain.

At the age of 12, Catherine was betrothed to Prince Arthur, the heir to the English throne, as part of a strategic alliance between Spain and England.

Catherine traveled to England and married Prince Arthur on November 14, 1501, at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, becoming the Princess of Wales.

Prince Arthur died on April 2, 1502, leaving Catherine a widow. She was 17 years old and remained in England as a pawn in political negotiations.

On June 11, 1509, Catherine married Henry VIII, the new King of England, becoming Queen of England. Their marriage was a significant political alliance.

Catherine gave birth to a son, Prince Henry, Duke of Cornwall, on January 1, 1511. However, the infant died 52 days later, causing great sorrow.

Catherine gave birth to Princess Mary on February 18, 1516. Mary was the only surviving child of Catherine and Henry VIII.

Henry VIII, desiring a male heir, sought an annulment of his marriage to Catherine, citing the biblical prohibition against marrying a brother's widow.

Catherine was forced to leave the royal court and was separated from her daughter, Princess Mary, as Henry VIII pursued his annulment and marriage to Anne Boleyn.

The marriage between Catherine and Henry VIII was declared invalid by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, on May 23, 1533, leading to the English Reformation.

Catherine was demoted to the title of Dowager Princess of Wales and was no longer recognized as Queen of England, despite her continued claim to the title.

Despite increasing pressure, Catherine refused to acknowledge the annulment of her marriage to Henry VIII and remained loyal to her faith and her status as Queen.

Catherine of Aragon died on January 7, 1536, at Kimbolton Castle. She was buried with the honors of a Dowager Princess of Wales at Peterborough Abbey.