Here is the completed version of Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings. It can be discussed here.
1502
“The English court held their collective breaths as both the Prince and Princess of Wales fell ill sometime during March of 1502, probably with the sweating sickness that was commonly found in England at the time. Prayers were said, doctors were summoned, and then early in April, both would recover.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“Riding high from the miracle that was his son and daughter-in-law’s survival, Henry VII turned his attention to his younger children. Having arranged for his heir’s marriage to one of the most eligible brides of Europe, Henry VII would accept no less for his three younger children.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “The First Tudor King”
“Not much is known about the childhood of the man who would come to be known as the Greatest Prince in Christendom by some and the Great Heretic by others. Then Prince Henry Tudor, Duke of York, was his father’s spare and as such did not often appear in public. It is known that he was extremely close with his mother, Elizabeth of York.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“…. I find myself not in need of a son by marriage, but a son of my own body.”
Fragment of one of the letters exchanged between King Henry VII and Queen Catherine of Navarre
“Shortly after the death of John III, King Henry VII wrote to Queen Catherine of Navarre about the possibility of a betrothal between his son, Prince Henry Tudor, and Queen Catherine’s eldest daughter Anne of Navarre. The Princess Anne was a very eligible young lady: the heir of the many titles of her grandfather, Alain I of Albret, as well as the current heir of the Crown of Navarre. The Queen’s response was completely unexpected.
Queen Catherine wrote back suggesting not a betrothal between Prince Henry and her eldest daughter, but a marriage between Prince Henry and Herself.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“The marriage of Queen Catherine of Navarre and Prince Henry Tudor is perhaps one of history’s more interesting anecdotes. The young Tudor Prince was barely a year older than Queen Catherine’s eldest daughter, and the Queen was only a few years younger than Prince Henry’s parents.
For centuries scholars, histories, politicians, and intellectuals have argued the reasoning behind this particular union. Navarre gained an ally who committed to military assistance in the face of Aragon’s encroachment and a king that belonged to none of the factions of the Navarrese Court. King Henry VII gained further acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the Tudors. But these things weren’t exclusively found only in Navarre or England, either party could have found allies elsewhere. So, why did this marriage take place?
It is of this author’s opinion, that the marriage occurred simply because King Henry VII was the first to offer a groom, albeit for Princess Anne. Queen Catherine must have been very aware of her mortality with her first husband’s death, and also very aware of her declining years of fertility. She needed to act quickly to secure the succession so that Navarre didn’t suffer the upheaval that occurs with a female heir for the second generation.
In this dissertation I will…”
“Prince Henry Tudor, King Father of Navarre, What Were They Thinking?” Thesis Project by doctoral candidate, Elijah Baker
“The young English Prince is fair of face and form and though his youth is evident, he comports himself with the dignity of one who has had it thoroughly instilled in them the proper behavior expected of a king.”
Journal entry of a Navarrese Nobleman
“As busy as King Henry VII was early in 1503 cramming in the years of lessons in statecraft that Prince Arthur got but Prince Henry missed out on and then sending Prince Henry to Navarre, he made time to oversee the marriage of Princess Margaret to James IV of Scotland. Queen Elizabeth would accompany now Queen Margaret north and spend several months assuring that her eldest daughter settled in her new home. While Queen Elizabeth would return to England and spend much of the rest of her life there, she would return frequently to Scotland, especially after the death of King James IV. It is believed that much of her daughter’s excess was curbed by the presence of Queen Elizabeth.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “The First Tudor King”
“…. the English Queen continues to call for her mother, more lords would object, if not that the presence of the Queen Elizabeth is a great boon to the behavior of the English Queen.”
Fragment of a letter to an unknown nobleman from one of Queen Margaret’s ladies
“1503 was a roller-coaster year for the Tudor family. The beginning of the year saw the marriages of Princess Margaret to King James IV and Prince Henry to Queen Catherine bringing to number of Tudor monarchs to three.
The end of the year saw the death of the young Prince Hal, son of Prince Arthur and Princes Catherine, at the tender age of three. The death was a great blow to Princess Catherine and is believed to have been what sent her into early labor. Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine’s second child, Prince Arthur, would not survive the trauma of his early birth and would die the day after he was born.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Several letters and journals indicate that the Navarrese Court was charmed by their new young king. King Henry, by all records, was a bright and cheerful teenager. While grossly unprepared for his role as king, this wasn’t readily apparent because little to no responsibly was given to the young King at first. It was only after the birth of their first son and as King Henry made important friends, that Queen Catherine began to allow King Henry to wield power as King of Navarre.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“It is thought that is it was here, in the quiet few months of his marriage with few friends and in a strange land, that Henry Tudor began to question the strongly held religious beliefs of the day. He was mostly left to his own devices. Perhaps in these months of reflection, Prince Henry Tudor sought God in his quiet secluded rooms.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“The relationship between Prince Henry Tudor [1] and his son Henri Tudor, King of Navarre is perhaps the strongest and longest lasting relationship Prince Henry Tudor would have. Only thirteen years old at his birth, Prince Henry Tudor doted on his eldest son. We have multitude of records of Prince Henry carrying his young son around and taking him to court functions, one courtier commented that Prince Henry made a fine nursemaid.
There is a school of thought that this was a ploy by Prince Henry to bolster his situation at court by reminding everyone of his position as the father of the heir. But, other records illustrate that Prince Henry’s attentiveness as a father didn’t end when the public eye did. Prince Henry personally choose his son’s nurses and tutors and would often write them requesting reports and instructing them on the care of his son. In modern vernacular, a helicopter parent.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
[1] While Prince Henry was King of Navarre for 14 years, he was known as Prince Henry for a much larger portion of his life and is the name by which he is most commonly known. It is by this title he will be referenced in this tome.
“…. I find my new father by turns bright and cheerful and then solemn and still. I don’t believe I have ever met a more lonely person.”
Journal of Princess Anne of Navarre, she died shortly after writing this
“Princess Margaret Tudor, eldest daughter of Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine, was born a mere month after the death of her great-grandmother Margaret Beaufort. It was for her that the young princess was named, at the insistence of her royal grandfather. She would be followed by a brother, Prince Henry Tudor, in 1509 who would live only hours and another brother also named Prince Henry Tudor, in 1511 who would live only a month.
At the age of 8, shortly after the birth of her sister Princess Mary, Princess Margaret would be betrothed to her cousin Prince Francis Tudor, second son of her uncle King Henry II Tudor of Navarre, by her grandfather King Henry VII Tudor. This ensured that if she remained her parent’s only heir, the thrown of England would remain with the Tudors.
The betrothal was protested by Princess Catherine of Wales who feared Prince Francis might share of his father’s religious views. “
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“As King Henry VII Tudor dealt with issues of succession, he also arranged the betrothal of the elder Princess Mary. King Henry VII had spent the last five or so years suggesting a betrothal to one monarch, backing out and suggesting a different betrothal to a different monarch. It was at the suggestion of Princess Catherine to her sister Maria of Aragon, that King Manuel I of Portugal would write to King Henry VII about his youngest daughter.
Princess Mary, daughter of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth, not to be confused with Princess Mary, daughter of King Arthur and Queen Catherine, is known to have hotly protested her betrothal to Prince Jon Avis, heir to the crown of Portugal; the young prince was six years younger than her. But, her father had spoken, and people did not argue with King Henry VII.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “The First Tudor King”
“Towards the end of 1511, Ferdinand II of Aragon would present Queen Catherine and King II Henry with a set of demands. The demands would be refused, and Spanish troops would march on Navarre. There would be a series of skirmished between the forces of Navarre, led by the young King Henry II and the Spanish forces, led by Fernando Álvarez de Toledo over the next several years. The war, named The War for the Soul of Navarre by dramatic historians, would cumulate in the Battle of Donibane Garazi where King Henry II would decimate the Spanish forces leading to a retreat and peace talks.
It is said that the peace talks went exceptionally quick because King Henry II remarked that they did not wish to make him miss the birth of his son. The Treaty of Iruñea would be composed in record time and ratified by the Cortes of Navarre where the pro-Spanish Beaumont party had shrunk significantly over the past few years. And King Henry II would indeed make it back to Queen Catherine’s side for the birth of their third son, Prince Charles Tudor.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
“The marriage of King James VI and Margaret Tudor took a great hit at the death of their son Prince James at age three in 1510 only a short time after the stillbirth of Prince Arthur Stewart. The Queen Margaret was said to be despondent and required a visit from her mother Queen Elizabeth before returning to court life. Shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s departure back to England, Queen Margaret would fall pregnant for the third time. King James VI and Queen Margaret would name their third child for the son they recently lost. Prince James Stewart, future King of Scotland would be born early in 1512. It would be the only time in his long life he would not be overshadowed by his yet unborn younger brother.”
Paisley Jones, “Alexander Stewart, Was It All True?”
“Queen Catherine of Navarre would pass away early in the year 1517, leaving her eldest son Prince Henri Tudor as King Henri III Tudor of Navarre. Prince Henry Tudor, never to be called King again in his lifetime, [1] would be named regent for his thirteen-year-old son.
The regency of King Henri III was one of the smoothest regencies of European history. Father and son worked in tandem to coordinate the ruling of Navarre. Several diplomats recorded that it was impossible to play the King against his father. The two refused to commit to anything without consulting the other and would never contradict the other in public.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
[1] Henry Tudor would not be granted his title of King Father, the counterpart to Queen Mother, by his grandson King Henri IV Tudor until several decades after his death.
“It was during the regency of King Henri III that the religious attitudes of Prince Henry began to be known throughout Europe. Prince Henry’s opinions were already known to his family, we have a letter from Princess Catherine to her father-in-law about Prince Henry’s owning a Wycliffe Bible. But, shortly after Martin Luthor nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Prince Henry Tudor released Ut Legitur in Verbis Dei(“May We Read God’s Words”) in Latin, English, French, and Basque.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“While we don’t have all the communications between Pope Leo X and Prince Henry Tudor, several letters have survived. They paint a picture of Prince Henry’s enthusiasm for the vernacular bible and then his confusion and frustration when the pope did not share his enthusiasm. It is perhaps after the realization that the church would not support his undertaking that Prince Henry first began his break from the Catholic Church.”
Vanessa Corey, “The Tudor Bible, Translation and Conception”
“To say Europe was surprised would be understating it. Prince Henry was from a very devote family, his sister Queen Maria of Portugal was especially known for her devotion, and here he was speaking out against the common belief that the bible should remain in latin. The modern equivalent would be if President-Elect Trump announced that he was actually a Democrat and planning on banning guns.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“.. one might think the Tudor Prince is a madman (which Tudor Prince you might ask, my dear? You should know there is only ever one Tudor Prince) but having read his work, I must say he writes with conviction and fervor not often found in holy word.”
Part of a letter found in the possession of Princess Marguerite de d’Angouleme
“The Tudor family’s reactions to the antics of Prince Henry were myriad. King Henry VII would not comment one way or the other and Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, followed his father example. A lady in Queen Margaret Tudor of Scotland reported that Margaret Tudor could care less about, in her words, her younger brother’s ‘antics.’ Queen Elizabeth, not known for having a political opinion, surprisingly requested a copy of her son’s work to read for herself. Though she did specify she would like a Latin copy.
In contrast, Princess Catherine would quite vocally speak out against her brother-in-law and frequently requested and demanded that the betrothal between Prince Francis Tudor, only ten years old, and her eldest daughter sundered. When she was refused by both her husband and father-in-law, Princess Catherine would begin keeping the young Princess Mary away from Prince Francis. The young Prince Francis, recently made the Duke of Calais by his grandfather, is recorded to have spoke out against his aunt for maligning his father’s good name.
Princess Mary Tudor, now known as Princess Maria of Portugal responded with a letter that has been lost to time and a vow to never speak of her brother again. She never did.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“There was actually little to no repercussions, for this Prince Henry’s first foray into heresy. While the Pope wished to order consequences or sanctions, the truth was there was no one willing to face Navarre in battle. Spain was still smarting from their loss in the War for the Soul of Navarre; the King of France numbered Prince Henry among his closest friends; and several powerful Italian nobles, including Cesare Borgia who was currently in Navarre as the personal guest of Prince Henry, admired the fiery Prince.
In the end, all the pope did was send a strongly worded letter. And while this may seem like no great hardship, it was actually a great struggle for Prince Henry. He saw himself as a good catholic and was greatly concerned that the Pope didn’t agree with him. But, he felt he had been inspired by God, and would not back down.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“At this point, Prince Henry viewed himself as a good catholic, just one that had a few problems with the Pope. But, Prince Henry was aware enough to know that the release of Ut Legitur in Verbis Dei may have lost him a few friends. So, Prince Henry went looking for new friends and found Frederick III.
It is through conversing with Frederick III that Prince Henry found a bride for King Henry III. Frederick III’s niece, the eldest daughter of his brother John, was a year older than King Henry III. The publication of Ut Legitur in Verbis Dei caused a betrothal between King Henri III and Princess Louise of France to fall through, and the young king was in need of a bride.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
*OTL She was born a he and was Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony.
For many years it is thought than the root of their disagreements was the sudden disparity between their positions. It must have galled Prince Arthur to address his younger brother as a king while he was but his father’s heir.
But, research indicates that it was actually envy not jealousy that drove the quarrels. Prince Henry would have three sons, healthy strong sons, by the time he was twenty years old. In comparison, Prince Arthur would take over ten years of marriage to have two daughters, both of which were delicate of health.”
Tammie Waltherson, “For the Tudors’ It’s All About Family”
“King Henry VII Tudor, King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland, passed away in his sleep late in the year 1521. His eldest son, Arthur Tudor, was crowned King Arthur I with his wife Catherine of Aragon. Now Queen Catherine, would try to break the betrothal between Princess Margaret and Prince Francis. The argument is allegedly the only time King Arthur would raise his voice against his wife.
Not only would King Arthur keep the betrothal, but he chose to move up the wedding so that Princess Margaret and Prince Francis would be appointed Princess and Prince of Wales together.
In an effort to placate his wife, King Arthur reached out to her nephew, Charles V, about a betrothal between Princess Mary and himself.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“It is believed that Prince Henry met the women who would be his second wife at the wedding of his son King Henri III Tudor to Princess Jeanne Sophie of Saxony. The Lady Anne Boleyn is not listed among the members of the French Court that attended the marriage, but it is shortly after the wedding that the first letter sent from Prince Henry to Lady Anne is dated.
It is in a letter of Anne Boleyn, that we have the only account of the start of Prince Henry’s religious feelings. He recounts to Anne the loneliness and isolation that he felt as a young husband and father in Navarre, that he turned to the Word of God for comfort and guidance. And, he describes to Anne, while he found consolation in the Latin translation of the bible, he found greater consolation in the English Wycliffe Translation of the Bible. He knew that, in this land where none spoke his tongue, God spoke his language; he wasn’t alone.
This chronicle must have resonated with Anne Boleyn, for the two would continue to write for several months. They spoke of their hopes for the vernacular bible just as much as their love for each other. It would be Anne, who would comfort Prince Henry as he expressed to her his concerns with defying the Pope. Then, several months later, instead of returning to England as her father wished, Anne Boleyn would head south to Navarre when she would marry Prince Henry Tudor.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“Even as the world reeled from Prince Henry’s revelation, he began to act on his beliefs. William Tyndale would take sanctuary in Navarre and began to translate the bible into English. The translation we know today as the Tudor Bible.”
Vanessa Corey, “The Tudor Bible, Translation and Conception”
“Princess Mary Tudor, known to history as Queen Maria, would marry her boy-groom early in the year 1517. Their first child, Beatrice, would be born around Christmas that year. A second child, Maria, would follow two years later. Records indicate that Maria Tudor and her husband, Prince John were not close during these years.
It was not until 1519, when both of their children fell sick and their eldest, Infanta Beatrice, passed away that the couple grew close. The young family would retire from court for several months, where Maria Tudor would come to care deeply for her husband.
It was also here that Queen Maria would develop the strong religious feelings that would drive many of her actions for the rest of her life. Ironically, these feelings would be just as strong and the entirely the opposite of her brother, Prince Henry’s opinions.
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Emilia Clarke has been cast as Princess Mary Tudor, in Tom Hooper’s “Mary and John.” She will be acting opposite Tom Holland as John and Rachel Weisz as Eleanor, John’s stepmother. Manuel I of Portugal has not yet been cast.”
Casting Update
“Ferdinand II of Aragon passed away in 1519 from what was probably pneumonia. This left his youngest son and only child with his second wife, Germaine of Foix, as King of Aragon. Ferdinand III Trastamara was but six years old. His father had left the ruling of Aragon in the hands of a regency council that excluded Queen Mother Germaine of Foix. The first order for the council was finding the young King a new betrothed. Ferdinand III having been betrothed to his great-niece Infanta Beatrice of Portugal since her birth. “
Carolyn Masey “Ferdinand III the Old Didn’t Start That Way”
“King James IV of Scotland would die in an accident with his horse, in July of 1520. He would leave behind his widow, Queen Margaret, as regent for the now King James V Stewart, and Prince Alexander Stewart, the already notorious Duke of Ross.
Queen Margaret wasn’t a popular regent, though it appears she handled the contending parties well. It was during this time that, Elizabeth York, Queen Mother of England, would spend considerable time in Scotland. It is believed that is was Elizabeth’s influence that curbed some of Queen Margaret’s more unwise impulses.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“Prince Alexander, at only six years old, began his long career of overshadowing his elder brother at James V Stewart’s coronation. Young Prince Alexander managed to escape his minders and climbed the wall of the cathedral because, in his words, he wanted a better view. According to many reports, Prince Alexander reached some thirty feet up, and refused to come down. The eight-year-old King James apparently threw a temper tantrum in response to Prince Alexander’s antics. “
Xander Tallmar, “Alexander Stewart, Was it All True?”
“Princess Jeanne Tudor, eldest daughter of King Henri III Tudor and Queen Jeanne Sophie, was born late in the year 1521, only a few months before her eldest aunt, Lady Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Prince Henry and Lady Anne. The two, would be extremely close all through their childhood.
In England, the Princess and Prince of Wales would welcome their daughter only a year later. The young princess would be named for both her grandmothers, though she would spell it Kathryn throughout her life. Shortly after the birth of Princess Kathryn, Margaret Tudor, Princess of Wales, would pass away due to complications in childbirth.
The country of England suffered a bit of whiplash, as Queen Catherine delivered a living son who was named John. (The name Henry she viewed with some suspicion, having buried four sons named Henry, and holding a great dislike for her brother-in-law Henry.)”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
“The 1520’s were a quiet time for Tudor England. King Arthur I was a well-liked by many and handled the growing religious division with finesse. He would finally welcome a son in 1524. He would succeed in securing a betrothal between Princess Mary and Ferdinand I, recently named King of the Romans.
While not Queen Catherine’s first choice, the current Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, she was very pleased. She saw it as a way to gain allies to help defend the rights of young John Tudor, the new Prince of Wales. Queen Catherine believed that Prince Henry would seek to elevate his granddaughter Princess Kathryn. This fear was fed by Prince Francis who kept his young daughter with him at court. This allowed courtiers to see the bright intelligent young princess. In contrast, Prince John was secluded, as Queen Catherine greatly feared for his health.”
Melantha Jones, “1520s Tudor England, the Calm Before the Storm”
“Prince Francis is a devoted father. If he is not visiting the young Princess Kathrine, he will bring her to court. Carrying the young princess around. She is truly a charming child.”
Letter from English Noblewomen to her family
“The nineteen years of King Arthur’s reign, nicknamed the Camelot Era, were one of the most peaceful periods for the Tudors. He ably kept peace between his reformist brother, moderating quite a bit of Prince Henry stronger Reformist tendencies, and his staunchly Catholic wife. He oversaw the marriage of his second daughter to Ferdinand I, King of the Romans. Under his rule, the relations between Scotland and England improved considerably, though that might have been more because of Queen Mother Elizabeth’s actions.
The status of his heir, Prince John of Wales, was perhaps the source of greatest concern for King Arthur. Prince John was not quite as sickly as his mother feared, but he wasn’t of completely sound health either. What’s more, Queen Catherine had kept him rather isolated from dissenting views, which unfortunately was a significant fraction of the court.
In contrast, Princess Katheryn practically grew up at court. Escorted to functions and parties by her father from a very young age, the entirety of the court knew and valued King Arthur’s only grandchild. While nothing overt seems to have been communicated, those with Reformist and Awakening views appear to have viewed Princess Katheryn as the preferred inheritor of the English Crown.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“Though the quote has never been substantiated, Anne Boleyn, wife of Prince Henry, is perhaps most famous for saying, ‘They must read.’ This line became the tagline for the Awakening. And while this exact line is not found in any letters or journals of hers or those who knew her, in cannot be denied that Anne Boleyn, did in fact hold to the ideal that even the common people should read the bible in their native tongue.”
Walter Owens, “Lovely, Lovely Anne”
*OTL Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
**daughter of Cesare Borgia and Charlotte d’Albret, since Cesare Borgia didn’t die in 1507.
“One of the darkest periods of Prince Henry’s life began in fifteen-thirty with the death of his second wife Anne Boleyn in childbirth. Prince Henry would retire from court to spend time with their three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Eleanor. Then, a mere six months after the death of his second wife, his second daughter Anne Tudor, died at age seven from an unnamed childhood illness. Subsequently, in what must have seemed a perfect storm of loss, Prince Henry received word of the death of his beloved mother, Queen Elizabeth of York.
While Prince Henry was a prolific writer, leaving behind letters, journals, and publications, we have almost nothing from Prince Henry from this time. In fact, we have only three records in Prince Henry’s own hand from this time: a letter to Prince Francis requesting news of Princess Kathryn, one page in a journal expressing his concerns over continuing to defy the pope, and a letter to William Tyndale about the progress of the translation of the English Bible.
He left almost all his official duties to his three sons. In fact, the betrothal of Prince Charles Tudor to Lady Leonora Borgia, [1] was arranged by King Henri III. This would be the only one of Prince Henry’s children’s marriages that he would not arrange himself.
This deep melancholy would last almost for several years and would take a war to bring Prince Henry out of it.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
[1] Leonora Borgia is the second daughter of Cesare Borgia and Charlotte d’Albret, since Cesare Borgia didn’t die in 1507.
“Conversely, Prince Henry absenting himself from the Court of Navarre in all probability was the making of King Henri III. For years, King Henri had depended upon his father for advice, guidance, and comfort. But, Prince Henry’s retreat left the twenty-six year old king space to grow and truly come into his own.
During this time, King Henri strengthened ties with the Protestant German princes’ and the growing French Huguenot presence. He arranged the betrothal of his youngest brother and Leonora Borgia, known in Navarre as Lenore.
While King Henri would always be his father’s favorite and perhaps the single closest relationship Prince Henry would ever have, certainly the longest lasting, never again would King Henri III Tudor depend quite so much on his father.”
Patrick Wendal, “The First Navarrese Tudor King”
“The fifteen thirties began with two important Tudor marriages. The first was the marriage of Princess Mary Tudor, daughter of King Arthur and Queen Catherine (not to be confused with Queen Maria, daughter of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth), to Ferdinand I Habsburg, King of the Romans and Archduke of Austria.
The second, arranged by King Henri III, was the marriage of Prince Henry Tudor to Sybylle Von der Mark, Princess of Cleves. King Henri hoped that a new bride would bring his father out of his depression, as well as provide his younger half-sisters with a mother.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“… decided to open the movie with the marriage of King James V to Princess Louise of France. We thought it would be especially potent to see that not even on his wedding was James V free from the shadow his younger brother casts. (Ewan McGregor) really captures the rambunctious headless energy of a young Prince Alexander. This isn’t a young man who has set out to eclipse his brother at every turn, but a boy who can’t help but be just a little too extreme.
Interviewer: And James V?
Director: Robert (Carlyle) is an amazing King James V: in turns frustrated, envious, and sometimes adoring of his younger brother. Rob really gets into his head.
Interviewer: And what about the decision to end the movie before…”
Interview with the Director of Prince Alexander Stewart (1993)
“The young Princess was so beautiful in her bridal gown. She spoke to me in my own tongue with nary an accent. Mama, I am so excited to serve as one of her ladies.”
Letter from a young Austria noblewoman to her mother
“Prince Henry has suffered a deep melancholy these past years. He continues to spend all of his time with the Ladies Elizabeth and Eleanor. I have spoken to him about Your Majesty’s wish that he remarries. He expressed no opinion beyond obedience to his King’s will. I am deeply concerned for ….”
Fragment of a letter from Prince Henry’s secretary to King Henri III
“It is as if my husband is a sleep, even when he walks about. I feel as if there is a great gulf that separates us two. The only time I see that there might be a living man behind my husband is when he reads from the Bible to his daughters.”
Journal Entry of Sybelle of Cleves from early in her marriage to Prince Henry
“With his father mired in grief, King Henri III stepped to the forefront of the movement that would soon be called the Awakening. Many of the rulers of Europe assumed that King Henri would slowly back away from the association with the reformers. Instead the young Tudor King continued to participate in Awakening: communicating with Martin Luthor and Frederick III and offering sanctuary to the French Huguenots.
It was the continued practices of King Henri III that prompted Pope Clement VII to take action. The young king of Aragon, Ferdinand III was encouraged to claim the title of King of Navarre by dint of his mother Germaine of Foix’s claim. The forces of Aragon would muster late in the year of fifteen thirty-four and war would break out early in fifteen thirty-five.
Navarre was initially caught unware and lost several small towns to the advancing forces of Navarre. King Henri III would respond quickly himself and his youngest brother, the only one in Navarre, would march out with Army of Navarre. Several battles would follow as the two armies clashed.
While King Henri III made an admirable showing, the Aragoneese forces continued to advance. Then, in what must have felt like the death nell of Navarre, King Henri III was injured in battle.”
Patrick Wendal, “The First Navarrese Tudor King”
“My lady wife has brought me news of the injury of my dear Henri. Oh my boy, my wonderful son. You have always been all that could be desired in a son, God please don’t take him from me like thou took Anne.
Hast your face been turned from me, Oh Lord in Heaven? Is this a punishment? If my path is just, why are we left alone to face the forces that would have us turn from your Holy Word?
The Entry in the Journal of Prince Henry right before the entry that would come to be known as the Declaration of the Awakening.
“The Declaration of the Awakening in its earliest conception is found in the Journal of Prince Henry. Later, Prince Henry would edit and publish it as almost a manifesto. He recounts his melancholia he suffered after the death of his wife Anne, and the comfort found in the Bible. Then he speaks out against those would, in his words, ‘veil and conceal the Word of God behind the language of pagans.’ Prince Henry narrates how he received word of his eldest son’s injury, of turning to God in prayer. Then…”
Lise Marie Peters, “The Awakening of Europe”
“I feel like I am Awakening from a long sleep or throwing off great chains. None stands between me and the Lord of Heaven. I read His word, I obey His will, not the will of some foreign prince who styles himself the vicar of Christ. And His will is that Navarre is freed to follow Him.”
The most well-known line of the Declaration of the Awakening and what gave the Awakening its name.
“The Declaration of The Awakening is perhaps the most honest account of depression found in the Renaissance. Prince Henry pulls no punches as he describes the deep darkness that he found himself mired in after the death of his wife and the anxiety he suffered in defying the pope. In this essay I will describe how the Declaration shaped the discussion of mental health in the fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen hundreds.”
“Mental Health in Europe” Theisis Project by doctoral candidate William Matteson
“While Navarre would not formally break with the Catholic Church until several months after the end of the second War for the Soul of Navarre, the Declaration was seen by many as the start of true Protestantism in Navarre. ”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“While Prince Henry entrance into the Second War for the Soul of Navarre was heralded as the turning point, Prince Henry actually contributed very little martial assistance to the war. He would only participate in two battles, one of which he lost. His return to the politics of Navarre did serve as a great moral booster to the army, many of the leaders having served with Prince Henry in the First War for the Soul of Navarre. But Prince Henry’s greatest contribution to the war effort would be the publication of the Declaration of Awakening.
The Declaration of Awakening inspired the forces of Navarre: sections were set to music as hymns or marching tunes [1] and it was often read in its entirety directly before a battle. While the Declaration was strongly national, speaking of the need for Navarre to throw off the yoke of foreign princes, many other protestants identified strongly with ideas encapsulated in the Declaration. While no foreign assistance would arrive in time to affect the War, the Declaration did much to bind Navarre to the cause of protestants.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
[1] In fact the National Anthem of Navarre currently include two verses that borrow strongly from the Declaration. The inclusion of these verses is currently being debated in the Cortes.
“The Navaresse fight as if possessed by demons, we have already lost the land gained and we continue to retreat chased by these singing chanting soldiers.”
Letter from an Aragonese frontline officer to his commanding officer
“One year and three months after the forces of Aragon marched into Navarre, all Aragonese forces had been expelled from Navarre and territories that hadn’t been part of Navarre for quite a while had been taken by the advancing Navarese forces. Young King Ferdinand and his mother, Germaine of Foix, would both renounce their claim upon the Crown of Navarre. The Second War for the Soul of Navarre would end in an even stronger win for Navarre than the First War for the Soul of Navarre did.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“King Henri III Tudor would recover from his wounds in time to oversee the Treaty of Vitoria where he officially declared Navarre a protestant country.”
Patrick Wendal, “The First Navarrese Tudor King”
“The marriage of Infanta Maria Aviz of Portugal to Prince Francis Valois, Duke of Brittany occurred late in the year of fifteen thirty-five. It was said that there was never a handsomer couple. The new Dauphine, now called Marie, greatly resembled her mother excepting the dark hair she inherited from her father and Dauphin Francis was considered one of the finest princes of Christendom.
The young couple appeared quite happy with each other. They would spend rather large of time in Brittany early in fifteen thirty-six but would return to court at the request of King Francis. It would be there, shortly after a ride through the countryside, that the Dauphin would collapse after drinking from a glass of wine.
Prince Francis III Valois, Duke of Brittany, would die later that night. The Dowager Duchess of Brittany would accuse the new Dauphin, Prince Henri, of poisoning her husband. In an effort to avoid the growing scandal, Marie of Portugal would be sent back to Brittany where it was hoped that the familiar surrounding would allow her to compose herself.
Once she reached Brittany, it was discovered that she was with child. The country waited wondering whether Marie would deliver a boy, the new heir to France, or a girl.”
Karen Talls, “Marie of Portugal”
“The Infanta has delivered a daughter whom she has named Marie Francoise. The child bears strong resemblance to her father and shows all signs of living.”
Letter from the midwife of King
“The French Court was surprised when the young Marie Francoise Valois was named Duchess of Brittany, the successor of her father. It was known that King Francis I had intended to unite Brittany with France. In all probability the appointment was less for the young Marie Francoise and more for her mother. It appeared that in exchange for Marie Francoise inheriting Brittany, Marie of Portugal would cease accusing the new Dauphin of poisoning her husband. In all likelihood, King Francis believed he could betroth the future son of the new Dauphin to Marie Francoise and so unite Brittany with France in that way.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Kathryn Tudor was described by her contemporaries in a variety of different ways: her allies described her as striking and handsome, her enemies called her mannish. What we do know is that Kathryn Tudor was tall, easily six feet one, possibly taller, with the famous Tudor hair [1] and her grandmother Catharine of Navarre’s strong nose.
While this combination of characteristics could have left Kathryn Tudor feeling awkward and unsure, by all accounts the young Tudor princess was self-assured, confident, and sometimes brash.”
Elizabeth Tudor, Duchess of Calais, “Kathryn Tudor”
[1] Due to a plethora a Tudors with red hair, Tudor hair means red hair, much like Titian hair means red hair in our timeline.
“Would that the Princess (Kathryn) had been born a man, she would make the finest Prince. Truly sometimes she seems like a prince instead of princess. She strides through crowds as if she was unhampered by skirts, does not glide like other ladies. And so tall, the good princess is taller than all in court except perhaps her father.”
Letter from a lady in the service of Princess Kathryn to her family
“Catherine of Aragon and her eldest granddaughter did not get along. Later in life, Queen Catherine would claim that Kathryn Tudor was not her granddaughter, but a devil wearing her granddaughter’s face. For, she said, one of her line could not be so completely heretical.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
"Queen Catherine spent much of the fifteen thirties shoring up her only son’s position. She would broker the betrothal of John of Wales with Maria Habsburg, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor and Isabella of Portugal, sister of King John III of Portugal. Catherine would also insist that Prince John travel to Wales and begin governing there. This, more than anything else, is what strengthened John of Wales’s position.
While of dubious health, John Tudor of Wales was said to be quite charismatic and due to his governance of Wales, most of the south of England was strongly supportive of King Arthur’s only son.”
Walter Owns, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“Lady Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Prince Henry and Anne Boleyn, would travel to England to visit her mother’s family at age thirteen. It is widely thought that the main purpose of her visit was to smuggle English Bibles into England. It would be shortly after Lady Elizabeth’s arrival that the Tudor Bible began to appear in England.
Lady Elizabeth would stay to become one of the chief lady-in-waiting’s of her cousin, Princess Kathryn Tudor. The two would grow extremely close over the next few years, likely bonding over shared religious beliefs, sharing the enmity of Queen Catherine, and their common Tudor hair.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
[1] Due to a plethora a Tudors with red hair, Tudor hair means red hair, much like Titian hair means red hair in our timeline.
“Late in the Fall of 1539, King Arthur traveled to Wales to visit Prince John of Wales. There in what is one of the more ironic historical anecdotes, King Arthur and his son contracted the sweat. The same deadly disease Arthur Tudor had escaped almost 40 years earlier.
The news that both King Arthur and Prince John of Wales were ill sent the court into a tizzy. For, if both passed, the next in line was Princess Kathryn Tudor. While the 17-year-old princess was the eldest daughter of King Arthur’s eldest daughter, she was also known to consort with Awakeners, and Awakeners were in the minority in England at the time.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“The tension continued to rise between the two court factions, Queen Catherine’s faction and Princess Kathryn’s faction. After several days of no news, Prince Francis announced his intent to travel to Wales to see for himself the state of his Uncle and Nephew. It was then that things reached a breaking point.
Prince Francis and his traveling companions were waylaid but what appeared to be highway robbers. In the ensuing fight, Prince Francis was killed.
As this news reached the Royal Court, Princess Kathryn accused her grandmother of assassinating her father. There was scuffle between Princess Kathryn and her ladies and the royal guards, and Princess Kathryn was escorted to her rooms and guards were posted outside.
It was then that the news officially reached the Royal Court, both King Arthur and Prince John were dead.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“It seems odd to me that the Spanish Queen would secure the young Princess as such, unless the Spaniard believed King Arthur and the Princes of Wales to be dead. If they are both dead, we must act quickly to secure the safety and future of our new Queen.”
Letter from Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex to his son Gregory Cromwell
“Sybylle Von der Mark, wife of Prince Henry Tudor, would die in fifteen thirty-nine giving birth to John Tudor the new Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg. John Tudor inherited the Dukedom from his elder brother Arthur Tudor who had died some three months previously. Arthur Tudor had inherited the Dukedom from his uncle William. Prince Henry would retire from court in deep mourning. Like with the death of Anne Boleyn, it would take a war to shake Prince Henry from his grief.
John Tudor, Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg, would be escorted to his new lands by his elder half-brother Charles Tudor, Duke of Calais.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Cardinal Henry Aviz would travel to Rome late in the fifteen thirties to speak with Pope Marcellus II about the possibility of a Portuguese Inquisition. While the Portuguese Inquisition would not be created at this time, Cardinal Henry’s journey would not be in vain. While in Rome, he would find his nephew, John Emmanuel, a bride, Caterina de Medici.”
Melina Navos, “Caterina, Mother of Iberia”
“Maria Tudor ended the fifteen thirties a happy wife and mother. She had given her husband a son and three daughters, showing she didn’t share her mother’s infertility or her elder sister’s health. She was Queen of the Romans, and she must have been looking forward to the day she would be addressed as Empress. It would be shortly after the birth of her third daughter Catherine, that Maria Tudor received word of the death of her father and brother and that her mother had declared her, Maria Tudor, Queen of England.”
King James V of Scotland ended the fifteen thirties as he always was, exasperated with and overshadowed by Alexander Stewart. The twenty-six-year-old prince had once again outshined his elder brother by…”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
*OTL Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
**daughter of Cesare Borgia and Charlotte d’Albret, since Cesare Borgia didn’t die in 1507.
“The death of King Arthur I and John of Wales shook the nation. King Arthur I was one of the most loved English monarchs, and Prince John was especially revered in Wales. But, more than the loss of two beloved public figures, the nation worried at the uncertainty surrounding the succession. For, while Kathryn Tudor was the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter of King Arthur I, rumors abounded that John of Wales had lived several hours longer than his father and had left a will, a will that by-passed Kathryn Tudor.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“With the official news of King Arthur and John Tudor’s death reached London, Queen Catherine swiftly took control. Kathryn Tudor had already been confined to quarters the day before, so no attention was paid to the young princess. This was to be Queen Catherine’s only mistake.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“It has been a day since we learned of the death of the King and Prince of Wales. Queen Catherin has been named Regent, though by who and regent for who, I am unsure. Nothing has been seen of the Princess [Kathryn] for two days now. Many people have begun to worry for her safety.”
Journal of a courtier
“It would not be till the evening of the second day of Queen Catherine’s regency, that she visited Kathryn Tudor’s quarters. There it was found that Princess Kathryn, Lady Elizabeth, and several other of her ladies were all gone.
An investigation ascertained that it had been Sir Thomas Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex who had arranged for the escape of Kathryn Tudor. Orders were given to detain the two, but neither could be found. It was believed that Kathryn Tudor and her companions were heading to the coast to take a ship to Navarre.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“Maria Tudor, Queen of the Romans, was named the new Queen of England by her brother’s will. The reliability of the will has been long been contested. To this day, historians can’t agree on whether John of Wales truly designated Maria Tudor as his heir or whether Catherine of Aragon forged the will to keep the throne out of the hands of Kathryn Tudor.
Whether the will was real or not it was initially accepted, due to John of Wales support in the South of England and the popularity Catherine of Aragon had gained as Queen of England. Additionally, Maria Tudor was seven years older than the young Kathryn Tudor and married.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“Queen Catherine’s declaration that her daughter, not her granddaughter, would be the next Queen of England was less accepted as established. People were simply used to listening to Queen Catherine. But, due to a variety of circumstances outside Queen Catherine’s control, momentum was lost, and England devolved into a civil war, those supporting Kathryn Tudor verses those supporting Maria Tudor.
Among the circumstances that shook Queen Catherine’s control on England was Kathryn Tudor’s escape. Forces had been sent to intercept the Kathryn before she reached the shore. Unfortunately for Queen Catherine, Kathryn Tudor hadn’t headed for the shore and Navarre, but North for Scotland.
The other contributing factor to Queen Catherine losing control of England, was Maria Tudor inability to quickly arrive in England. Standing between the Holy Roman Empire and England was France and Navarre. Navarre obviously was against Maria Tudor as Queen of England; Kathryn Tudor was King Henri III’s niece. France was the surprise. King Francis had watched as religion was used as an excuse for the rights of a monarch to be subverted in Navarre, and now he saw it happening again. He saw supporting Kathryn Tudor as a way to curb the power of the pope over monarchs in their own country.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“Kathryn Tudor’s party, composed of the Boleyns, the Cromwells, several Howards, and a few of her ladies would reach Scotland where they were granted sanctuary but not assistance, by King James. Kathryn Tudor had hoped that her cousin would support her claim to the throne, but King James was torn between a concern about the irregularity in inheritance and his own religious principles.
But, the young Queen Claimant found an ally in Prince Alexander.”
Xander Tallmar, “Alexander Stewart, Was it All True?”
“Interviewer: And what about the decision to end the movie before Prince Alexander and Queen Kathryn meet?
Director: We struggled with that choice. But it was felt that including Kathryn Tudor would change the focus of the movie. Instead of a story of two brothers, it would be the tale of a Queen and her husband.
Interviewer: Could there be a sequel that tells that story?
Director: It’s been considered. Ewan (McGregor) has let us know he would love to do a sequel to Prince Alexander.”
Interview with the Director of Prince Alexander Stewart (1993)
“Lucy Lawless: Here we are at the castle where Kathryn Tudor would live while in Scotland. It was here that she be Prince Alexander and the two fell in love. This is Vanessa Corey, author of Glorianna.
Vanessa Corey: I wouldn’t say the two fell in love, at least not right away. More than anything I think the two saw in each other someone with the same drive and, as my grandmother would say get-up-and-go.
Vanessa Corey: Both Kathryn Tudor and Prince Alexander were very determined people; they wanted to accomplish things. In fact, I’d say that many of Prince Alexander’s earlier problems with his brother were due to the desire to do something, and nothing to do, and…
Lucy Lawless: Thank you. So, you would say the two fell in love later?
Vanessa Corey: I don’t know if we can definitively say the two ever fell in love. The Tudor family is full of great love stories; we all want to include Kathryn and Alexander in that. But, I just don’t know if we can number them among the great love stories.
Vanessa Corey: The two were faithful to each other through war and infertility, Prince Alexander was Kathryn Tudor’s greatest defender, but were they ever in love? We don’t know. The two weren’t demonstrate people and neither were great letter writers or journal keepers.”
Selections from the documentary Kathryn Tudor
“Those few months in Scotland must have been extremely difficult for Kathryn Tudor. Conflicting reports would have been constantly arriving: Queen Catherine has complete control of England and Maria Tudor just landed, France and Navarre were keeping the Hapsburgs back, revolts are spring up all over England calling for Kathryn’s return, and many more. It must have been here that Kathryn Tudor realized one of her greatest advantages; she was here.
She was here, her aunt was trapped on the continent. But, if this was to be part of her rallying cry, an English Queen, she needed to be in England. So, gathering her companions, Kathryn Tudor made the journey back to England. She would spend the next several years, hiding in various keeps and castles of supporters, appearing before crowds, and basically living her claim to being an English Queen.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“Prince Henry received the news of the death of his second son Francis, Duke of Calais, and of the brewing Civil War almost six months after the death of his third wife. King Henri III considered keeping the information from Prince Henry, fearing that the news of Prince Francis’s death would drive his father further into his depression. But, in the end, Prince Henry was told.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
“Prince Henry would speak before Cortes, requesting military assistance on behalf of his granddaughter. This speech linked the growing English civil war [1] with the Second War for the Soul of Navarre. Once again, Prince Henry claimed, papist forces attacked the sovereignty of a nation. Those dammed Catholics think they can just subvert the true heir, he would rage.
Selections of this speech would be sent to various European leaders. One of which was the newly crowned King of France, L'autre Henri. [2]L’autre Henri must have felt that Prince Henry had a point. Perhaps L'autre Henri felt uncertain upon the thrown. Or many L'autre Henri simply sought to reawaken the old enmity between France and the Holy Roman Empire. Whatever the reason, France would stand with Navarre in support of Queen Kathryn and in keeping the empire’s forces from reaching England.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
[1] The Civil War would shortly be named Katies’ War.
[2] Henry II Valois would never escape his nickname “the other Henry” or “L'autre Henri.” There were just too many Henry’s running around during this period.
“Ferdinand I had intended to march his forces to the coast and from there sail to England. But, both Navarre and France would refuse him passage. War between the Empire on one side and France and Navarre on the other would break out early in 1540 and would last several months longer than Kathryn’s War.
The actual Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, wouldn’t be serious involved in the war due to a border conflict between the newly separated Castile and Aragon.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“Fifteen forty ended with England deep in Katies’ War. Queen Kathryn Tudor had control of a good section of the north of England as well as lands near Norfolk. Queen Catherine of Aragon still had control of London and pretty much everything south of London.
Queen Catherine’s position was suffering damage due to the continued absence of Maria Tudor; Queen Kathryn Tudor was in England. More and more, Queen Catherine of Aragon was viewed as a forging usurper. By March of fifteen forty-one, several of the Catholic nobles would reach out to Queen Kathryn Tudor.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“It is my greatest fear that to see faithfulness to God’s church, England will fall. Queen Catherine has ruled for almost a year with no sign of Queen Maria. News has reached us that the Spaniards are forming an armada. Queen Catherine assures that the fleet comes in support of Queen Maria, but is not Queen Maria bound by her husband’s will? And her husband is brother to the Spanish King. Where is God’s will in this?”
Letter from Sir Thomas More to his wife, Alice
“Initial communication between Queen Kathryn Tudor and Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and a leader among the Catholic nobles, was slow and short. She was distrustful of his motives, and probably suspected a trap. But, after several letters exchanged by trusted messengers, the two would meet.
While what exactly was discussed during this meeting has been lost to history; we have no record. What we do know is whatever Queen Kathryn said convinced Norfolk. He would begin meeting with the other Catholic lords speaking on behalf of Queen Kathryn.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“With more and more Catholic nobles switching sides, Queen Kathryn Tudor began advancing on London. In light of the changing tides, Queen Catherine of Aragon made the choice to meet Queen Kathryn Tudor in person. The two met under a flag of truce in a field near Cambridge. It would be the last time grandmother and granddaughter would see each other.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“Kenny_Art_my_boi: How about tonights episode! Kathryn and Catherine together again!
Kath&Cat: that is not what happened! my girl kath was never that attached to gramma. that’s why the two are fascinating. the whole tudor family could get caught up in ‘there my family/can’t hurt them’ and the kath & cat are like, ‘kingdoms to rule, people to execute.’
Malwavery: you’re just ticked you didn’t get to say Kathryn puts the cute in execute.
Kenny_Art_my_boi: Hey, just cause Kathryn and Catherine tended towards country and duty over family, doesn’t mean they didn’t care for each other.
Malwavery: didn’t Catherine later say Kathryn was the devil in disguise?
Malwavery: whatever, the speech was super cool. anyone know how accurate the speech is?
Kath&Cat: kath’s line ‘I am to be Queen of All England’ is a quote, but it’s from a later address about religion.
Malwavery: cool”
Tudor Chatroom
“Both Kathryn Tudor and Catherine of Aragon apparently offered to accept the other’s surrender at their last meeting at Cambridge. And both did have strong positions. Kathryn Tudor’s army had grown considerably in the last several months, but it still wasn’t as large as Catherine of Aragon’s mercenary augmented army. What’s more, Catherine of Aragon had walls to wait behind.
The reunion would end without any significant agreements or concessions from either party. Catherine of Aragon would return to London and Kathryn Tudor would prepare for battle.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“Lucy Lawless: This field would have been just like this, foggy and unclear, that August morning three hundred years ago when the forces of Kathryn Tudor attacked Queen Catherine. Where would Prince Alexander been? He was one of the general right?
Vanessa Corey: Prince Alexander wasn’t attached to any of the companies or battalions, nor was he a general. In fact, he didn’t have any official authority. Formally, he was a guest of Queen Kathryn.
Lucy Lawless: But he did fight?
Vanessa Corey: Yes, he did, what’s more, he somehow found himself in command of one of the larger contingents after their commander died. He apparently talked them into following him.
Lucy Lawless: And that sort of thing happened a lot?
Vanessa Corey: All the time, Prince Alexander had this habit of not stopping, or pausing to think. Just, forging ahead. Most of the time that worked out for him. People are still arguing if it was luck or not.”
Selections from the documentary Kathryn Tudor
“The battle wage for several hours without either side gaining ground. Sometime around noon, reinforcements arrived. An army composed of Navarrese and French soldiers led by Prince Henry arrived during the Battle for London taking Queen Catherine completely by surprise. The tide of battle had changed.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“Queen Catherine left London forcibly escorted by several of her allies. She apparently had wished to fight to the last, but with forces abandoning them by the hour, several of her supporters retreated and took her with them. Ambassador Chapuys had arranged for a boat that would get them down the River Tames and to a ship waiting to take them to Castile. She would never return to England.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“In Katies’ War, there were three other parties besides the titular Kathryn and Catherine. Three men who claimed the throne of England in their own name.
The first of the would-be kings was Edward Fitzroy, the only bastard son of King Arthur I. Lord Edward would gather but few supporters and would be captured by allies of Kathryn Tudor. She would order his execution on account of treason sometime in June of fifteen forty-one.
The second would-be King was Henry Pole, 1stBaron of Montagu. A descendent of both Edward III and Edward IV, Henry Pole appeared to think that the time of the Tudors had passed and with two women as the main claimants to the English throne, he had a chance to become king. He didn’t. Catherine of Aragon’s forces captured him and much of his family and they were all executed.
The last would-be King was Welshman by the name of John Owen ap Tudor Fychan, claiming to be the deceased John of Wales. John Owen was a distant relation of the royal Tudors. John Owen would gain a decent following and was the only claimant to outlive Katies’ War. After the Battle for London, the official conclusion of Katies’ War, Kathryn Tudor’s forces would continue south to face John Owen where he would be killed in battle.
In a traditionally male dominated century, these three men are barely footnotes in Katies’ War. What was it about Kathryn Tudor and Catherine of Aragon that allowed them to lead and rule as women?
In this thesis I will…”
“The Three Kings of Katies’ War” Thesis Project by Women Studies doctoral candidate, Piper Nears
“James V Stewart sat out most of Katies’ War feeling rather put out. For Prince Alexander was winning great renown as a soldier and tactician, and once again King James was in his younger brother’s shadow. Throughout the early part of fifteen forty-one James V continued to waffle: should he enter the war, should he enter the war on Kathryn Tudor’s side or on the side of Catherine of Aragon. The Scottish forces were marshalled, but if they were going anywhere, no one knew.
Then, in early in July of forty-one, several Scottish ships were attacked by Irish pirates, the Irish pirates having grown bold in the face of English’s inattention. James V was itching for a chance to prove himself, had already marshalled his armies, and had just been given an opening. It was a dangerous combination.
Scotland invaded Ireland on July twenty-fourth. The few English forces left in Ireland fell quickly. The Scottish forces would engage in combat with the Irish forces continuously over the next few months, and it must be said that they didn’t do worse than the English forces had been doing previously.
At the end of Katies’ War, after Kathryn Tudor had been crowned Queen, diplomats from England and Scotland began to meet to speak of Ireland. It was eventually agreed that Scotland could keep Ireland; Queen Kathryn is recorded to have remarked that Ireland was more trouble than it was worth.
For James V, Ireland would prove more trouble than it was worth. For, only nine months after conquering Ireland, James V would be killed during an official visit to Ireland. This ironically, would be the death nell of independent Ireland. For the assassination of King James V enraged the Scottish. They may not have been particularly fond of James V, but he was their king. If anyone was going to kill him, it would be them.
The regents for young King James VI would send the full might of the Scottish army against the Irish.”
Rosa Kent, “Overshadowed, James V of Scotland”
“Catherine of Aragon and her party would make it safely to Castile where she would dock at Santander. Her nephew Charles V would not be able to greet her as he was still embroiled in the border dispute between Castile and Aragon. Arrangement would be made to convey Catherine of Aragon to her daughter’s side.
She would arrive to find that Ferdinand had made peace with France and Navarre and would not be pursuing the English throne. He assured her that the cease fire was temporary, until the day which faithful Catholics would call for Maria Tudor. That day would never come.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“England waited with baited breath to see how Kathryn Tudor would handle the religious question. For, the majority of England was still Catholic, but it had been the Awakeners that had backed her from the beginning. Now that she had the crown, which side would be rewarded?
Initially, it appeared that Kathryn Tudor would be supporting the Awakeners; her grandfather, Prince Henry perhaps the Awakener, was appointed Lord Chancellor. But then Sir Thomas More was appointed Lord Privy Seal. Sir Thomas More was a great opponent of the Awakeners. Next, Thomas Cromwell, newly made Duke of Suffolk and an Awakener, was made Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Appointments continued in this vein; one appointment for the Awakeners, and one for the Catholics. When questioned about the selections, Kathryn Tudor is recorded to have said, ‘I am to be Queen of ALL England. The Catholic and the Awakener alike.’
Ironically, Sir Thomas More who previously had been one of the great persecutors of the Awakeners, became one of her greatest backers in her policy of religious tolerance. Legend goes that she told him she greatly enjoyed Utopia and wish to see some of its practices in real life, namely religious acceptance.
While this policy was seen as madness at the time, it was probably what allowed her to keep her throne is the face of her various challengers. None of the parties, Catholics, Awakeners, or the growing population of protestants, were favored enough to gain power over the other nor were they unfavored enough to truly get riled up over it.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“Interviewer: So which book is the movie actually based on? ‘Catherine and Kathryn’ by Everett Jacobs, from which the film gets its name, or Walter Owens’ ‘The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon?’ Because I see plot points in the movie that can be found in both books.
Richard Gray: We drew inspiration from both books. Jacobs does a wonderful job of showing how similar both women were and Owens depiction of the collapse of their relationship is truly heartrending.
Interviewer: Do you feel the ending was oversimplified? That Kathryn Tudor won the war simply because she was willing to compromise on religion?
Richard Gray: No, I don’t. While there were a lot of complicated factors, the simple fact is Kathryn Tudor was more pragmatic than her grandmother.”
Interview with Richard Gray director of “Kathryn and Catherine”
“The tragedy of Catherine of Aragon is this book! The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon is an overblown, misogynist, drama fest. So, what that Catherine didn’t get along with her eldest granddaughter? The others adored her! So, what if she lost Katies’ War? She won others!
Catherine of Aragon was an amazing woman: she ruled as co-regent of England for almost two decades; she raised three children to adulthood, all of which were extremely well educated; she herself was one of the most educated women of her time; she was a significant influence upon her grandchildren, Maria Tudor’s children; and after her death she was canonized as a saint! A saint!
But all that is remembered of Catherine of Aragon is that she lost a war to her granddaughter; not her interest in academics and the education of women nor the wars she won. This book perpetuates the horrible chauvinist modern misconception of Catherine of Aragon.”
Review of Walter Owens’ “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“Before traveling on to meet with her daughter, Catherine of Aragon stopped to speak with her sister-in-law, the elder Maria Tudor, Queen of Portugal. The two women had grown very close before Maria Tudor left England for Portugal. Catherine would stay in Portugal to witness the marriage of John Emmanuel, heir to the throne of Portugal, to Caterina Maria Romula di Lorenzo de Medici.
After leaving Portugal she would pay a visit to Aragon to meet her youngest brother, Ferdinand III, for the first time. She would also be present for Ferdinand’s marriage to Margaret Valois the youngest daughter of the recently deceased Francis I.”
Ulysses Park, “Catherine of Aragon, the After England years”
“Catherine of Aragon would be reunited with her last surviving child late in the year fifteen forty-one. The younger Maria Tudor, Queen of the Romans, had not seen her mother for almost ten years and none of her children had met Catherine of Aragon.
Catherine of Aragon would spend much of the last few years of her life with her grandchildren. Of the four of Maria Tudor’s children to reach adulthood, the eldest daughter and the youngest son were particularly close to Catherine. Elisabeth Habsburg would inherit her grandmother’s religious fervor and would become a very influential Abbess.
But, this book is about the youngest, Arthur Habsburg.”
Oliver Gotham, “Arthur and the Throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland”
“Fifteen Forty-Two was the year for weddings in Tudor England. The first and most glorious wedding was that of Queen Kathryn to Prince Alexander. Queen Kathryn, while not pretty, was an impressive woman, especially bedecked in a gown of cloth of gold with embroidered Tudor roses. Prince Alexander also cut a very dashing figure. The marriage was performed by Thomas Cranmer, a known Awakener, but in most respects the wedding echoed traditional catholic weddings.
The second wedding was between the Lady Elizabeth Tudor, eldest daughter of Prince Henry and Anne Boleyn, to Gregory Cromwell, Earl of Essex and son of Duke Thomas Cromwell the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The two had apparently grown close during Katies’ War. With his father’s advancement, Prince Henry deemed Gregory Cromwell worthy of Elizabeth’s hand.
The third marriage was that of Prince Henry Tudor to Lady Mary Howard. It would be Prince Henry’s forth marriage. The two had met at Queen Kathryn’s wedding. Prince Henry was apparently charmed by the Lady and pleased that she would listen to his opinions on religion; Prince Henry always liked it when people listened to him. Lady Mary would officially convert towards the end of November and the two would be married in December.”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
“Lucy Lawless: Here is where Kathryn and Alexander would spend most of their married life, and..
Vanessa Corey: Actually, Kathryn and Alexander would spend very little of their married life together. Shortly after the end of Katies’ War, Alexander began organizing an expedition to what they called the New World. Colonizing the Americas would be Alexander’s great mission in life and it would keep him away from Kathryn’s side for most of their married life.
Lucy Lawless: But, when they were both in England, they would live here?
Vanessa Corey: Alexander would have. Kathryn almost never left court.
{Lucy Lawless is visibly frustrated by this point}
Lucy Lawless: If they weren’t in love and never spend time together, what did they share? Letters?
Vanessa Corey: Neither of them were letter writers. Almost all of their correspondence would be through third parties. In fact, we only have one letter written in Kathryn Tudor’s own hand to Alexander. It was shortly after…”
Selections from the documentary Kathryn Tudor
“Prince Charles Tudor, the new Duke of Calais, would arrive with his younger half-brother Duke John Tudor of Julich-Cleves-Berg, in what is now the State of Rhine in the German State, late in the year of fifteen thirty-nine. Initially, the German lords were opposed the Navarrese prince as regent for Duke John. But, Prince Charles earnest and hard-working nature would win them over.
Prince Charles, the oft forgotten third son of Prince Henry and Queen Catherine of Navarre, flourished in Julich-Cleves-Berg. In Navarre he had been overshadowed by his elder brothers; he had none of King Henri’s magnetism nor had the recently deceased Prince Francis’s charm. But, here in Germany his forthrightness was admired.
Princess Leonora, Prince Charles’s wife, would spend the next several years traveling back and forth between Calais and Julich-Cleves-Berg. Calais would be left almost entirely in her hands, while her husband was immersed in ruling Duke John’s section of Germany.”
A.E. Bell, “The Birth of German State”
“Queen Maria Tudor of Portugal* died late in the year of fifteen forty-one shortly after the wedding of John Emmanuel of Portugal and Caterina Maria de Medici. She left behind her two sons and three daughters and one granddaughter. Her death would hit King John III especially hard; he would retire from court for several years and would never remarry.
This left John Emmanuel and Caterina Maria at court. These years were the proving ground of John Emmanuel and Caterina Maria. They would never share the immortal love of John and Maria, but the two would come to trust and rely on each other greatly.”
Melina Navos, “Caterina, Mother of Iberia”
* Daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, not daughter of Arthur I and Catherine of Aragon
“Elizabeth Hamilton, the only daughter of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland, to survive to adulthood, was a mere thirteen-years old when her elder half-brother, James V died in Ireland. But the strong-minded young lady, with support from her father, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, and her betrothed, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, would emerge as a powerful player in her nephew’s regency.
Though she held no official position, it would be at her urgings that the full might of Scotland would turn toward Ireland to avenge the death of her brother.”
Walter Owens, “Bossy, Bossy Bess”
“The Irish, used the English methods of warfare, were unprepared for the Scottish forces. The Scottish, unlike the English, had a much better understanding of Irish politics and how to manipulate them. In this, the similarities between the Scottish and the Irish served to quicken the war and then ensure the peace.
The English had tried to conquer Ireland for almost four hundred years. It took the Scottish two years.”
Richard Kent, “The Birth of Muir Magi”
“Fifteen forty-three was the birth year of three influential Tudors or Tudor descendants.
The first birth was that of Philip Avis, eldest son of John Emmanuel of Portugal and Caterina Maria. While Philip Avis would die at age at age seventeen, the sheer number of madrigals, hymns, and voice solos ensure that his influence is still felt today. Many believe that Mozart drew inspiration from Philip Avis for his operas.
The official cause of death of Prince Philip Avis would be accidental fall from his horse, many historians now believe the true cause of death was suicide. By several accounts, Prince Philip suffered from the same melancholia that afflicted his great uncle Prince Henry.
The second birth was of Lord Thomas Tudor, son of Prince Henry and his fourth wife Mary Howard. Lord Thomas would hold the singular distinction of being the only Archbishop of Canterbury without a particular church. The preceding Archbishop would be of the Catholic faith and Thomas Tudor’s successor would be an Awakener.
Lord Thomas Tudor would join the ranks of Kathryn Tudor’s Toms and would be numbered among such men as Sir Thomas More, both Thomas Cromwells, and Thomas Crammer. He would serve the crown as Archbishop for over thirty years, and his mediation would serve to quell much of the religious strife between the different churches that had found a home in England.
The last birth was that of Helena Habsburg, daughter of Ferdinand, King of the Romans, and Maria Tudor, Queen Claimant of England. The Lady Helena was widely regarded as the most beautiful women of her time. She would go onto become Queen of France, when her husband’s cousin died unexpectedly.”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
“Lady Elizabeth Hamilton would jilt her betrothed, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, late in fifteen forty-seven and marry Gerald FitzGerald the 11th Earl of Kildare. Lord Gerald possessed the one quality Lady Elizabeth desired in a husband above all else: obedience.
To appease Lord Matthew, Lady Elizabeth was banished from the Scottish court and would spend much of the next decade in Ireland. This wasn’t really a punishment, for she was still her nephew’s favorite aunt. She served as the voice of her nephew the King while there and was, in many ways, the final authority in all Irish matters.
She would surround herself with several other strong ladies, one of which was Grainne O’Malley, or as she would come to be known by in the history books, Grace O’Malley. The two were within a year of each other and grew quite close.”
Walter Owens, “Bossy, Bossy Beth”
“France experienced much religious upheaval in the fifteen forties due to influence from Navarre and England. While France would never be protestant like Navarre, nor practice religious acceptance like England, France would be more tolerant of awakeners and protestants than the other Catholic nations. Many Catholics blamed this upon Prince Henry, and it must be said, they weren’t wrong.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Early in the Spring of fifteen forty-five, King Francis II and his wife Isabella of Poland finally had a son. The couple had been married for four years and this would be the first pregnancy to come to term. The dauphin would be named Charles.
Many expected King Francis II to betroth the young Dauphin to his cousin Marie Francoise notwithstanding the age difference; Marie Francoise, Duchess of Brittany, was seven years older. But, King Francis II particularly despised Marie Francoise’s mother, Marie of Portugal, and had no desire to betroth his son to her daughter.
Instead both Scotland and Aragon were contacted about their princesses. King Ferdinand III of Aragon had a two-year old daughter named Juana and King James of Scotland’s youngest sister was three.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “Brittany”
“King Henri III of Navarre would call a Convocation to discuss the religious future of Navarre. For twenty years, Navarre had gone through the process of severing themselves from the Pope, but besides a strong nationalist feeling and a desire to read the Bible, actual doctrine was lacking.
For several months, the different religious leaders debated. Principle among them were John Calvin and William Tyndale. The end result was the Awakened Church of Navarre, the head of which was God. That point they very strongly insisted. The Lord’s spokesperson on earth would be titled Deacon due to the Greek meaning of messenger.
The Awakened Church of Navarre still shared many rituals with the Catholic church and some Lutheran ideas, but for the most part was founded on John Calvin’s theories and the preeminence of the Bible. This last point would spark a culture of religious lawyers, for if you could find it in the Bible you could argue that you were allowed to do it.
It is commonly believed that the line, ‘Anytime someone asks, what would Jesus do? Remember whipping people and over turning tables is an option’ originally came from Navarre.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“The first Deacon of Navarre was Andoni Eneko, an elderly man who at one point had been an abbot. He set the standard for the humbleness of the station, for he would continue to reside in the small former abbey he had once governed and refused all opulent ornamentations offered.
All Navarrese Deacons after Deacon Andoni would dress and live simply, following his example.”
Samso Subiri, “Deacon Andoni”
“King Henri III would arrange the marriage of his heir, Prince Henri, to Christina Oldenburg who had was the daughter of the deposed King of Denmark, sometime in fifteen thirty. The wedding would be delayed due to Katies’ War. The couple would go on to have one of the most tumultuous relationships of the century: sometimes they would be particularly close, lavishing attention and affection upon each other to the discomfort of those around them; other times they would rage and fight, often in public also to the discomfort of those around them; and still other times one would be angry with the other who was trying to regain their affection, often with grand public gestures this really discomfortedd people.
The first marital fight would be about religion, for King Henri and his son expected Princess Christina to convert to the newly formed Awakened Church of Navarre. She initially refused. We know from her journal that she actually came to believe in the awakened principles as early as three months after the marriage, but she held out from sheer stubbornness and wouldn’t convert until the birth of their son, named Antoine in honor of Deacon Andoni, some three years later”
Ephraim Pollock, “Henry and Christina, They May Have Tried to Kill Each Other”
“The marriage of Prince Henry, Duke of York, and Lady Mary Howard only lasted about three years. The conflict seems to have arisen when Prince Henry discovered that Lady Mary had no particular religious feelings; she had not truly converted to the Awakened faith.
This appears to have triggered one of Prince Henry’s melancholic episodes. This episode was punctuated by load outbursts where he and the Lady Mary raged at each other. After several months, Lady Mary would renounce her conversion and retire to a nunnery.
This loud religious disagreement between two prominent people appears to have upset the current delicate religious balance in England, so it was suggested to Prince Henry that he might want to visit his son Duke John of Julich-Cleves-Berg. Prince Henry would take the hint. In a rather large spectacle at court, he would announce that he had been too long away from his children (ignoring that half of them were in England) and must leave England. He would also resign as Lord Chancellor at this point.
In the wake of Prince Henry’s absence, Sir Thomas More was selected to fill the office of Lord Chancellor. To counter act this appointment, Thomas Cromwell was promoted to Lord High Treasurer.”
Melantha Jones, “Religious Acceptance in Renaissance England”
“One of the more significant historical fallacies from the 1500s is the merging of Protestants and Awakeners. The two movements are actually separate. The later refers to a specific group and ideology that spawned the Awakened Church and its fourteen official branches. The Protestants refers to all those that disagreed with the preeminence of the Catholic Church. The amalgamation of these two movements come from the fact that the Awakeners were definitely the loudest group (this was mostly due to Prince Henry Tudor) though not the largest.
Additionally, several prominent Protestants would use the the ideology of awakening to describe their own religious experiences. As such it is appropriate to refer to both of the movements as the Awakening.”
Lise Marie Peters, “The Awakening of Europe”
“Prince Henry first heard of Princess Renée’s heresy trial while visiting his son Duke John Tudor. Having recently gotten divorced due to his ex-wife’s false conversion, hearing of a woman who was standing by her principles must have inspired him. For, instead of returning to Navarre at the end of his visit, Prince Henry traveled to Ferrara.
There Prince Henry, in what has been immortalized in three movies, two plays, and sundry books, staged a prison break. Acting with the assistance of his old friend Cesare Borgia [1], Prince Henry would spirit Princess Renée and her children out of the country.
Upon reaching Navarre, Prince Henry and Princess Renée were married.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
[1] No one quite knows why Cesare Borgia assisted Prince Henry. The best guess is that the ensuing upheaval was beneficial in some way, or at least amusing.
“Rumors have circulated throughout history on how Prince Henry rescued Princess Renée and her children. Popular ones include that the small group swung from rooftop to rooftop, that Prince Henry and Princess Renée dressed as old women to escape, and that Cesare Borgia would hold off pursuers single handedly to allow them to escape before succumbing. This last one is completely false, for his bones were recently examined and the causes of death is definitively old age.”
William Richards, “Italy and the Awakening”
“The whole of Ferrara is in uproar. I have always thought that Prince Henry’s reputation had outgrown the man, but I must say now that I do not think the tales have grown loud enough. “
Letter from Italian nobleman to his father
“It wasn’t until the late fifteen-forties that the general population of England began to realize that an heir wasn’t forthcoming. Queen Kathryn and King Alexander had been married for over seven years, and not once had a pregnancy been announced. The first view years had been excused due to King Alexander’s absence from court, but over time there had been periods where the two resided together and nary a pregnancy.
It is now believed that continued prolonged periods of separation between Queen Kathryn and King Alexander were used to conceal Queen Kathryn’s fertility issues. It gave an official reason for the lack of an heir.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“King Henri III of Navarre, by some accounts second in line to the English throne behind his father Prince Henry, officially excepted himself from English succession to preclude a union between Navarre and England late in the year 1547. It is believed that this was the first step in naming another heir. The possibilities for another heir were endlessly debated and we still don’t know who Kathryn might have named.
Some argued that Maria Tudor should be welcomed back to England as the heir of Queen Kathryn, or that one of her sons should be sent to be named Prince of Wales. Others argued that Prince Henry was the only option as a successor, but as he was Queen Kathryn’s grandfather not many expected him to outlive the Queen. Still others suggested Prince Charles, Prince Henry’s second eldest surviving son, or one of his daughters. As surprisingly popular suggestion was Countess Elizabeth’s eldest son Gregory Cromwell.
Young Lord Gregory had the benefit of being younger than the Queen, which Prince Henry and Prince Charles did were not, as well as definitively English, which Maria Tudor’s sons and Prince Charles’s daughters were not.”
Paisley Jones, “The Balancing Beam, The Early Years of Queen Kathryn’s Reign”
“Do to the dissolution of Spain, the ownership of the Spanish colonies was disputed through much of the first half of the 1500s. Both Castile and Aragon claimed title of the land in the Americas. King Alexander I would take advantage of this sometime in 1540s.
Using the uninhabited islands called the Bahamas [1] as a launching place, the English forces would slowly begin to take over many of the Spanish colonies in what is now Glorianna Domains using a combination of intimidation, force, and bribery. Many of the colonies had been without support for several years due to the war between Aragon and Castile and as such weren’t particularly inclined to put up a fight.
By 1549 the English has control of….”
Lise Marie Peters, “Early Glorianna”
[1] The Spanish had abandoned the Bahamas after they sold the entire population of the native people as slaves.
“The earliest accounts of English settlers heading west occurred in fifteen forty-two, but these settlers were heading to the unoccupied Bahamas. Because of the sandy soil, there was minimum farming done which left the lush forests untouched. The little farming that was done occurred on the island of New Providence. Instead the colonists depended on the sea for their substance.”
Oliver Kent, “Mother Sea, The Marine Living of the Early English Colonists”
“It is unclear when Alexander Stewart first began the seizure of the Spanish colonies; he kept the information flow east under tight control. But eventually the news reached Europe where King Charles of Castile took it rather personally considering those colonies were among those ceded to Aragon in the peace treaty.
What’s more, Queen Kathryn had been in contact with King Ferdinand of Aragon and had purchased the colonies, retroactively authorizing the English seizures of the colonies. King Ferdinand had few other options then to allow the English possession, due to the long war with Castile he no longer had the resources to retake the colonies. In all probability, King Charles knew of Aragon’s current condition and had planned to take the colonies for Castile.”
Tammie Waltherson, “Ramp Up to the Second Succession War”
1502
“The English court held their collective breaths as both the Prince and Princess of Wales fell ill sometime during March of 1502, probably with the sweating sickness that was commonly found in England at the time. Prayers were said, doctors were summoned, and then early in April, both would recover.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“Riding high from the miracle that was his son and daughter-in-law’s survival, Henry VII turned his attention to his younger children. Having arranged for his heir’s marriage to one of the most eligible brides of Europe, Henry VII would accept no less for his three younger children.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “The First Tudor King”
“Not much is known about the childhood of the man who would come to be known as the Greatest Prince in Christendom by some and the Great Heretic by others. Then Prince Henry Tudor, Duke of York, was his father’s spare and as such did not often appear in public. It is known that he was extremely close with his mother, Elizabeth of York.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
1503
“Early in the year 1503, the King of Navarre, John III of Albret died of what we now believe to be cancer. This triggered the series of events which eventually would bring the Tudor Spare to the forefront of European Politics.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“…. I find myself not in need of a son by marriage, but a son of my own body.”
Fragment of one of the letters exchanged between King Henry VII and Queen Catherine of Navarre
“Shortly after the death of John III, King Henry VII wrote to Queen Catherine of Navarre about the possibility of a betrothal between his son, Prince Henry Tudor, and Queen Catherine’s eldest daughter Anne of Navarre. The Princess Anne was a very eligible young lady: the heir of the many titles of her grandfather, Alain I of Albret, as well as the current heir of the Crown of Navarre. The Queen’s response was completely unexpected.
Queen Catherine wrote back suggesting not a betrothal between Prince Henry and her eldest daughter, but a marriage between Prince Henry and Herself.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“The marriage of Queen Catherine of Navarre and Prince Henry Tudor is perhaps one of history’s more interesting anecdotes. The young Tudor Prince was barely a year older than Queen Catherine’s eldest daughter, and the Queen was only a few years younger than Prince Henry’s parents.
For centuries scholars, histories, politicians, and intellectuals have argued the reasoning behind this particular union. Navarre gained an ally who committed to military assistance in the face of Aragon’s encroachment and a king that belonged to none of the factions of the Navarrese Court. King Henry VII gained further acknowledgment of the legitimacy of the Tudors. But these things weren’t exclusively found only in Navarre or England, either party could have found allies elsewhere. So, why did this marriage take place?
It is of this author’s opinion, that the marriage occurred simply because King Henry VII was the first to offer a groom, albeit for Princess Anne. Queen Catherine must have been very aware of her mortality with her first husband’s death, and also very aware of her declining years of fertility. She needed to act quickly to secure the succession so that Navarre didn’t suffer the upheaval that occurs with a female heir for the second generation.
In this dissertation I will…”
“Prince Henry Tudor, King Father of Navarre, What Were They Thinking?” Thesis Project by doctoral candidate, Elijah Baker
“The young English Prince is fair of face and form and though his youth is evident, he comports himself with the dignity of one who has had it thoroughly instilled in them the proper behavior expected of a king.”
Journal entry of a Navarrese Nobleman
“As busy as King Henry VII was early in 1503 cramming in the years of lessons in statecraft that Prince Arthur got but Prince Henry missed out on and then sending Prince Henry to Navarre, he made time to oversee the marriage of Princess Margaret to James IV of Scotland. Queen Elizabeth would accompany now Queen Margaret north and spend several months assuring that her eldest daughter settled in her new home. While Queen Elizabeth would return to England and spend much of the rest of her life there, she would return frequently to Scotland, especially after the death of King James IV. It is believed that much of her daughter’s excess was curbed by the presence of Queen Elizabeth.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “The First Tudor King”
“…. the English Queen continues to call for her mother, more lords would object, if not that the presence of the Queen Elizabeth is a great boon to the behavior of the English Queen.”
Fragment of a letter to an unknown nobleman from one of Queen Margaret’s ladies
“1503 was a roller-coaster year for the Tudor family. The beginning of the year saw the marriages of Princess Margaret to King James IV and Prince Henry to Queen Catherine bringing to number of Tudor monarchs to three.
The end of the year saw the death of the young Prince Hal, son of Prince Arthur and Princes Catherine, at the tender age of three. The death was a great blow to Princess Catherine and is believed to have been what sent her into early labor. Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine’s second child, Prince Arthur, would not survive the trauma of his early birth and would die the day after he was born.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
1504
“Several letters and journals indicate that the Navarrese Court was charmed by their new young king. King Henry, by all records, was a bright and cheerful teenager. While grossly unprepared for his role as king, this wasn’t readily apparent because little to no responsibly was given to the young King at first. It was only after the birth of their first son and as King Henry made important friends, that Queen Catherine began to allow King Henry to wield power as King of Navarre.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“It is thought that is it was here, in the quiet few months of his marriage with few friends and in a strange land, that Henry Tudor began to question the strongly held religious beliefs of the day. He was mostly left to his own devices. Perhaps in these months of reflection, Prince Henry Tudor sought God in his quiet secluded rooms.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“The relationship between Prince Henry Tudor [1] and his son Henri Tudor, King of Navarre is perhaps the strongest and longest lasting relationship Prince Henry Tudor would have. Only thirteen years old at his birth, Prince Henry Tudor doted on his eldest son. We have multitude of records of Prince Henry carrying his young son around and taking him to court functions, one courtier commented that Prince Henry made a fine nursemaid.
There is a school of thought that this was a ploy by Prince Henry to bolster his situation at court by reminding everyone of his position as the father of the heir. But, other records illustrate that Prince Henry’s attentiveness as a father didn’t end when the public eye did. Prince Henry personally choose his son’s nurses and tutors and would often write them requesting reports and instructing them on the care of his son. In modern vernacular, a helicopter parent.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
[1] While Prince Henry was King of Navarre for 14 years, he was known as Prince Henry for a much larger portion of his life and is the name by which he is most commonly known. It is by this title he will be referenced in this tome.
“…. I find my new father by turns bright and cheerful and then solemn and still. I don’t believe I have ever met a more lonely person.”
Journal of Princess Anne of Navarre, she died shortly after writing this
1510s
“Princess Margaret Tudor, eldest daughter of Prince Arthur and Princess Catherine, was born a mere month after the death of her great-grandmother Margaret Beaufort. It was for her that the young princess was named, at the insistence of her royal grandfather. She would be followed by a brother, Prince Henry Tudor, in 1509 who would live only hours and another brother also named Prince Henry Tudor, in 1511 who would live only a month.
At the age of 8, shortly after the birth of her sister Princess Mary, Princess Margaret would be betrothed to her cousin Prince Francis Tudor, second son of her uncle King Henry II Tudor of Navarre, by her grandfather King Henry VII Tudor. This ensured that if she remained her parent’s only heir, the thrown of England would remain with the Tudors.
The betrothal was protested by Princess Catherine of Wales who feared Prince Francis might share of his father’s religious views. “
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“As King Henry VII Tudor dealt with issues of succession, he also arranged the betrothal of the elder Princess Mary. King Henry VII had spent the last five or so years suggesting a betrothal to one monarch, backing out and suggesting a different betrothal to a different monarch. It was at the suggestion of Princess Catherine to her sister Maria of Aragon, that King Manuel I of Portugal would write to King Henry VII about his youngest daughter.
Princess Mary, daughter of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth, not to be confused with Princess Mary, daughter of King Arthur and Queen Catherine, is known to have hotly protested her betrothal to Prince Jon Avis, heir to the crown of Portugal; the young prince was six years younger than her. But, her father had spoken, and people did not argue with King Henry VII.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “The First Tudor King”
“Towards the end of 1511, Ferdinand II of Aragon would present Queen Catherine and King II Henry with a set of demands. The demands would be refused, and Spanish troops would march on Navarre. There would be a series of skirmished between the forces of Navarre, led by the young King Henry II and the Spanish forces, led by Fernando Álvarez de Toledo over the next several years. The war, named The War for the Soul of Navarre by dramatic historians, would cumulate in the Battle of Donibane Garazi where King Henry II would decimate the Spanish forces leading to a retreat and peace talks.
It is said that the peace talks went exceptionally quick because King Henry II remarked that they did not wish to make him miss the birth of his son. The Treaty of Iruñea would be composed in record time and ratified by the Cortes of Navarre where the pro-Spanish Beaumont party had shrunk significantly over the past few years. And King Henry II would indeed make it back to Queen Catherine’s side for the birth of their third son, Prince Charles Tudor.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
“The marriage of King James VI and Margaret Tudor took a great hit at the death of their son Prince James at age three in 1510 only a short time after the stillbirth of Prince Arthur Stewart. The Queen Margaret was said to be despondent and required a visit from her mother Queen Elizabeth before returning to court life. Shortly after Queen Elizabeth’s departure back to England, Queen Margaret would fall pregnant for the third time. King James VI and Queen Margaret would name their third child for the son they recently lost. Prince James Stewart, future King of Scotland would be born early in 1512. It would be the only time in his long life he would not be overshadowed by his yet unborn younger brother.”
Paisley Jones, “Alexander Stewart, Was It All True?”
“Queen Catherine of Navarre would pass away early in the year 1517, leaving her eldest son Prince Henri Tudor as King Henri III Tudor of Navarre. Prince Henry Tudor, never to be called King again in his lifetime, [1] would be named regent for his thirteen-year-old son.
The regency of King Henri III was one of the smoothest regencies of European history. Father and son worked in tandem to coordinate the ruling of Navarre. Several diplomats recorded that it was impossible to play the King against his father. The two refused to commit to anything without consulting the other and would never contradict the other in public.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
[1] Henry Tudor would not be granted his title of King Father, the counterpart to Queen Mother, by his grandson King Henri IV Tudor until several decades after his death.
“It was during the regency of King Henri III that the religious attitudes of Prince Henry began to be known throughout Europe. Prince Henry’s opinions were already known to his family, we have a letter from Princess Catherine to her father-in-law about Prince Henry’s owning a Wycliffe Bible. But, shortly after Martin Luthor nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, Prince Henry Tudor released Ut Legitur in Verbis Dei(“May We Read God’s Words”) in Latin, English, French, and Basque.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“While we don’t have all the communications between Pope Leo X and Prince Henry Tudor, several letters have survived. They paint a picture of Prince Henry’s enthusiasm for the vernacular bible and then his confusion and frustration when the pope did not share his enthusiasm. It is perhaps after the realization that the church would not support his undertaking that Prince Henry first began his break from the Catholic Church.”
Vanessa Corey, “The Tudor Bible, Translation and Conception”
“To say Europe was surprised would be understating it. Prince Henry was from a very devote family, his sister Queen Maria of Portugal was especially known for her devotion, and here he was speaking out against the common belief that the bible should remain in latin. The modern equivalent would be if President-Elect Trump announced that he was actually a Democrat and planning on banning guns.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“.. one might think the Tudor Prince is a madman (which Tudor Prince you might ask, my dear? You should know there is only ever one Tudor Prince) but having read his work, I must say he writes with conviction and fervor not often found in holy word.”
Part of a letter found in the possession of Princess Marguerite de d’Angouleme
“The Tudor family’s reactions to the antics of Prince Henry were myriad. King Henry VII would not comment one way or the other and Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, followed his father example. A lady in Queen Margaret Tudor of Scotland reported that Margaret Tudor could care less about, in her words, her younger brother’s ‘antics.’ Queen Elizabeth, not known for having a political opinion, surprisingly requested a copy of her son’s work to read for herself. Though she did specify she would like a Latin copy.
In contrast, Princess Catherine would quite vocally speak out against her brother-in-law and frequently requested and demanded that the betrothal between Prince Francis Tudor, only ten years old, and her eldest daughter sundered. When she was refused by both her husband and father-in-law, Princess Catherine would begin keeping the young Princess Mary away from Prince Francis. The young Prince Francis, recently made the Duke of Calais by his grandfather, is recorded to have spoke out against his aunt for maligning his father’s good name.
Princess Mary Tudor, now known as Princess Maria of Portugal responded with a letter that has been lost to time and a vow to never speak of her brother again. She never did.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“There was actually little to no repercussions, for this Prince Henry’s first foray into heresy. While the Pope wished to order consequences or sanctions, the truth was there was no one willing to face Navarre in battle. Spain was still smarting from their loss in the War for the Soul of Navarre; the King of France numbered Prince Henry among his closest friends; and several powerful Italian nobles, including Cesare Borgia who was currently in Navarre as the personal guest of Prince Henry, admired the fiery Prince.
In the end, all the pope did was send a strongly worded letter. And while this may seem like no great hardship, it was actually a great struggle for Prince Henry. He saw himself as a good catholic and was greatly concerned that the Pope didn’t agree with him. But, he felt he had been inspired by God, and would not back down.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“At this point, Prince Henry viewed himself as a good catholic, just one that had a few problems with the Pope. But, Prince Henry was aware enough to know that the release of Ut Legitur in Verbis Dei may have lost him a few friends. So, Prince Henry went looking for new friends and found Frederick III.
It is through conversing with Frederick III that Prince Henry found a bride for King Henry III. Frederick III’s niece, the eldest daughter of his brother John, was a year older than King Henry III. The publication of Ut Legitur in Verbis Dei caused a betrothal between King Henri III and Princess Louise of France to fall through, and the young king was in need of a bride.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
*OTL She was born a he and was Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony.
1520s
“The relationship between Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales and Henry Tudor, Duke of York was a troubled one. During their childhood, Prince Arthur received the lion’s share of his father’s attention: in instruction in statecraft, in arranging betrothals, and in simple time. Prince Henry, in turn was the apple of his mother’s eye. It is thought that it was here that their troubles began.
For many years it is thought than the root of their disagreements was the sudden disparity between their positions. It must have galled Prince Arthur to address his younger brother as a king while he was but his father’s heir.
But, research indicates that it was actually envy not jealousy that drove the quarrels. Prince Henry would have three sons, healthy strong sons, by the time he was twenty years old. In comparison, Prince Arthur would take over ten years of marriage to have two daughters, both of which were delicate of health.”
Tammie Waltherson, “For the Tudors’ It’s All About Family”
“King Henry VII Tudor, King of England and of France and Lord of Ireland, passed away in his sleep late in the year 1521. His eldest son, Arthur Tudor, was crowned King Arthur I with his wife Catherine of Aragon. Now Queen Catherine, would try to break the betrothal between Princess Margaret and Prince Francis. The argument is allegedly the only time King Arthur would raise his voice against his wife.
Not only would King Arthur keep the betrothal, but he chose to move up the wedding so that Princess Margaret and Prince Francis would be appointed Princess and Prince of Wales together.
In an effort to placate his wife, King Arthur reached out to her nephew, Charles V, about a betrothal between Princess Mary and himself.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“It is believed that Prince Henry met the women who would be his second wife at the wedding of his son King Henri III Tudor to Princess Jeanne Sophie of Saxony. The Lady Anne Boleyn is not listed among the members of the French Court that attended the marriage, but it is shortly after the wedding that the first letter sent from Prince Henry to Lady Anne is dated.
It is in a letter of Anne Boleyn, that we have the only account of the start of Prince Henry’s religious feelings. He recounts to Anne the loneliness and isolation that he felt as a young husband and father in Navarre, that he turned to the Word of God for comfort and guidance. And, he describes to Anne, while he found consolation in the Latin translation of the bible, he found greater consolation in the English Wycliffe Translation of the Bible. He knew that, in this land where none spoke his tongue, God spoke his language; he wasn’t alone.
This chronicle must have resonated with Anne Boleyn, for the two would continue to write for several months. They spoke of their hopes for the vernacular bible just as much as their love for each other. It would be Anne, who would comfort Prince Henry as he expressed to her his concerns with defying the Pope. Then, several months later, instead of returning to England as her father wished, Anne Boleyn would head south to Navarre when she would marry Prince Henry Tudor.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“Even as the world reeled from Prince Henry’s revelation, he began to act on his beliefs. William Tyndale would take sanctuary in Navarre and began to translate the bible into English. The translation we know today as the Tudor Bible.”
Vanessa Corey, “The Tudor Bible, Translation and Conception”
“Princess Mary Tudor, known to history as Queen Maria, would marry her boy-groom early in the year 1517. Their first child, Beatrice, would be born around Christmas that year. A second child, Maria, would follow two years later. Records indicate that Maria Tudor and her husband, Prince John were not close during these years.
It was not until 1519, when both of their children fell sick and their eldest, Infanta Beatrice, passed away that the couple grew close. The young family would retire from court for several months, where Maria Tudor would come to care deeply for her husband.
It was also here that Queen Maria would develop the strong religious feelings that would drive many of her actions for the rest of her life. Ironically, these feelings would be just as strong and the entirely the opposite of her brother, Prince Henry’s opinions.
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Emilia Clarke has been cast as Princess Mary Tudor, in Tom Hooper’s “Mary and John.” She will be acting opposite Tom Holland as John and Rachel Weisz as Eleanor, John’s stepmother. Manuel I of Portugal has not yet been cast.”
Casting Update
“Ferdinand II of Aragon passed away in 1519 from what was probably pneumonia. This left his youngest son and only child with his second wife, Germaine of Foix, as King of Aragon. Ferdinand III Trastamara was but six years old. His father had left the ruling of Aragon in the hands of a regency council that excluded Queen Mother Germaine of Foix. The first order for the council was finding the young King a new betrothed. Ferdinand III having been betrothed to his great-niece Infanta Beatrice of Portugal since her birth. “
Carolyn Masey “Ferdinand III the Old Didn’t Start That Way”
“King James IV of Scotland would die in an accident with his horse, in July of 1520. He would leave behind his widow, Queen Margaret, as regent for the now King James V Stewart, and Prince Alexander Stewart, the already notorious Duke of Ross.
Queen Margaret wasn’t a popular regent, though it appears she handled the contending parties well. It was during this time that, Elizabeth York, Queen Mother of England, would spend considerable time in Scotland. It is believed that is was Elizabeth’s influence that curbed some of Queen Margaret’s more unwise impulses.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“Prince Alexander, at only six years old, began his long career of overshadowing his elder brother at James V Stewart’s coronation. Young Prince Alexander managed to escape his minders and climbed the wall of the cathedral because, in his words, he wanted a better view. According to many reports, Prince Alexander reached some thirty feet up, and refused to come down. The eight-year-old King James apparently threw a temper tantrum in response to Prince Alexander’s antics. “
Xander Tallmar, “Alexander Stewart, Was it All True?”
“Princess Jeanne Tudor, eldest daughter of King Henri III Tudor and Queen Jeanne Sophie, was born late in the year 1521, only a few months before her eldest aunt, Lady Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Prince Henry and Lady Anne. The two, would be extremely close all through their childhood.
In England, the Princess and Prince of Wales would welcome their daughter only a year later. The young princess would be named for both her grandmothers, though she would spell it Kathryn throughout her life. Shortly after the birth of Princess Kathryn, Margaret Tudor, Princess of Wales, would pass away due to complications in childbirth.
The country of England suffered a bit of whiplash, as Queen Catherine delivered a living son who was named John. (The name Henry she viewed with some suspicion, having buried four sons named Henry, and holding a great dislike for her brother-in-law Henry.)”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
“The 1520’s were a quiet time for Tudor England. King Arthur I was a well-liked by many and handled the growing religious division with finesse. He would finally welcome a son in 1524. He would succeed in securing a betrothal between Princess Mary and Ferdinand I, recently named King of the Romans.
While not Queen Catherine’s first choice, the current Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, she was very pleased. She saw it as a way to gain allies to help defend the rights of young John Tudor, the new Prince of Wales. Queen Catherine believed that Prince Henry would seek to elevate his granddaughter Princess Kathryn. This fear was fed by Prince Francis who kept his young daughter with him at court. This allowed courtiers to see the bright intelligent young princess. In contrast, Prince John was secluded, as Queen Catherine greatly feared for his health.”
Melantha Jones, “1520s Tudor England, the Calm Before the Storm”
“Prince Francis is a devoted father. If he is not visiting the young Princess Kathrine, he will bring her to court. Carrying the young princess around. She is truly a charming child.”
Letter from English Noblewomen to her family
“The nineteen years of King Arthur’s reign, nicknamed the Camelot Era, were one of the most peaceful periods for the Tudors. He ably kept peace between his reformist brother, moderating quite a bit of Prince Henry stronger Reformist tendencies, and his staunchly Catholic wife. He oversaw the marriage of his second daughter to Ferdinand I, King of the Romans. Under his rule, the relations between Scotland and England improved considerably, though that might have been more because of Queen Mother Elizabeth’s actions.
The status of his heir, Prince John of Wales, was perhaps the source of greatest concern for King Arthur. Prince John was not quite as sickly as his mother feared, but he wasn’t of completely sound health either. What’s more, Queen Catherine had kept him rather isolated from dissenting views, which unfortunately was a significant fraction of the court.
In contrast, Princess Katheryn practically grew up at court. Escorted to functions and parties by her father from a very young age, the entirety of the court knew and valued King Arthur’s only grandchild. While nothing overt seems to have been communicated, those with Reformist and Awakening views appear to have viewed Princess Katheryn as the preferred inheritor of the English Crown.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
“Though the quote has never been substantiated, Anne Boleyn, wife of Prince Henry, is perhaps most famous for saying, ‘They must read.’ This line became the tagline for the Awakening. And while this exact line is not found in any letters or journals of hers or those who knew her, in cannot be denied that Anne Boleyn, did in fact hold to the ideal that even the common people should read the bible in their native tongue.”
Walter Owens, “Lovely, Lovely Anne”
1530s
Henry VII Tudor, (1457-1521) King of England m. Elizabeth of York, (1466-1531), Queen of England
A) Arthur I Tudor, (1486-) King of England m. Catalina Trastamara (1485-), Infanta of Aragon
1) Henry Tudor, (1501-1503)
2) Arthur Tudor, (1503-1503)
3) Margaret Tudor, (1506-1523) Princess of Wales m. Francis Tudor, (1507-), Prince of Wales, then Duke of Calais
1) Katheryn Tudor, (1523-), Princess of England
4) Henry Tudor, (1509-1509)
5) Henry Tudor, (1511-1511)
6) Mary Tudor, (1514-) Princess of England m. Ferdinand I, (1503-1564) Holy Roman Emperor
7) Henry Tudor, (1518-1518)
8) John Tudor, (1524-), Prince of Wales
B) Margaret Tudor, (1489-) m. a) James IV Stewart, (1473-1520), King of Scotland; b) James Hamilton, (), 1st Earl of Arran
1a) James Stewart, (1507-1510)
2a) Arthur Stewart, (1509-1509)
3a) James V Stewart, (1512-1542), King of Scotland
4a) Alexander Stewart, (1514-1560), Duke of Ross
5b) Elizabeth Hamilton, (1529-)
C) Henry II Tudor, (1491-), Duke of York and Richmond m. a) Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517), Queen of Navarre; b) Anne Boleyn, (1501-1530)
1a) Henry III Tudor, (1504-), King of Navarre m. Jeanne Sophie Wettin, (1503-), Princess of Saxony*
1) Jeanne Tudor, (1521-), Princess of Navarre
2) Henry Tudor, (1522-), Prince of Navarre
3) Anne Sophie Tudor, (1525-), Princess of Navarre
2a) Edward Tudor, (1505-1505)
3a) Francis Tudor, (1507-), Duke of Calais m. Margaret Tudor, (1506-1523) Princess of Wales
See Margaret Tudor
4a) Elizabeth Tudor (1510-1510)
5a) Charles Tudor, (1511-), betrothed Leonora Borgia (1513-)**
6b) Elizabeth Tudor, (1522-)
7b) Anne Tudor, (1524-1531)
8b) Thomas Tudor, (1526-1526)
9b) Eleanor Tudor, (1527-)
D) Mary Tudor, (1496-1531) m. John III Avis, (1502-), King of Portugal
1) Beatrice Avis, (1517-1520)
2) Maria Avis, (1519-), Infanta of Portugal
3) John Manuel Avis, (1521-), Infante of Portugal
4) Anthony Avis, (1524-), Infante of Portugal
5) Isabel Avis, (1528- ), Infanta of Portugal
*OTL Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
**daughter of Cesare Borgia and Charlotte d’Albret, since Cesare Borgia didn’t die in 1507.
“One of the darkest periods of Prince Henry’s life began in fifteen-thirty with the death of his second wife Anne Boleyn in childbirth. Prince Henry would retire from court to spend time with their three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne, and Eleanor. Then, a mere six months after the death of his second wife, his second daughter Anne Tudor, died at age seven from an unnamed childhood illness. Subsequently, in what must have seemed a perfect storm of loss, Prince Henry received word of the death of his beloved mother, Queen Elizabeth of York.
While Prince Henry was a prolific writer, leaving behind letters, journals, and publications, we have almost nothing from Prince Henry from this time. In fact, we have only three records in Prince Henry’s own hand from this time: a letter to Prince Francis requesting news of Princess Kathryn, one page in a journal expressing his concerns over continuing to defy the pope, and a letter to William Tyndale about the progress of the translation of the English Bible.
He left almost all his official duties to his three sons. In fact, the betrothal of Prince Charles Tudor to Lady Leonora Borgia, [1] was arranged by King Henri III. This would be the only one of Prince Henry’s children’s marriages that he would not arrange himself.
This deep melancholy would last almost for several years and would take a war to bring Prince Henry out of it.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
[1] Leonora Borgia is the second daughter of Cesare Borgia and Charlotte d’Albret, since Cesare Borgia didn’t die in 1507.
“Conversely, Prince Henry absenting himself from the Court of Navarre in all probability was the making of King Henri III. For years, King Henri had depended upon his father for advice, guidance, and comfort. But, Prince Henry’s retreat left the twenty-six year old king space to grow and truly come into his own.
During this time, King Henri strengthened ties with the Protestant German princes’ and the growing French Huguenot presence. He arranged the betrothal of his youngest brother and Leonora Borgia, known in Navarre as Lenore.
While King Henri would always be his father’s favorite and perhaps the single closest relationship Prince Henry would ever have, certainly the longest lasting, never again would King Henri III Tudor depend quite so much on his father.”
Patrick Wendal, “The First Navarrese Tudor King”
“The fifteen thirties began with two important Tudor marriages. The first was the marriage of Princess Mary Tudor, daughter of King Arthur and Queen Catherine (not to be confused with Queen Maria, daughter of King Henry VII and Queen Elizabeth), to Ferdinand I Habsburg, King of the Romans and Archduke of Austria.
The second, arranged by King Henri III, was the marriage of Prince Henry Tudor to Sybylle Von der Mark, Princess of Cleves. King Henri hoped that a new bride would bring his father out of his depression, as well as provide his younger half-sisters with a mother.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“… decided to open the movie with the marriage of King James V to Princess Louise of France. We thought it would be especially potent to see that not even on his wedding was James V free from the shadow his younger brother casts. (Ewan McGregor) really captures the rambunctious headless energy of a young Prince Alexander. This isn’t a young man who has set out to eclipse his brother at every turn, but a boy who can’t help but be just a little too extreme.
Interviewer: And James V?
Director: Robert (Carlyle) is an amazing King James V: in turns frustrated, envious, and sometimes adoring of his younger brother. Rob really gets into his head.
Interviewer: And what about the decision to end the movie before…”
Interview with the Director of Prince Alexander Stewart (1993)
“The young Princess was so beautiful in her bridal gown. She spoke to me in my own tongue with nary an accent. Mama, I am so excited to serve as one of her ladies.”
Letter from a young Austria noblewoman to her mother
“Prince Henry has suffered a deep melancholy these past years. He continues to spend all of his time with the Ladies Elizabeth and Eleanor. I have spoken to him about Your Majesty’s wish that he remarries. He expressed no opinion beyond obedience to his King’s will. I am deeply concerned for ….”
Fragment of a letter from Prince Henry’s secretary to King Henri III
“It is as if my husband is a sleep, even when he walks about. I feel as if there is a great gulf that separates us two. The only time I see that there might be a living man behind my husband is when he reads from the Bible to his daughters.”
Journal Entry of Sybelle of Cleves from early in her marriage to Prince Henry
“With his father mired in grief, King Henri III stepped to the forefront of the movement that would soon be called the Awakening. Many of the rulers of Europe assumed that King Henri would slowly back away from the association with the reformers. Instead the young Tudor King continued to participate in Awakening: communicating with Martin Luthor and Frederick III and offering sanctuary to the French Huguenots.
It was the continued practices of King Henri III that prompted Pope Clement VII to take action. The young king of Aragon, Ferdinand III was encouraged to claim the title of King of Navarre by dint of his mother Germaine of Foix’s claim. The forces of Aragon would muster late in the year of fifteen thirty-four and war would break out early in fifteen thirty-five.
Navarre was initially caught unware and lost several small towns to the advancing forces of Navarre. King Henri III would respond quickly himself and his youngest brother, the only one in Navarre, would march out with Army of Navarre. Several battles would follow as the two armies clashed.
While King Henri III made an admirable showing, the Aragoneese forces continued to advance. Then, in what must have felt like the death nell of Navarre, King Henri III was injured in battle.”
Patrick Wendal, “The First Navarrese Tudor King”
“My lady wife has brought me news of the injury of my dear Henri. Oh my boy, my wonderful son. You have always been all that could be desired in a son, God please don’t take him from me like thou took Anne.
Hast your face been turned from me, Oh Lord in Heaven? Is this a punishment? If my path is just, why are we left alone to face the forces that would have us turn from your Holy Word?
The Entry in the Journal of Prince Henry right before the entry that would come to be known as the Declaration of the Awakening.
“The Declaration of the Awakening in its earliest conception is found in the Journal of Prince Henry. Later, Prince Henry would edit and publish it as almost a manifesto. He recounts his melancholia he suffered after the death of his wife Anne, and the comfort found in the Bible. Then he speaks out against those would, in his words, ‘veil and conceal the Word of God behind the language of pagans.’ Prince Henry narrates how he received word of his eldest son’s injury, of turning to God in prayer. Then…”
Lise Marie Peters, “The Awakening of Europe”
“I feel like I am Awakening from a long sleep or throwing off great chains. None stands between me and the Lord of Heaven. I read His word, I obey His will, not the will of some foreign prince who styles himself the vicar of Christ. And His will is that Navarre is freed to follow Him.”
The most well-known line of the Declaration of the Awakening and what gave the Awakening its name.
“The Declaration of The Awakening is perhaps the most honest account of depression found in the Renaissance. Prince Henry pulls no punches as he describes the deep darkness that he found himself mired in after the death of his wife and the anxiety he suffered in defying the pope. In this essay I will describe how the Declaration shaped the discussion of mental health in the fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen hundreds.”
“Mental Health in Europe” Theisis Project by doctoral candidate William Matteson
“While Navarre would not formally break with the Catholic Church until several months after the end of the second War for the Soul of Navarre, the Declaration was seen by many as the start of true Protestantism in Navarre. ”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“While Prince Henry entrance into the Second War for the Soul of Navarre was heralded as the turning point, Prince Henry actually contributed very little martial assistance to the war. He would only participate in two battles, one of which he lost. His return to the politics of Navarre did serve as a great moral booster to the army, many of the leaders having served with Prince Henry in the First War for the Soul of Navarre. But Prince Henry’s greatest contribution to the war effort would be the publication of the Declaration of Awakening.
The Declaration of Awakening inspired the forces of Navarre: sections were set to music as hymns or marching tunes [1] and it was often read in its entirety directly before a battle. While the Declaration was strongly national, speaking of the need for Navarre to throw off the yoke of foreign princes, many other protestants identified strongly with ideas encapsulated in the Declaration. While no foreign assistance would arrive in time to affect the War, the Declaration did much to bind Navarre to the cause of protestants.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
[1] In fact the National Anthem of Navarre currently include two verses that borrow strongly from the Declaration. The inclusion of these verses is currently being debated in the Cortes.
“The Navaresse fight as if possessed by demons, we have already lost the land gained and we continue to retreat chased by these singing chanting soldiers.”
Letter from an Aragonese frontline officer to his commanding officer
“One year and three months after the forces of Aragon marched into Navarre, all Aragonese forces had been expelled from Navarre and territories that hadn’t been part of Navarre for quite a while had been taken by the advancing Navarese forces. Young King Ferdinand and his mother, Germaine of Foix, would both renounce their claim upon the Crown of Navarre. The Second War for the Soul of Navarre would end in an even stronger win for Navarre than the First War for the Soul of Navarre did.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“King Henri III Tudor would recover from his wounds in time to oversee the Treaty of Vitoria where he officially declared Navarre a protestant country.”
Patrick Wendal, “The First Navarrese Tudor King”
“The marriage of Infanta Maria Aviz of Portugal to Prince Francis Valois, Duke of Brittany occurred late in the year of fifteen thirty-five. It was said that there was never a handsomer couple. The new Dauphine, now called Marie, greatly resembled her mother excepting the dark hair she inherited from her father and Dauphin Francis was considered one of the finest princes of Christendom.
The young couple appeared quite happy with each other. They would spend rather large of time in Brittany early in fifteen thirty-six but would return to court at the request of King Francis. It would be there, shortly after a ride through the countryside, that the Dauphin would collapse after drinking from a glass of wine.
Prince Francis III Valois, Duke of Brittany, would die later that night. The Dowager Duchess of Brittany would accuse the new Dauphin, Prince Henri, of poisoning her husband. In an effort to avoid the growing scandal, Marie of Portugal would be sent back to Brittany where it was hoped that the familiar surrounding would allow her to compose herself.
Once she reached Brittany, it was discovered that she was with child. The country waited wondering whether Marie would deliver a boy, the new heir to France, or a girl.”
Karen Talls, “Marie of Portugal”
“The Infanta has delivered a daughter whom she has named Marie Francoise. The child bears strong resemblance to her father and shows all signs of living.”
Letter from the midwife of King
“The French Court was surprised when the young Marie Francoise Valois was named Duchess of Brittany, the successor of her father. It was known that King Francis I had intended to unite Brittany with France. In all probability the appointment was less for the young Marie Francoise and more for her mother. It appeared that in exchange for Marie Francoise inheriting Brittany, Marie of Portugal would cease accusing the new Dauphin of poisoning her husband. In all likelihood, King Francis believed he could betroth the future son of the new Dauphin to Marie Francoise and so unite Brittany with France in that way.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Kathryn Tudor was described by her contemporaries in a variety of different ways: her allies described her as striking and handsome, her enemies called her mannish. What we do know is that Kathryn Tudor was tall, easily six feet one, possibly taller, with the famous Tudor hair [1] and her grandmother Catharine of Navarre’s strong nose.
While this combination of characteristics could have left Kathryn Tudor feeling awkward and unsure, by all accounts the young Tudor princess was self-assured, confident, and sometimes brash.”
Elizabeth Tudor, Duchess of Calais, “Kathryn Tudor”
[1] Due to a plethora a Tudors with red hair, Tudor hair means red hair, much like Titian hair means red hair in our timeline.
“Would that the Princess (Kathryn) had been born a man, she would make the finest Prince. Truly sometimes she seems like a prince instead of princess. She strides through crowds as if she was unhampered by skirts, does not glide like other ladies. And so tall, the good princess is taller than all in court except perhaps her father.”
Letter from a lady in the service of Princess Kathryn to her family
“Catherine of Aragon and her eldest granddaughter did not get along. Later in life, Queen Catherine would claim that Kathryn Tudor was not her granddaughter, but a devil wearing her granddaughter’s face. For, she said, one of her line could not be so completely heretical.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
"Queen Catherine spent much of the fifteen thirties shoring up her only son’s position. She would broker the betrothal of John of Wales with Maria Habsburg, daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor and Isabella of Portugal, sister of King John III of Portugal. Catherine would also insist that Prince John travel to Wales and begin governing there. This, more than anything else, is what strengthened John of Wales’s position.
While of dubious health, John Tudor of Wales was said to be quite charismatic and due to his governance of Wales, most of the south of England was strongly supportive of King Arthur’s only son.”
Walter Owns, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“Lady Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of Prince Henry and Anne Boleyn, would travel to England to visit her mother’s family at age thirteen. It is widely thought that the main purpose of her visit was to smuggle English Bibles into England. It would be shortly after Lady Elizabeth’s arrival that the Tudor Bible began to appear in England.
Lady Elizabeth would stay to become one of the chief lady-in-waiting’s of her cousin, Princess Kathryn Tudor. The two would grow extremely close over the next few years, likely bonding over shared religious beliefs, sharing the enmity of Queen Catherine, and their common Tudor hair.”
A. E. Bell, “The Early Tudor Years”
[1] Due to a plethora a Tudors with red hair, Tudor hair means red hair, much like Titian hair means red hair in our timeline.
“Late in the Fall of 1539, King Arthur traveled to Wales to visit Prince John of Wales. There in what is one of the more ironic historical anecdotes, King Arthur and his son contracted the sweat. The same deadly disease Arthur Tudor had escaped almost 40 years earlier.
The news that both King Arthur and Prince John of Wales were ill sent the court into a tizzy. For, if both passed, the next in line was Princess Kathryn Tudor. While the 17-year-old princess was the eldest daughter of King Arthur’s eldest daughter, she was also known to consort with Awakeners, and Awakeners were in the minority in England at the time.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“The tension continued to rise between the two court factions, Queen Catherine’s faction and Princess Kathryn’s faction. After several days of no news, Prince Francis announced his intent to travel to Wales to see for himself the state of his Uncle and Nephew. It was then that things reached a breaking point.
Prince Francis and his traveling companions were waylaid but what appeared to be highway robbers. In the ensuing fight, Prince Francis was killed.
As this news reached the Royal Court, Princess Kathryn accused her grandmother of assassinating her father. There was scuffle between Princess Kathryn and her ladies and the royal guards, and Princess Kathryn was escorted to her rooms and guards were posted outside.
It was then that the news officially reached the Royal Court, both King Arthur and Prince John were dead.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“It seems odd to me that the Spanish Queen would secure the young Princess as such, unless the Spaniard believed King Arthur and the Princes of Wales to be dead. If they are both dead, we must act quickly to secure the safety and future of our new Queen.”
Letter from Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex to his son Gregory Cromwell
“Sybylle Von der Mark, wife of Prince Henry Tudor, would die in fifteen thirty-nine giving birth to John Tudor the new Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg. John Tudor inherited the Dukedom from his elder brother Arthur Tudor who had died some three months previously. Arthur Tudor had inherited the Dukedom from his uncle William. Prince Henry would retire from court in deep mourning. Like with the death of Anne Boleyn, it would take a war to shake Prince Henry from his grief.
John Tudor, Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg, would be escorted to his new lands by his elder half-brother Charles Tudor, Duke of Calais.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Cardinal Henry Aviz would travel to Rome late in the fifteen thirties to speak with Pope Marcellus II about the possibility of a Portuguese Inquisition. While the Portuguese Inquisition would not be created at this time, Cardinal Henry’s journey would not be in vain. While in Rome, he would find his nephew, John Emmanuel, a bride, Caterina de Medici.”
Melina Navos, “Caterina, Mother of Iberia”
“Maria Tudor ended the fifteen thirties a happy wife and mother. She had given her husband a son and three daughters, showing she didn’t share her mother’s infertility or her elder sister’s health. She was Queen of the Romans, and she must have been looking forward to the day she would be addressed as Empress. It would be shortly after the birth of her third daughter Catherine, that Maria Tudor received word of the death of her father and brother and that her mother had declared her, Maria Tudor, Queen of England.”
King James V of Scotland ended the fifteen thirties as he always was, exasperated with and overshadowed by Alexander Stewart. The twenty-six-year-old prince had once again outshined his elder brother by…”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
1540s
(stillborns have been removed from this tree)
Henry VII Tudor, (1457-1521) King of England m. Elizabeth of York, (1466-1531), Queen of England
Arthur I Tudor, (1486-1540) King of England m. Infanta Catalina Trastamara of Aragon (1485- )
1) Margaret Tudor, (1506-1523) Princess of Wales m. Francis Tudor, (1507-1540), Prince of Wales, then Duke of Calais
1) Katheryn I Tudor, (1523-), Queen of England
2) Mary Tudor, (1514- ) Queen of England m. Ferdinand I, (1503- ) Holy Roman Emperor
1) Elisabeth Habsburg, (1531- )
2) Magdalena Habsburg, (1533- )
3) Charles II Habsburg, (1537- )
4) Catherine Habsburg, (1540- )
3) John Tudor, (1524-1540), Prince of Wales
Margaret Tudor, (1489- ) m. a) James IV Stewart, (1473-1520), King of Scotland; b) James Hamilton, (1475- ), 1st Earl of Arran
1a) James V Stewart, (1512- ), King of Scotland m. Louise Valois, (1515- ), Princes of France
1) Mary Stewart, (1534-1540), Princess of Scotland
2) Margaret Stewart, (1536- ), Princess of Scotland
3) James VI Stewart, (1539- ), Heir to the Throne of Scotland, Duke of Rothesay
4) Charles Stewart, (1540- ), Duke of Ross
2a) Alexander Stewart, (1514-1560), Duke of Rothesay m. Katheryn I Tudor, (1523- ), Queen of England
3b) Elizabeth Hamilton, (1529- )
Henry II Tudor, (1491- ), Duke of York and Richmond m. a) Catherine of Navarre (1483-1517), Queen of Navarre; b) Anne Boleyn, (1501-1530); c) Sybylle Von der Mark, (1517-1539), Princess of Cleves
1a) Henry III Tudor, (1504- ), King of Navarre m. Johanna Sophia/Jeanne Sophie Wettin, (1503- ), Princess of Saxony*
1) Jeanne Tudor, (1521- ), Princess of Navarre
2) Henry IV Tudor, (1522- ), Heir to the Throne of Navarre
3) Anne Sophie Tudor, (1525- ), Princess of Navarre
4) Francis Tudor, (1534- ) Prince of Navarre
2a) Francis Tudor, (1507-1540), Duke of Calais m. Margaret Tudor, (1506-1523) Princess of Wales
See Margaret Tudor
3a) Charles Tudor, (1511- ), Duke of Calais m. Leonora Borgia (1513-)**
1) Charlotte Tudor, (1531- )
4b) Elizabeth Tudor, (1522- )
5b) Anne Tudor, (1524-1531)
6b) Eleanor Tudor, (1527- )
7c) Arthur Tudor, (1534-1538)
8c) John Tudor, (1539- ), Duke of Julich-Cleves-Berg
Mary Tudor, (1496- ) m. John III Aviz, (1502-), King of Portugal
1) Maria Aviz, (1519- ), Infanta of Portugal m. Prince Francis Valois (1518-1536), Duke of Brittany
1) Marie Francoise Valois, (1537- ) Duchess of Brittany
2) John Emmanuel I Aviz, (1521- ), Heir to the thrown of Portugal
3) Isabel Aviz, (1528- ), Infanta of Portugal
4) Maria Aviz, (1531- ), Infanta of Portugal
*OTL Johann Frederick I, Elector of Saxony
**daughter of Cesare Borgia and Charlotte d’Albret, since Cesare Borgia didn’t die in 1507.
“The death of King Arthur I and John of Wales shook the nation. King Arthur I was one of the most loved English monarchs, and Prince John was especially revered in Wales. But, more than the loss of two beloved public figures, the nation worried at the uncertainty surrounding the succession. For, while Kathryn Tudor was the eldest daughter of the eldest daughter of King Arthur I, rumors abounded that John of Wales had lived several hours longer than his father and had left a will, a will that by-passed Kathryn Tudor.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“With the official news of King Arthur and John Tudor’s death reached London, Queen Catherine swiftly took control. Kathryn Tudor had already been confined to quarters the day before, so no attention was paid to the young princess. This was to be Queen Catherine’s only mistake.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“It has been a day since we learned of the death of the King and Prince of Wales. Queen Catherin has been named Regent, though by who and regent for who, I am unsure. Nothing has been seen of the Princess [Kathryn] for two days now. Many people have begun to worry for her safety.”
Journal of a courtier
“It would not be till the evening of the second day of Queen Catherine’s regency, that she visited Kathryn Tudor’s quarters. There it was found that Princess Kathryn, Lady Elizabeth, and several other of her ladies were all gone.
An investigation ascertained that it had been Sir Thomas Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex who had arranged for the escape of Kathryn Tudor. Orders were given to detain the two, but neither could be found. It was believed that Kathryn Tudor and her companions were heading to the coast to take a ship to Navarre.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“Maria Tudor, Queen of the Romans, was named the new Queen of England by her brother’s will. The reliability of the will has been long been contested. To this day, historians can’t agree on whether John of Wales truly designated Maria Tudor as his heir or whether Catherine of Aragon forged the will to keep the throne out of the hands of Kathryn Tudor.
Whether the will was real or not it was initially accepted, due to John of Wales support in the South of England and the popularity Catherine of Aragon had gained as Queen of England. Additionally, Maria Tudor was seven years older than the young Kathryn Tudor and married.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“Queen Catherine’s declaration that her daughter, not her granddaughter, would be the next Queen of England was less accepted as established. People were simply used to listening to Queen Catherine. But, due to a variety of circumstances outside Queen Catherine’s control, momentum was lost, and England devolved into a civil war, those supporting Kathryn Tudor verses those supporting Maria Tudor.
Among the circumstances that shook Queen Catherine’s control on England was Kathryn Tudor’s escape. Forces had been sent to intercept the Kathryn before she reached the shore. Unfortunately for Queen Catherine, Kathryn Tudor hadn’t headed for the shore and Navarre, but North for Scotland.
The other contributing factor to Queen Catherine losing control of England, was Maria Tudor inability to quickly arrive in England. Standing between the Holy Roman Empire and England was France and Navarre. Navarre obviously was against Maria Tudor as Queen of England; Kathryn Tudor was King Henri III’s niece. France was the surprise. King Francis had watched as religion was used as an excuse for the rights of a monarch to be subverted in Navarre, and now he saw it happening again. He saw supporting Kathryn Tudor as a way to curb the power of the pope over monarchs in their own country.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“Kathryn Tudor’s party, composed of the Boleyns, the Cromwells, several Howards, and a few of her ladies would reach Scotland where they were granted sanctuary but not assistance, by King James. Kathryn Tudor had hoped that her cousin would support her claim to the throne, but King James was torn between a concern about the irregularity in inheritance and his own religious principles.
But, the young Queen Claimant found an ally in Prince Alexander.”
Xander Tallmar, “Alexander Stewart, Was it All True?”
“Interviewer: And what about the decision to end the movie before Prince Alexander and Queen Kathryn meet?
Director: We struggled with that choice. But it was felt that including Kathryn Tudor would change the focus of the movie. Instead of a story of two brothers, it would be the tale of a Queen and her husband.
Interviewer: Could there be a sequel that tells that story?
Director: It’s been considered. Ewan (McGregor) has let us know he would love to do a sequel to Prince Alexander.”
Interview with the Director of Prince Alexander Stewart (1993)
“Lucy Lawless: Here we are at the castle where Kathryn Tudor would live while in Scotland. It was here that she be Prince Alexander and the two fell in love. This is Vanessa Corey, author of Glorianna.
Vanessa Corey: I wouldn’t say the two fell in love, at least not right away. More than anything I think the two saw in each other someone with the same drive and, as my grandmother would say get-up-and-go.
Vanessa Corey: Both Kathryn Tudor and Prince Alexander were very determined people; they wanted to accomplish things. In fact, I’d say that many of Prince Alexander’s earlier problems with his brother were due to the desire to do something, and nothing to do, and…
Lucy Lawless: Thank you. So, you would say the two fell in love later?
Vanessa Corey: I don’t know if we can definitively say the two ever fell in love. The Tudor family is full of great love stories; we all want to include Kathryn and Alexander in that. But, I just don’t know if we can number them among the great love stories.
Vanessa Corey: The two were faithful to each other through war and infertility, Prince Alexander was Kathryn Tudor’s greatest defender, but were they ever in love? We don’t know. The two weren’t demonstrate people and neither were great letter writers or journal keepers.”
Selections from the documentary Kathryn Tudor
“Those few months in Scotland must have been extremely difficult for Kathryn Tudor. Conflicting reports would have been constantly arriving: Queen Catherine has complete control of England and Maria Tudor just landed, France and Navarre were keeping the Hapsburgs back, revolts are spring up all over England calling for Kathryn’s return, and many more. It must have been here that Kathryn Tudor realized one of her greatest advantages; she was here.
She was here, her aunt was trapped on the continent. But, if this was to be part of her rallying cry, an English Queen, she needed to be in England. So, gathering her companions, Kathryn Tudor made the journey back to England. She would spend the next several years, hiding in various keeps and castles of supporters, appearing before crowds, and basically living her claim to being an English Queen.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“Prince Henry received the news of the death of his second son Francis, Duke of Calais, and of the brewing Civil War almost six months after the death of his third wife. King Henri III considered keeping the information from Prince Henry, fearing that the news of Prince Francis’s death would drive his father further into his depression. But, in the end, Prince Henry was told.”
Rachel Rowell, “Father of the Reawakening, and a Good Father”
“Prince Henry would speak before Cortes, requesting military assistance on behalf of his granddaughter. This speech linked the growing English civil war [1] with the Second War for the Soul of Navarre. Once again, Prince Henry claimed, papist forces attacked the sovereignty of a nation. Those dammed Catholics think they can just subvert the true heir, he would rage.
Selections of this speech would be sent to various European leaders. One of which was the newly crowned King of France, L'autre Henri. [2]L’autre Henri must have felt that Prince Henry had a point. Perhaps L'autre Henri felt uncertain upon the thrown. Or many L'autre Henri simply sought to reawaken the old enmity between France and the Holy Roman Empire. Whatever the reason, France would stand with Navarre in support of Queen Kathryn and in keeping the empire’s forces from reaching England.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
[1] The Civil War would shortly be named Katies’ War.
[2] Henry II Valois would never escape his nickname “the other Henry” or “L'autre Henri.” There were just too many Henry’s running around during this period.
“Ferdinand I had intended to march his forces to the coast and from there sail to England. But, both Navarre and France would refuse him passage. War between the Empire on one side and France and Navarre on the other would break out early in 1540 and would last several months longer than Kathryn’s War.
The actual Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V, wouldn’t be serious involved in the war due to a border conflict between the newly separated Castile and Aragon.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“Fifteen forty ended with England deep in Katies’ War. Queen Kathryn Tudor had control of a good section of the north of England as well as lands near Norfolk. Queen Catherine of Aragon still had control of London and pretty much everything south of London.
Queen Catherine’s position was suffering damage due to the continued absence of Maria Tudor; Queen Kathryn Tudor was in England. More and more, Queen Catherine of Aragon was viewed as a forging usurper. By March of fifteen forty-one, several of the Catholic nobles would reach out to Queen Kathryn Tudor.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“It is my greatest fear that to see faithfulness to God’s church, England will fall. Queen Catherine has ruled for almost a year with no sign of Queen Maria. News has reached us that the Spaniards are forming an armada. Queen Catherine assures that the fleet comes in support of Queen Maria, but is not Queen Maria bound by her husband’s will? And her husband is brother to the Spanish King. Where is God’s will in this?”
Letter from Sir Thomas More to his wife, Alice
“Initial communication between Queen Kathryn Tudor and Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk and a leader among the Catholic nobles, was slow and short. She was distrustful of his motives, and probably suspected a trap. But, after several letters exchanged by trusted messengers, the two would meet.
While what exactly was discussed during this meeting has been lost to history; we have no record. What we do know is whatever Queen Kathryn said convinced Norfolk. He would begin meeting with the other Catholic lords speaking on behalf of Queen Kathryn.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“With more and more Catholic nobles switching sides, Queen Kathryn Tudor began advancing on London. In light of the changing tides, Queen Catherine of Aragon made the choice to meet Queen Kathryn Tudor in person. The two met under a flag of truce in a field near Cambridge. It would be the last time grandmother and granddaughter would see each other.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“Kenny_Art_my_boi: How about tonights episode! Kathryn and Catherine together again!
Kath&Cat: that is not what happened! my girl kath was never that attached to gramma. that’s why the two are fascinating. the whole tudor family could get caught up in ‘there my family/can’t hurt them’ and the kath & cat are like, ‘kingdoms to rule, people to execute.’
Malwavery: you’re just ticked you didn’t get to say Kathryn puts the cute in execute.
Kenny_Art_my_boi: Hey, just cause Kathryn and Catherine tended towards country and duty over family, doesn’t mean they didn’t care for each other.
Malwavery: didn’t Catherine later say Kathryn was the devil in disguise?
Malwavery: whatever, the speech was super cool. anyone know how accurate the speech is?
Kath&Cat: kath’s line ‘I am to be Queen of All England’ is a quote, but it’s from a later address about religion.
Malwavery: cool”
Tudor Chatroom
“Both Kathryn Tudor and Catherine of Aragon apparently offered to accept the other’s surrender at their last meeting at Cambridge. And both did have strong positions. Kathryn Tudor’s army had grown considerably in the last several months, but it still wasn’t as large as Catherine of Aragon’s mercenary augmented army. What’s more, Catherine of Aragon had walls to wait behind.
The reunion would end without any significant agreements or concessions from either party. Catherine of Aragon would return to London and Kathryn Tudor would prepare for battle.”
Everett Jacobs, “Catherine and Kathryn”
“Lucy Lawless: This field would have been just like this, foggy and unclear, that August morning three hundred years ago when the forces of Kathryn Tudor attacked Queen Catherine. Where would Prince Alexander been? He was one of the general right?
Vanessa Corey: Prince Alexander wasn’t attached to any of the companies or battalions, nor was he a general. In fact, he didn’t have any official authority. Formally, he was a guest of Queen Kathryn.
Lucy Lawless: But he did fight?
Vanessa Corey: Yes, he did, what’s more, he somehow found himself in command of one of the larger contingents after their commander died. He apparently talked them into following him.
Lucy Lawless: And that sort of thing happened a lot?
Vanessa Corey: All the time, Prince Alexander had this habit of not stopping, or pausing to think. Just, forging ahead. Most of the time that worked out for him. People are still arguing if it was luck or not.”
Selections from the documentary Kathryn Tudor
“The battle wage for several hours without either side gaining ground. Sometime around noon, reinforcements arrived. An army composed of Navarrese and French soldiers led by Prince Henry arrived during the Battle for London taking Queen Catherine completely by surprise. The tide of battle had changed.”
Oliva Martin, “Katies’ War”
“Queen Catherine left London forcibly escorted by several of her allies. She apparently had wished to fight to the last, but with forces abandoning them by the hour, several of her supporters retreated and took her with them. Ambassador Chapuys had arranged for a boat that would get them down the River Tames and to a ship waiting to take them to Castile. She would never return to England.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“In Katies’ War, there were three other parties besides the titular Kathryn and Catherine. Three men who claimed the throne of England in their own name.
The first of the would-be kings was Edward Fitzroy, the only bastard son of King Arthur I. Lord Edward would gather but few supporters and would be captured by allies of Kathryn Tudor. She would order his execution on account of treason sometime in June of fifteen forty-one.
The second would-be King was Henry Pole, 1stBaron of Montagu. A descendent of both Edward III and Edward IV, Henry Pole appeared to think that the time of the Tudors had passed and with two women as the main claimants to the English throne, he had a chance to become king. He didn’t. Catherine of Aragon’s forces captured him and much of his family and they were all executed.
The last would-be King was Welshman by the name of John Owen ap Tudor Fychan, claiming to be the deceased John of Wales. John Owen was a distant relation of the royal Tudors. John Owen would gain a decent following and was the only claimant to outlive Katies’ War. After the Battle for London, the official conclusion of Katies’ War, Kathryn Tudor’s forces would continue south to face John Owen where he would be killed in battle.
In a traditionally male dominated century, these three men are barely footnotes in Katies’ War. What was it about Kathryn Tudor and Catherine of Aragon that allowed them to lead and rule as women?
In this thesis I will…”
“The Three Kings of Katies’ War” Thesis Project by Women Studies doctoral candidate, Piper Nears
“James V Stewart sat out most of Katies’ War feeling rather put out. For Prince Alexander was winning great renown as a soldier and tactician, and once again King James was in his younger brother’s shadow. Throughout the early part of fifteen forty-one James V continued to waffle: should he enter the war, should he enter the war on Kathryn Tudor’s side or on the side of Catherine of Aragon. The Scottish forces were marshalled, but if they were going anywhere, no one knew.
Then, in early in July of forty-one, several Scottish ships were attacked by Irish pirates, the Irish pirates having grown bold in the face of English’s inattention. James V was itching for a chance to prove himself, had already marshalled his armies, and had just been given an opening. It was a dangerous combination.
Scotland invaded Ireland on July twenty-fourth. The few English forces left in Ireland fell quickly. The Scottish forces would engage in combat with the Irish forces continuously over the next few months, and it must be said that they didn’t do worse than the English forces had been doing previously.
At the end of Katies’ War, after Kathryn Tudor had been crowned Queen, diplomats from England and Scotland began to meet to speak of Ireland. It was eventually agreed that Scotland could keep Ireland; Queen Kathryn is recorded to have remarked that Ireland was more trouble than it was worth.
For James V, Ireland would prove more trouble than it was worth. For, only nine months after conquering Ireland, James V would be killed during an official visit to Ireland. This ironically, would be the death nell of independent Ireland. For the assassination of King James V enraged the Scottish. They may not have been particularly fond of James V, but he was their king. If anyone was going to kill him, it would be them.
The regents for young King James VI would send the full might of the Scottish army against the Irish.”
Rosa Kent, “Overshadowed, James V of Scotland”
“Catherine of Aragon and her party would make it safely to Castile where she would dock at Santander. Her nephew Charles V would not be able to greet her as he was still embroiled in the border dispute between Castile and Aragon. Arrangement would be made to convey Catherine of Aragon to her daughter’s side.
She would arrive to find that Ferdinand had made peace with France and Navarre and would not be pursuing the English throne. He assured her that the cease fire was temporary, until the day which faithful Catholics would call for Maria Tudor. That day would never come.”
Walter Owens, “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“England waited with baited breath to see how Kathryn Tudor would handle the religious question. For, the majority of England was still Catholic, but it had been the Awakeners that had backed her from the beginning. Now that she had the crown, which side would be rewarded?
Initially, it appeared that Kathryn Tudor would be supporting the Awakeners; her grandfather, Prince Henry perhaps the Awakener, was appointed Lord Chancellor. But then Sir Thomas More was appointed Lord Privy Seal. Sir Thomas More was a great opponent of the Awakeners. Next, Thomas Cromwell, newly made Duke of Suffolk and an Awakener, was made Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Appointments continued in this vein; one appointment for the Awakeners, and one for the Catholics. When questioned about the selections, Kathryn Tudor is recorded to have said, ‘I am to be Queen of ALL England. The Catholic and the Awakener alike.’
Ironically, Sir Thomas More who previously had been one of the great persecutors of the Awakeners, became one of her greatest backers in her policy of religious tolerance. Legend goes that she told him she greatly enjoyed Utopia and wish to see some of its practices in real life, namely religious acceptance.
While this policy was seen as madness at the time, it was probably what allowed her to keep her throne is the face of her various challengers. None of the parties, Catholics, Awakeners, or the growing population of protestants, were favored enough to gain power over the other nor were they unfavored enough to truly get riled up over it.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“Interviewer: So which book is the movie actually based on? ‘Catherine and Kathryn’ by Everett Jacobs, from which the film gets its name, or Walter Owens’ ‘The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon?’ Because I see plot points in the movie that can be found in both books.
Richard Gray: We drew inspiration from both books. Jacobs does a wonderful job of showing how similar both women were and Owens depiction of the collapse of their relationship is truly heartrending.
Interviewer: Do you feel the ending was oversimplified? That Kathryn Tudor won the war simply because she was willing to compromise on religion?
Richard Gray: No, I don’t. While there were a lot of complicated factors, the simple fact is Kathryn Tudor was more pragmatic than her grandmother.”
Interview with Richard Gray director of “Kathryn and Catherine”
“The tragedy of Catherine of Aragon is this book! The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon is an overblown, misogynist, drama fest. So, what that Catherine didn’t get along with her eldest granddaughter? The others adored her! So, what if she lost Katies’ War? She won others!
Catherine of Aragon was an amazing woman: she ruled as co-regent of England for almost two decades; she raised three children to adulthood, all of which were extremely well educated; she herself was one of the most educated women of her time; she was a significant influence upon her grandchildren, Maria Tudor’s children; and after her death she was canonized as a saint! A saint!
But all that is remembered of Catherine of Aragon is that she lost a war to her granddaughter; not her interest in academics and the education of women nor the wars she won. This book perpetuates the horrible chauvinist modern misconception of Catherine of Aragon.”
Review of Walter Owens’ “The Tragedy of Catherine of Aragon”
“Before traveling on to meet with her daughter, Catherine of Aragon stopped to speak with her sister-in-law, the elder Maria Tudor, Queen of Portugal. The two women had grown very close before Maria Tudor left England for Portugal. Catherine would stay in Portugal to witness the marriage of John Emmanuel, heir to the throne of Portugal, to Caterina Maria Romula di Lorenzo de Medici.
After leaving Portugal she would pay a visit to Aragon to meet her youngest brother, Ferdinand III, for the first time. She would also be present for Ferdinand’s marriage to Margaret Valois the youngest daughter of the recently deceased Francis I.”
Ulysses Park, “Catherine of Aragon, the After England years”
“Catherine of Aragon would be reunited with her last surviving child late in the year fifteen forty-one. The younger Maria Tudor, Queen of the Romans, had not seen her mother for almost ten years and none of her children had met Catherine of Aragon.
Catherine of Aragon would spend much of the last few years of her life with her grandchildren. Of the four of Maria Tudor’s children to reach adulthood, the eldest daughter and the youngest son were particularly close to Catherine. Elisabeth Habsburg would inherit her grandmother’s religious fervor and would become a very influential Abbess.
But, this book is about the youngest, Arthur Habsburg.”
Oliver Gotham, “Arthur and the Throne of England, Scotland, and Ireland”
“Fifteen Forty-Two was the year for weddings in Tudor England. The first and most glorious wedding was that of Queen Kathryn to Prince Alexander. Queen Kathryn, while not pretty, was an impressive woman, especially bedecked in a gown of cloth of gold with embroidered Tudor roses. Prince Alexander also cut a very dashing figure. The marriage was performed by Thomas Cranmer, a known Awakener, but in most respects the wedding echoed traditional catholic weddings.
The second wedding was between the Lady Elizabeth Tudor, eldest daughter of Prince Henry and Anne Boleyn, to Gregory Cromwell, Earl of Essex and son of Duke Thomas Cromwell the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The two had apparently grown close during Katies’ War. With his father’s advancement, Prince Henry deemed Gregory Cromwell worthy of Elizabeth’s hand.
The third marriage was that of Prince Henry Tudor to Lady Mary Howard. It would be Prince Henry’s forth marriage. The two had met at Queen Kathryn’s wedding. Prince Henry was apparently charmed by the Lady and pleased that she would listen to his opinions on religion; Prince Henry always liked it when people listened to him. Lady Mary would officially convert towards the end of November and the two would be married in December.”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
“Lucy Lawless: Here is where Kathryn and Alexander would spend most of their married life, and..
Vanessa Corey: Actually, Kathryn and Alexander would spend very little of their married life together. Shortly after the end of Katies’ War, Alexander began organizing an expedition to what they called the New World. Colonizing the Americas would be Alexander’s great mission in life and it would keep him away from Kathryn’s side for most of their married life.
Lucy Lawless: But, when they were both in England, they would live here?
Vanessa Corey: Alexander would have. Kathryn almost never left court.
{Lucy Lawless is visibly frustrated by this point}
Lucy Lawless: If they weren’t in love and never spend time together, what did they share? Letters?
Vanessa Corey: Neither of them were letter writers. Almost all of their correspondence would be through third parties. In fact, we only have one letter written in Kathryn Tudor’s own hand to Alexander. It was shortly after…”
Selections from the documentary Kathryn Tudor
“Prince Charles Tudor, the new Duke of Calais, would arrive with his younger half-brother Duke John Tudor of Julich-Cleves-Berg, in what is now the State of Rhine in the German State, late in the year of fifteen thirty-nine. Initially, the German lords were opposed the Navarrese prince as regent for Duke John. But, Prince Charles earnest and hard-working nature would win them over.
Prince Charles, the oft forgotten third son of Prince Henry and Queen Catherine of Navarre, flourished in Julich-Cleves-Berg. In Navarre he had been overshadowed by his elder brothers; he had none of King Henri’s magnetism nor had the recently deceased Prince Francis’s charm. But, here in Germany his forthrightness was admired.
Princess Leonora, Prince Charles’s wife, would spend the next several years traveling back and forth between Calais and Julich-Cleves-Berg. Calais would be left almost entirely in her hands, while her husband was immersed in ruling Duke John’s section of Germany.”
A.E. Bell, “The Birth of German State”
“Queen Maria Tudor of Portugal* died late in the year of fifteen forty-one shortly after the wedding of John Emmanuel of Portugal and Caterina Maria de Medici. She left behind her two sons and three daughters and one granddaughter. Her death would hit King John III especially hard; he would retire from court for several years and would never remarry.
This left John Emmanuel and Caterina Maria at court. These years were the proving ground of John Emmanuel and Caterina Maria. They would never share the immortal love of John and Maria, but the two would come to trust and rely on each other greatly.”
Melina Navos, “Caterina, Mother of Iberia”
* Daughter of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, not daughter of Arthur I and Catherine of Aragon
“Elizabeth Hamilton, the only daughter of Margaret Tudor, Queen of Scotland, to survive to adulthood, was a mere thirteen-years old when her elder half-brother, James V died in Ireland. But the strong-minded young lady, with support from her father, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, and her betrothed, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, would emerge as a powerful player in her nephew’s regency.
Though she held no official position, it would be at her urgings that the full might of Scotland would turn toward Ireland to avenge the death of her brother.”
Walter Owens, “Bossy, Bossy Bess”
“The Irish, used the English methods of warfare, were unprepared for the Scottish forces. The Scottish, unlike the English, had a much better understanding of Irish politics and how to manipulate them. In this, the similarities between the Scottish and the Irish served to quicken the war and then ensure the peace.
The English had tried to conquer Ireland for almost four hundred years. It took the Scottish two years.”
Richard Kent, “The Birth of Muir Magi”
“Fifteen forty-three was the birth year of three influential Tudors or Tudor descendants.
The first birth was that of Philip Avis, eldest son of John Emmanuel of Portugal and Caterina Maria. While Philip Avis would die at age at age seventeen, the sheer number of madrigals, hymns, and voice solos ensure that his influence is still felt today. Many believe that Mozart drew inspiration from Philip Avis for his operas.
The official cause of death of Prince Philip Avis would be accidental fall from his horse, many historians now believe the true cause of death was suicide. By several accounts, Prince Philip suffered from the same melancholia that afflicted his great uncle Prince Henry.
The second birth was of Lord Thomas Tudor, son of Prince Henry and his fourth wife Mary Howard. Lord Thomas would hold the singular distinction of being the only Archbishop of Canterbury without a particular church. The preceding Archbishop would be of the Catholic faith and Thomas Tudor’s successor would be an Awakener.
Lord Thomas Tudor would join the ranks of Kathryn Tudor’s Toms and would be numbered among such men as Sir Thomas More, both Thomas Cromwells, and Thomas Crammer. He would serve the crown as Archbishop for over thirty years, and his mediation would serve to quell much of the religious strife between the different churches that had found a home in England.
The last birth was that of Helena Habsburg, daughter of Ferdinand, King of the Romans, and Maria Tudor, Queen Claimant of England. The Lady Helena was widely regarded as the most beautiful women of her time. She would go onto become Queen of France, when her husband’s cousin died unexpectedly.”
Harper Wayne, “Keeping Up with The Tudors, Your Guide to Who’s Who”
“Lady Elizabeth Hamilton would jilt her betrothed, Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox, late in fifteen forty-seven and marry Gerald FitzGerald the 11th Earl of Kildare. Lord Gerald possessed the one quality Lady Elizabeth desired in a husband above all else: obedience.
To appease Lord Matthew, Lady Elizabeth was banished from the Scottish court and would spend much of the next decade in Ireland. This wasn’t really a punishment, for she was still her nephew’s favorite aunt. She served as the voice of her nephew the King while there and was, in many ways, the final authority in all Irish matters.
She would surround herself with several other strong ladies, one of which was Grainne O’Malley, or as she would come to be known by in the history books, Grace O’Malley. The two were within a year of each other and grew quite close.”
Walter Owens, “Bossy, Bossy Beth”
“France experienced much religious upheaval in the fifteen forties due to influence from Navarre and England. While France would never be protestant like Navarre, nor practice religious acceptance like England, France would be more tolerant of awakeners and protestants than the other Catholic nations. Many Catholics blamed this upon Prince Henry, and it must be said, they weren’t wrong.”
Matheo Henrikson, “The 1500’s Was A Crazy Century, and It Was Mostly the Tudors’ Fault”
“Early in the Spring of fifteen forty-five, King Francis II and his wife Isabella of Poland finally had a son. The couple had been married for four years and this would be the first pregnancy to come to term. The dauphin would be named Charles.
Many expected King Francis II to betroth the young Dauphin to his cousin Marie Francoise notwithstanding the age difference; Marie Francoise, Duchess of Brittany, was seven years older. But, King Francis II particularly despised Marie Francoise’s mother, Marie of Portugal, and had no desire to betroth his son to her daughter.
Instead both Scotland and Aragon were contacted about their princesses. King Ferdinand III of Aragon had a two-year old daughter named Juana and King James of Scotland’s youngest sister was three.”
Dr. Marella Howard, “Brittany”
“King Henri III of Navarre would call a Convocation to discuss the religious future of Navarre. For twenty years, Navarre had gone through the process of severing themselves from the Pope, but besides a strong nationalist feeling and a desire to read the Bible, actual doctrine was lacking.
For several months, the different religious leaders debated. Principle among them were John Calvin and William Tyndale. The end result was the Awakened Church of Navarre, the head of which was God. That point they very strongly insisted. The Lord’s spokesperson on earth would be titled Deacon due to the Greek meaning of messenger.
The Awakened Church of Navarre still shared many rituals with the Catholic church and some Lutheran ideas, but for the most part was founded on John Calvin’s theories and the preeminence of the Bible. This last point would spark a culture of religious lawyers, for if you could find it in the Bible you could argue that you were allowed to do it.
It is commonly believed that the line, ‘Anytime someone asks, what would Jesus do? Remember whipping people and over turning tables is an option’ originally came from Navarre.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
“The first Deacon of Navarre was Andoni Eneko, an elderly man who at one point had been an abbot. He set the standard for the humbleness of the station, for he would continue to reside in the small former abbey he had once governed and refused all opulent ornamentations offered.
All Navarrese Deacons after Deacon Andoni would dress and live simply, following his example.”
Samso Subiri, “Deacon Andoni”
“King Henri III would arrange the marriage of his heir, Prince Henri, to Christina Oldenburg who had was the daughter of the deposed King of Denmark, sometime in fifteen thirty. The wedding would be delayed due to Katies’ War. The couple would go on to have one of the most tumultuous relationships of the century: sometimes they would be particularly close, lavishing attention and affection upon each other to the discomfort of those around them; other times they would rage and fight, often in public also to the discomfort of those around them; and still other times one would be angry with the other who was trying to regain their affection, often with grand public gestures this really discomfortedd people.
The first marital fight would be about religion, for King Henri and his son expected Princess Christina to convert to the newly formed Awakened Church of Navarre. She initially refused. We know from her journal that she actually came to believe in the awakened principles as early as three months after the marriage, but she held out from sheer stubbornness and wouldn’t convert until the birth of their son, named Antoine in honor of Deacon Andoni, some three years later”
Ephraim Pollock, “Henry and Christina, They May Have Tried to Kill Each Other”
“The marriage of Prince Henry, Duke of York, and Lady Mary Howard only lasted about three years. The conflict seems to have arisen when Prince Henry discovered that Lady Mary had no particular religious feelings; she had not truly converted to the Awakened faith.
This appears to have triggered one of Prince Henry’s melancholic episodes. This episode was punctuated by load outbursts where he and the Lady Mary raged at each other. After several months, Lady Mary would renounce her conversion and retire to a nunnery.
This loud religious disagreement between two prominent people appears to have upset the current delicate religious balance in England, so it was suggested to Prince Henry that he might want to visit his son Duke John of Julich-Cleves-Berg. Prince Henry would take the hint. In a rather large spectacle at court, he would announce that he had been too long away from his children (ignoring that half of them were in England) and must leave England. He would also resign as Lord Chancellor at this point.
In the wake of Prince Henry’s absence, Sir Thomas More was selected to fill the office of Lord Chancellor. To counter act this appointment, Thomas Cromwell was promoted to Lord High Treasurer.”
Melantha Jones, “Religious Acceptance in Renaissance England”
“One of the more significant historical fallacies from the 1500s is the merging of Protestants and Awakeners. The two movements are actually separate. The later refers to a specific group and ideology that spawned the Awakened Church and its fourteen official branches. The Protestants refers to all those that disagreed with the preeminence of the Catholic Church. The amalgamation of these two movements come from the fact that the Awakeners were definitely the loudest group (this was mostly due to Prince Henry Tudor) though not the largest.
Additionally, several prominent Protestants would use the the ideology of awakening to describe their own religious experiences. As such it is appropriate to refer to both of the movements as the Awakening.”
Lise Marie Peters, “The Awakening of Europe”
“Prince Henry first heard of Princess Renée’s heresy trial while visiting his son Duke John Tudor. Having recently gotten divorced due to his ex-wife’s false conversion, hearing of a woman who was standing by her principles must have inspired him. For, instead of returning to Navarre at the end of his visit, Prince Henry traveled to Ferrara.
There Prince Henry, in what has been immortalized in three movies, two plays, and sundry books, staged a prison break. Acting with the assistance of his old friend Cesare Borgia [1], Prince Henry would spirit Princess Renée and her children out of the country.
Upon reaching Navarre, Prince Henry and Princess Renée were married.”
Isaac Laab, “Henry Tudor, Heretic and Father of Kings”
[1] No one quite knows why Cesare Borgia assisted Prince Henry. The best guess is that the ensuing upheaval was beneficial in some way, or at least amusing.
“Rumors have circulated throughout history on how Prince Henry rescued Princess Renée and her children. Popular ones include that the small group swung from rooftop to rooftop, that Prince Henry and Princess Renée dressed as old women to escape, and that Cesare Borgia would hold off pursuers single handedly to allow them to escape before succumbing. This last one is completely false, for his bones were recently examined and the causes of death is definitively old age.”
William Richards, “Italy and the Awakening”
“The whole of Ferrara is in uproar. I have always thought that Prince Henry’s reputation had outgrown the man, but I must say now that I do not think the tales have grown loud enough. “
Letter from Italian nobleman to his father
“It wasn’t until the late fifteen-forties that the general population of England began to realize that an heir wasn’t forthcoming. Queen Kathryn and King Alexander had been married for over seven years, and not once had a pregnancy been announced. The first view years had been excused due to King Alexander’s absence from court, but over time there had been periods where the two resided together and nary a pregnancy.
It is now believed that continued prolonged periods of separation between Queen Kathryn and King Alexander were used to conceal Queen Kathryn’s fertility issues. It gave an official reason for the lack of an heir.”
Vanessa Corey, “Glorianna”
“King Henri III of Navarre, by some accounts second in line to the English throne behind his father Prince Henry, officially excepted himself from English succession to preclude a union between Navarre and England late in the year 1547. It is believed that this was the first step in naming another heir. The possibilities for another heir were endlessly debated and we still don’t know who Kathryn might have named.
Some argued that Maria Tudor should be welcomed back to England as the heir of Queen Kathryn, or that one of her sons should be sent to be named Prince of Wales. Others argued that Prince Henry was the only option as a successor, but as he was Queen Kathryn’s grandfather not many expected him to outlive the Queen. Still others suggested Prince Charles, Prince Henry’s second eldest surviving son, or one of his daughters. As surprisingly popular suggestion was Countess Elizabeth’s eldest son Gregory Cromwell.
Young Lord Gregory had the benefit of being younger than the Queen, which Prince Henry and Prince Charles did were not, as well as definitively English, which Maria Tudor’s sons and Prince Charles’s daughters were not.”
Paisley Jones, “The Balancing Beam, The Early Years of Queen Kathryn’s Reign”
“Do to the dissolution of Spain, the ownership of the Spanish colonies was disputed through much of the first half of the 1500s. Both Castile and Aragon claimed title of the land in the Americas. King Alexander I would take advantage of this sometime in 1540s.
Using the uninhabited islands called the Bahamas [1] as a launching place, the English forces would slowly begin to take over many of the Spanish colonies in what is now Glorianna Domains using a combination of intimidation, force, and bribery. Many of the colonies had been without support for several years due to the war between Aragon and Castile and as such weren’t particularly inclined to put up a fight.
By 1549 the English has control of….”
Lise Marie Peters, “Early Glorianna”
[1] The Spanish had abandoned the Bahamas after they sold the entire population of the native people as slaves.
“The earliest accounts of English settlers heading west occurred in fifteen forty-two, but these settlers were heading to the unoccupied Bahamas. Because of the sandy soil, there was minimum farming done which left the lush forests untouched. The little farming that was done occurred on the island of New Providence. Instead the colonists depended on the sea for their substance.”
Oliver Kent, “Mother Sea, The Marine Living of the Early English Colonists”
“It is unclear when Alexander Stewart first began the seizure of the Spanish colonies; he kept the information flow east under tight control. But eventually the news reached Europe where King Charles of Castile took it rather personally considering those colonies were among those ceded to Aragon in the peace treaty.
What’s more, Queen Kathryn had been in contact with King Ferdinand of Aragon and had purchased the colonies, retroactively authorizing the English seizures of the colonies. King Ferdinand had few other options then to allow the English possession, due to the long war with Castile he no longer had the resources to retake the colonies. In all probability, King Charles knew of Aragon’s current condition and had planned to take the colonies for Castile.”
Tammie Waltherson, “Ramp Up to the Second Succession War”