Chapter Four: Spanish Security
At the time of his birth, Henry had been the second-born son. His older brother, Arthur, was expected to inherit the throne, and so feelers were put out to the more powerful realms of Europe to secure an advantageous marriage.
After some less than perfect offers, Arthur struck gold with his betrothal to Catherine of Aragon. The two would marry in late 1501, though the union would meet a quick and tragic end.
Within weeks of the wedding, Arthur, always a sickly child, fell ill with a still unknown illness. Some theorise tuberculosis, sweating sickness, influenza or even the plague, though whatever it was would quickly take Arthur's life.
And so now Catherine and the current King of England Henry VII were both left in an awkward position. Henry had been paid half of Catherine's dowry already, though with his son's death it seemed likely that Catherine would return home. If this were the case, he would have to return her dowry with her. This would not do.
Therefore, after a brief stint of all-but-imprisonment, Catherine was inducted as the Spanish ambassador to England (the first woman to hold an ambassadorial position in European history); from here she became increasingly intertwined in English politics.
And so, now in 1509 with the newly crowned King Henry VIII on the throne and looking for a new wife to sire some heirs with, it seemed perfect to just pick up where his brother had left off. The very short time the two were married cast considerable doubt on whether the marriage had been consummated, and so Henry was able to convince the Pope to grant a special dispensation to allow them to marry.
Catherine of Aragon, born 1485, married 1509, died 1516
Compared to Henry's previous spouses, this union went along much more smoothly. The two developed a good relationship, and Catherine quickly fell pregnant. On the 28th of February, 1510, Catherine would give birth to identical twin girls, Margaret and Elizabeth. The following new year's day, she would welcome another daughter, Anne. Yet another daughter would follow, also named Catherine, on the 17th of September, 1513.
It was at this point that Henry began growing… antsy. So far he had sired 5 children, and all had been girls. He was still early in his reign and his (at last) successful marriage, however most agree that it was around this point that 'The King's Great Matter' began to brew. This was a colloquialism used by members of the court and other officials of the time to describe Henry's growing anger at his lack of a male heir, which would only compound in coming years.
Thus, the births kept their pace. Catherine would give birth to Princess Cecily on the 4th of December 1514, and within a year was pregnant yet again.
The toll the constant pregnancies were taking on the young Queen were apparent to all around her, seemingly all except Henry (that, or he simply didn't care). Despite urging by doctors to wait and give her body time to recuperate before trying again, Catherine insisted on more yet. Whether she was equally as committed as Henry towards his goal, or was simply acting on his insistence is a matter of debate, however the consequences are not.
On the 18th of February, 1516, Catherine would birth her last daughter, Joan. Within a few days, she would become Henry's second wife to succumb to childbed fever.
Apathetically, Henry almost immediately began the search for another wife. Seeing Catherine's and her predecessors' fates, however, the more influential nations of Europe began to grow wary of Henry. He was rebuffed by most he approached, the only higher woman to even entertain the thought being Dorothea of Denmark (born 1502).
Ultimately, Henry would find his next spouse in the leader of a small Italian duchy.
Issue:
With Eleanor of Austria
1. Mary, born 1507
With Catherine of Aragon
2. Margaret, born 1510
3. Elizabeth, born 1510
4. Anne, born 1511
5. Catherine, born 1513
6. Cecily, born 1514
7. Joan, born 1516
