There and Back Again: The English Journeys of Catherine of Aragon
- Thread starter Awkwardvulture
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I think it certainly a good match for the both of them, and Eleanor will be able to carve out a decent life for herself in England. Thank you very much!
Yes, she being younger than him and not used to Catherine’s intense religious practices will likely be able to give him the needed heirs fast and without big troubles. Plus Eleanor was the match who Henry VII wanted for Henry VIII, not Catherine
Oh yes, she will give him plenty of children(especially given the records of her mother and aunt Maria), though they will have some issues, with well, Henry being Henry... Still, the marriage will be happier than both of their OTL marriages. I can definitely see the relationship between father and son being a bit better with Henry VIII going along with his father's plans. Also, Giovanna will have a calming effect on the family, especially as she is essentially a surrogate mother to Mary and Catherine, and will have some influence on Henry VIII during his reign as well. Thank you!
Chapter 10, August 1506
Greenwich Palace, Kingdom of England, August 1506
A woman’s shriek echoed through the halls of the palace, a sign of what was to come. Said shriek emanated from a dimly lit room, The reason for such commotion was evident by the dozen women surrounding the bed, eight midwives, and four ladies. Those ladies surrounded their queen, trying their best to soothe her. “Push daughter, push.” The Dowager Queen of Naples urged again, her face ashen with worry for her only living child. Giovanna did so, though not before snapping,”Really mother? I thought it would be a good idea to lay here and bleed to death.”
Were it not for the gravity of the situation Giovanna suspected that some of her ladies would have laughed, instead, they merely continued with their duties, as if the outburst did not occur
Her foremost Spanish lady, Antonia de Cardona clutched her rosary,”Lord God, please spare her majesty, she is a good, godly woman, and her babe has committed no sin.”
Despite her discomfort, Giovanna knew what she had to do, and pushed again. Elizabeth Howard offered her a hand, which she took with a squeeze,”Thank you, Lady Howard, should I live through this I promise you that your daughters will one day have a place amongst my ladies.”
The other woman blushed,”I am honored milady, though my concern is only for your survival.”
…
In the end the birth took six hours, leaving Queen Giovanna exhausted, sweaty and with matted hair. Still, as she held her son in her arms, she smiled at the quiet babe, who had fallen asleep after she had feed him with her own breast and thought,”This has all been worth it, my son, your father will be happy to see that we are both safe.”
Ironically enough, there was soon a knock on the door, and one of her ladies asked,”Who is it? Her majesty is exhausted and is in little condition to receive visitors.”
As the door swung open a familiar, cheerful voice responded,”I am sure she will make an exception for her king.”
The ladies in attendance bowed as King Henry gracefully made his way towards his wife’s bed. He had gained weight, though not in a bad way, while still thin, he was not frightfully so. He bent down to his wife, and gave her a kiss on the lips,”I am so happy that you are well Giovanna, have you decided on a name for our son?”
Giovanna shook her head, she was so exhausted that she had not thought of it,”You pick, I’m sure it will be a good one.”
“Very well then, what about John? It’s a common name in this land, as well as that of your late cousin. I trust your uncle would be pleased by that?”
She smiled weakly,”Yes he will be. I have a request...”
The King smiled,”Anything my love.”
Giovanna continued,”Would you make the Lady Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Boleyn, as his godparents? She has served me well, and I am sure her father, The Duke of Norfolk will be pleased as well.”
Henry nodded,”Of course my dear.”
Soon little John woke up, initially fussy but once transferred to his father’s arms was soothed, and his mother grinned,”He has your eyes, as blue as the Mediterranean.”
The King chuckled,”Let us hope that he has your disposition darling.”
And with that, the day would end, and the news of the Duke of Somerset's birth would bring joy to the people of England, who would sing the praises of their Queen, who, in so short a time, had endeared herself to her people.
John was also the name of Henry’s Beaufort grandfather...a very appropriate choice.
Not really as we had a lot of princes called John (and this boy is not a future King). Simply no other John ended on the English throne (among the various princes (sons of a King) called John we have Gaunt and Bedford so the name is pretty fitting)
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Quite correct. This one is a younger son. And, as you quite correctly pointed out, when John was used, it was a younger son. I am just thinking, given how recent and tenuous the Tudor claim is, I am surprised at the choice.
I nearly forgot, thank you for mentioning.. I'm sure Margaret Beaufort will be pleased, who also has a good relationship with Giovanna.
Thank you so much!
I agree that it is certainly fitting given Gaunt and Bedford, this will be a boy who has the potential to become one of the realm's foremost lords.. Thank you very much!
I honestly wasn't sure what name to use for an older son of Henry and Giovanna, so I picked John given that it was used for several younger sons, as well as to show Henry's ancestry through John of Gaunt.. Thank you so much!
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I....I must have missed something. Which Duke of Bedford is Henrry descended from?
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Yes, I must have mistyped, I was reading something about Bedford at the time... Thank you..
Chapter 11, September 1506
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, Kingdom of Castile, September 1506
The room was quiet, the tension in the room evident as they cut their food. The King of Aragon brought a date to his mouth, chewing it quickly. After he swallowed the fruit he grunted,”Do you know why I meet you here, Phillip?”
The other man sat stony-faced, drinking what was left of wine slowly. As he sat it down and he replied,”Something regarding the succession of these Kingdoms?”
The older man smiled,”Yes. I have come to inform you that should my marriage with Germaine produce no sons, that you and your wife shall be my heirs in Aragon. I’ve realized that peace will be best.”
The King of Castile narrowed his eyes,”You would give up your kingdom to me?”
“Yes, I understand your doubts, but a war with you and your father would devastate Aragon, and you are the most logical heir. Besides, Castile and Aragon were meant to be united, and that will happen once I pass.”
Catalina sat at her own seat, silent. She was, after all the only other person at the table, and had come despite her disdain for Phillip of Burgundy. As her father had told her during the ride to Córdoba,”You will act with false humility towards him, it will appease his ego, and he will suspect nothing.”
He had told her nothing more than that, she suspected that her father merely wished to manipulate Phillip. Thus, she was the very image of politeness to the brother-in-law whom she loathed. As there was a lull in the conversation, Catalina asked a question of Phillip,”How has my nephew Charles fared before your journey to Castile?”
Phillip beamed at the mention of his eldest son,”He is a very clever boy, inquisitive too. He will make a fine Emperor one day.”
Catalina smiled at this,”Of that, I have no doubt.”
Her father grinned and stood from his chair,”I propose a toast then, to my grandson Charles, who will one day be the greatest Prince of Christendom.”
The King of Castile nodded,”Yes, but we seem to be out of wine, though the Infanta drinks little. I suspect she cannot keep the same pace as us men.”
Catalina was livid at the last line, but hid it, instead imagining the man before her being run through with a sword, bringing a sly smile to her face,”Of course brother, it would not be proper for an Infanta to drink as much as her father, one of the greatest kings this world has ever known.”
As she sipped her own wine, her father took a recently obtained pitcher and refilled his goblet, as well as Phillip’s. After his father-in-law seated himself, Phillip lifted his goblet,”To my son Charles, who will be the greatest Emperor this world will ever see.”
Her father brought his goblet to Phillip’s and after this drank a bit of his wine, while Phillip indulged much more vigorously. As both men put their drinks down, a man burst through the door. His ruffled hair suggested an air of urgency, and he panted,”My apologies your majesties, but there is a revolt in Valencia, and the Cortes worry that the discontent could spread across Aragon.”
The King of Aragon stood from his seat, panic on his face,”I am sorry Phillip, but we must leave to put down this rebellion. I hope that Valencia will be less troublesome when you take the reins of power.”
The King of Castile gave no response other than a nod as Ferdinand and Catalina made their exit from the room.
…
It had been minutes since their departure from the palace, Ferdinand and Catalina were silent as they were slowly riding side by side through the dusty roads outside of Córdoba. Suddenly, King Ferdinand stopped his horse and leaned to his right side, retching, and some vomit fell to the ground. Catalina was alarmed by this, and swiftly stopped her mount,”Are you alright father?”
Her father steadied himself,”Yes, though I suspect my son-in-law is fares worse than I.”
Catalina’s jaw dropped,”You were poisoned? But who would want to kill the both of you?”
Ferdinand smirked at this,”I only intend to kill Phillip, I knew he would drink more than I, and that he would believe that there is a rebellion in Valencia.”
The Infanta felt a chill run down her spine,”So there is no rebellion in Valencia?”
Ferdinand nodded“That is right, and soon that Burgundian peacock will no longer be King of Castile.”
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A bold, clever, but possibly stupid move by Ferdinand, drinking the same poisoned wine as Philip. The jerk would never suspect anything though as long as they were drinking from the same bottle.
Oh yes, Ferdinand makes Richard Nixon look honest... Bold and clever do seem to be the two words that fit both this Ferdinand and OTL Ferdinand the most... All that I will say about the result is that Ferdinand took a very calculated risk in poisoning himself and Phillip. Thank you for your insight!