There and Back Again: The English Journeys of Catherine of Aragon
- Thread starter Awkwardvulture
- Start date
A sad day indeed, but at least here she dies knowing her youngest daughter is safe and back home. Thank you!
Isabella was dying anyway. It was independent of Catherine's return, but she died happier.
Oh yes I agree, but I decided that her return would lessen her stress a little bit so she could hold for one more day...
And now the fun begins with the sucession. I can see Catherine raising baby Ferdinand as well.
It certainly be a bit messy, with Catalina feeling torn over whether to lend her support to Juana or her father... Yes she certainly will be a sort of surrogate mother to little Ferdinand and will play a key role in his life...
Like seeing him crowned king of Spain and married to Isabella of Portugal, no? 😈
Chapter 5, May 1505
May 1505, Royal Palace of Alhambra
Catalina took a small sip of Amontillado wine, smiling to herself as the wine left a dry and slightly nutty aftertaste. Though the wine provided some relief from the scorching midday sun, she set the crystal goblet back onto the small table to the side of her chair, “God would want me to be temperate,”
She looked forward to the reflecting pool and laughed as she saw two sparrows happily fluttering over it, clearly a male and a female courting. She felt truly happy for the first time in the better part of a year, for it was here that she came to terms with her mother’s passing. Suddenly her reverie was interrupted by her father’s voice,”I see you are enjoying yourself Catalina.”
Catalina rose from her seat, and looked to her father slightly nervous,”Yes I am, was there something that you needed me to do?”
The King of Aragon shook his head,”No Hija, you’ve done enough with overseeing order here in Andalusia. Would you walk with me?”
The Infanta nodded,”Of course father.”
Her father took the lead and started walking onto the tile separating the reflecting pool from the hedgerow, and as she followed him she looked at the shimmering pool with curiosity,”I’ve heard that the Moors of old would drown their rivals here, it is ironic that such a beautiful thing has been used to inflict such suffering.”
After walking in companionable silence for a moment, her father stopped and turned in her direction giving her a smile, looking youthful despite his years,”I have received pleasant news from the Cortes of Castile.”
Catalina also stopped, steadying herself to avoid falling into the water,”News of what father?”
Her father’s voice took a darker turn,”They have agreed that Juana’s illness is such that she cannot govern and that I shall rule in her stead as regent and I have been appointed as her guardian.”
She rose an eyebrow at this,”I did not know her mind was in such a state.”
“It is severe indeed, they say that in a jealous rage she shorn the hair of one of Phillip’s mistresses.”
Catalina gasped a little,”Oh my, it is still unfair that the Burgundian treats her so.”
King Ferdinand nodded,”Which is why I will never allow him to rule here hija. I cannot imagine the ruin he would bring to this kingdom.”
Catalina felt suddenly worried,”What if Phillip attempts to force his rule upon Castile by force?”
Her father chuckled a little, pompously bringing his hands to his hips,”We would stop him, the men of this land have beaten back the Moor, the Burgundian brat would scarcely be able to put up a semblance of a fight.”
Catalina still felt uneasy at the prospect of war with her brother-in-law, but kept her thoughts to herself,”I will pray that he does not challenge you then, widowhood would not suit Juana.”
The King, grimly responded,“No it would not, but if striking Phillip down was what was required to save Juana and this kingdom I would do so without hesitation.”
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It certainly will, I for one am of the opinion that Phillip's illness was actually poisoning.... Thank you very much!
I also considering better the situation and considering who for me Ferdinand had ordered to kill for less immediate dangers both Francis Phoebus of Navarre and Alfonso of Portugal, I am starting to believe who he was also responsible of Philip’s death...
I agree with your assessment, all three died in a time and manner that was all too convient for Ferdinand. Thank you for your input!
I hope Ferdinand's ambitions does not backfire on him. The Castilians could be crouchy.
Well if he do not remarry and do not try to take power over Juana, but demonstrate to wanting protect Castile from the Burgundian “invasion” and Philip’s interferences, is likely things will go much differently from OTL.
He may still commit a certain faux-pas that would be unforgivable to the Cortes of Castile, but I'll say no more than that.... Thank you so much!
Chapter 6, September 1505
St Paul’s Cathedral, September 1505
Many people were gathered in the Abbey, and even as rain pelted the roof of the building they seemed to be in good spirits, for it was not everyday that a new woman arrives to become Queen of England. That woman was Giovanna of Naples, niece of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, and she herself was inordinately pleased with the situation, for it was the grandest thing she had ever seen in her life. As her chief Spanish maid of honor, Antonia de Cardona(1) carried the train of her sumptuous white satin wedding dress she thought to herself,”The only reason why I am here is death. That of the previous Queen and my cousin’s husband, the Prince of Wales. I know this marriage is a matter of politics, it allows my Uncle to renew his alliance with England, but despite this, I vow I will do all I can to make King Henry happy.”
Among those in attendance, was her mother, Juana of Aragon, who shared the title of Dowager Queen of Naples with her daughter, and played a role in arranging the marriage, by mediating the bickering over her daughter’s dowry, for which she was rewarded with the position of resident ambassador to England. She smiled warmly as her new stepson, Henry, Prince of Wales dutifully took her hand, and the two walked in synch as he escorted her to the alter. Before they could reach her husband, Giovanna gave her stepson a sympathetic look,”I am sorry for your loss Prince Henry, my father died when I was young, so I know how devastating the loss of a parent can be.”
The Prince of Wales looked down to Giovanna, for though he was only fourteen he was a great deal taller than his stepmother, and though he tried to conceal it, he looked touched,”Thank you Lady Stepmother, you are most kind, now we mustn’t delay, my father won’t like to be kept waiting much longer.”
Giovanna gave a simply reply,”Of course.”
Soon enough they reached the reached the dais, where some attendants and several bishops stood, and it was here that Giovanna laid eyes upon her husband for the first time. “The portrait my uncle showed me was not at all accurate.”
It was true, the man who stood before her looked less healthy than he did in the portrait, King Henry’s dark hair was now streaked with grey, and his face was marred from lines caused by a stressful life. As for his body, he was very slim, and likely weighed less than his would-be wife. Giovanna however refused to think ill of the man,”I am far from perfect myself, perhaps I can nurse him back to health.”
She beamed at the King and curtseyed,”It is a pleasure to meet you King Henry.”
King Henry gave her the slightest smile,”The pleasure is mine Queen Giovanna, you are very pretty.”
Giovanna blushed at this, for she did not think she fit into the English view of beauty, her hair was black, like her maternal uncle's, while her skin, though far from dark was certainly not pale, and in spite of never having children she was also fairly plump. Still, knowing it would rude not to respond in kind Giovanna gave Henry a winning smile,”Thank you, your majesty, you are most charming.”
She could tell that the King was resisting the urge to laugh at the compliment, instead he looked to the Archbishop of Canterbury, distinguished from the other priests through the sumptuous white-gold habit that he wore and the king gave a curt order,”Proceed with the vows Warham.”
The Archbishop nodded, and turned to Giovanna,”Do you, Giovanna of Naples agree to wed this man, his most august majesty, Henry Tudor, Seventh of his name to rule England?”
Giovanna nodded with solemnity,”I will take thee to wed.”
Archbishop Warham then turned to his right, towards the King,”Do you, Henry the Seventh of England agree to wed this woman, Giovanna, Dowager Queen of Naples?”
The King nodded, showing no emotion,”I will take thee to wed.”
“By the power invested in me by God and his Holiness, Pope Julius the Second, I pronounce you husband and wife.”
Shortly after this announcement, Giovanna was surprised by a quick kiss on the lips, it seemed that her husband truly thought she was beautiful, and she wistfully thought,”The King is more enthused then I would have expected, perhaps we will soon be blessed with a Duke of Somerset...”
(1) ATL cousin of Fernando Ramon Folch, 2nd Duke of Cardona as Maria de Salinas is still serving Catalina
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Very good! Hopefully Henry and Giovanna will be happy together. Although, one little thing to note, Giovanna was actually described as being fair haired...Henry was partially so interested in her because she reportedly looked like Elizabeth of York 😳
Thank you very much, they will likely be fairly happy. Thank you for bringing that to my correction, I was kind of lazy and assumed that she would have the same hair color as her maternal uncle, though I know Henry explicitly asked about her breasts(Way to be subtle..) I'll correct that, does dark blonde hair sound good for Giovanna?