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Catherine of Aragon Facts & Worksheets

Catherine of Aragon was King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain's daughter. She was the first wife of England's King Henry VIII.

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Catherine of Aragon was King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain’s daughter. The Church of England and the Catholic Church separated due to the Pope’s refusal to grant King Henry VIII an annulment to Catherine so that he could remarry. In 1536, Catherine passed away in England. Mary Tudor, her only surviving child, acceded to the throne in 1553.

See the fact file below for more information on Catherine of Aragon, or you can download our 27-page Catherine of Aragon worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

EARLY LIFE AND MARRIAGE

  • Catherine, the youngest child of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile, was raised to be a politician after her birth in 1485. 
  • The young princess was educated to the highest standards, studying philosophy, needlework, Latin, and French. 
  • In 1501, she married Prince Arthur, the heir apparent to the English throne and son of Henry VII.
  • Unfortunately, Arthur passed away in 1502 after only a year, leaving Catherine, then only sixteen, a widow.
  • Catherine married Henry VIII in 1509 following a dispute between Spain and England over her dowry, during which Catherine became the first female envoy in the annals of European history. 
  • Young King Henry had lofty aspirations and the education and intelligence to support them; together, they were the epitome of a Renaissance marriage.
  • Catherine presided over England as regent from 1512 to 1514 when Henry was engaged in military operations in France, just three years after their marriage. 
  • A group of 11,000 men rode from London to Dover behind Henry and a pregnant Catherine. At Dover Castle, before leaving, Henry formally inaugurated Catherine as regent and appointed Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, and William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury, as her counselors.
  • The Scots were preparing an assault on England by July 1513, perhaps believing they could easily overcome England with Henry away in France. 
  • The 80,000-man army of Scottish King James IV crossed the border into England on August 22, 1513, giving Catherine her first significant duty as regent. 
  • That year, in September, Catherine traveled to the north and addressed the troops in a stirring speech, encouraging them to fight for England’s good cause against the Scots. 
  • It was a strong indication of Catherine‘s political influence and strength. However, there were no further conflicts after the English defeated the Scots on September 9 in the Battle of Flodden, a particularly terrible battle in which 10,000 Scottish troops and their King, James IV, died.
  • The Scottish banner and coat of King James IV, who had died, were presented to the Queen as prizes following the fight by her advisor, the Earl of Surrey, who had secured the victory.
  • Unfortunately, Catherine was worn out after participating in the Battle of Flodden, which led to the early birth of her son, who would soon die.
  • It is a credit to her character and diplomatic abilities that she would play a significant role in the peace and reconciliation between the two countries at the Field of Cloth of Gold in 1520, having first advised Henry VIII against allying with Francis I. 
  • Catherine used her position as Queen and her experience as a diplomat to good use through hosting dignitaries, dances, and theatrical performances, as well as personally receiving the French King Francis I in the French camp for a sumptuous supper. 
  • She also shared the stage with the French Queen Claude de France to symbolize the newly formed alliance between the two monarchies.
  • Catherine showed her political expertise and diplomatic prowess even before the meeting started. They threw a feast for Charles V, the new Holy Roman Emperor, Catherine‘s nephew when the Royal entourage paused at Canterbury en route. Charles V was a significant figure in European affairs. 
  • She used her abilities as a hostess once more, but this gathering would ultimately lead to conflict between Francis I and Henry VIII.
  • Unfortunately, as with most medieval queens, their accomplishments, talents, and political prowess are frequently disregarded. The success of women is often determined by their capacity to procreate, produce heirs, spares for the king, and thus ensure the continuation of their dynasty. 
  • Six children were born to Catherine, but only one of them—the future Mary Tudor—lived to maturity. 
  • Henry VIII’s desire for a divorce was sparked by his difficulty with only having a daughter.
  • He believed his marriage to Catherine was invalid because of her prior union with his brother, and the king petitioned Pope Clement VII for a divorce in 1527. 
  • Catherine proved her marriage to Arthur was never consummated, thus, the annulment was invalid in the eyes of the Catholic Church.
  • Given that Catherine‘s nephew was the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, Pope Clement VII was hesitant to terminate her marriage to avoid upsetting him. 
  • However, Henry’s desire to wed a different woman ultimately resulted in the breakaway of the English church from Rome. 
  • Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, officiated at Henry’s secret marriage to Anne Boleyn in 1533.

FAMILY BACKGROUND

  • Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon had a fifth child, Catherine of Aragon. Her birthplace was Alcalá de Henares.
  • The grandmother of Catherine’s mother,
  • Catherine of Lancaster, the daughter of Constance of Castile, and the second wife of John of Gaunt, a descendant of Edward III of England, was most likely the inspiration for the name Catherine. 
  • Catherine of Lancaster, a child of Constance and John, wed Henry III of Castile and bore John II of Castile, Isabella’s father. 
  • Peter (Pedro) of Castile, sometimes known as Peter the Cruel, was deposed by his brother Henry (Enrique) II. Constance of Castile was his daughter. 
  • John of Gaunt attempted to usurp the throne of Castile by claiming that his wife Constance was a direct descendant of Peter.
  • Ferdinand, Catherine’s father, was the great-grandson of Philippa of Lancaster, Blanche of Lancaster’s first husband, and the mother of John of Gaunt. 
  • Henry IV of England was Philippa’s brother. Consequently, Catherine of Aragon possessed a sizable amount of English royal ancestry.
  • Her parents were also members of the House of Trastámara, an Iberian peninsula dynasty that ruled from 1369 to 1516. 
  • The dynasty descended from King Henry (Enrique) II of Castile, who was ousted by his brother Peter in 1369 as part of the War of the Spanish Succession. 
  • This Peter was the father of Isabella’s grandmother Constance of Castile, whom Henry John of Gaunt attempted to overthrow.

LATER YEARS AND DEATH

  • The king tried multiple times to compel Catherine to accept the annulment, including isolating her from their daughter Mary. On the other hand, Catherine never recognized the legality of her annulment or Henry’s second marriage. 
  • It had ramifications for Mary’s future. Their daughter had previously been considered England’s only heir to the throne.
  • Although Mary was illegitimate soon after Anne Boleyn gave birth to their first daughter, Elizabeth, Elizabeth became the new successor to the crown.
  • Catherine still viewed herself as Queen of England, so when Anne Boleyn appealed for her crown and treasures, she refused. 
  • On Henry’s instructions, Catherine was kept apart from her daughter until her death at 50. 
  • Catherine died in 1536 at Kimbolton Castle in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, England, and is buried at Peterborough Cathedral.

FUN FACTS

  • Most people forget that Catherine and Henry were married for 24 years, much of it happily. However, she is primarily recognized for failing to bear a male heir for the Tudor dynasty. 
  • In 1513, Catherine served as regent with Governor of the Realm and Captain General titles while Henry waged war in France. 
  • Catherine was well-educated, well-liked by her subjects, and talented in her job as Queen.
  • Catherine of Aragon was a legitimate claimant to the English crown. She was descended from John of Gaunt through two valid lines, one of which was through Blanche of Lancaster, making her a ‘genuine Lancastrian.’ She was King Henry VII’s third cousin.
  • Henry VII acceded to the throne through the Beaufort line of the House of Lancaster. The problem is that the Beaufort line was initially illegitimate. 
  • By marrying his mistress Catherine Swynford, Edward III’s son, John of Gaunt, legitimized the Beaufort dynasty by royal and papal proclamation. The Beaufort family, however, could never inherit the English crown.
  • Catherine had red hair. 
  • The pomegranate is Catherine’s emblem. 
  • She insisted on being called “Queen” even after her divorce.
  • Later wives of Henry were coincidentally named Catherine. 
  • On the day of Catherine’s funeral, a strange coincidence happened, Anne Boleyn miscarried a male heir.

Catherine of Aragon Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Catherine of Aragon across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Catherine of Aragon. Catherine of Aragon was King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain’s daughter.

Catherine of Aragon Worksheets
Catherine of Aragon Worksheets
Catherine of Aragon Worksheets

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Catherine of Aragon Facts
  2. Queen Catherine
  3. Just Like Me
  4. The Union of Spain and England
  5. The Catherines
  6. The Spanish Princess
  7. The Heirs
  8. The Dowry Dispute
  9. Battle of Flodden
  10. The Last Letter
  11. Breaking News!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Catherine of Aragon and why is she famous?

Catherine of Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. She was born in 1485 in Spain and was the daughter of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II. Catherine is famous for her tumultuous marriage to Henry VIII, which ultimately ended in divorce and set in motion the English Reformation.

What was Catherine of Aragon’s role in the English Reformation?

Catherine of Aragon’s role in the English Reformation was significant. When Henry VIII sought to annul their marriage in order to marry Anne Boleyn, Catherine refused to consent to the annulment and appealed to the Pope. This led to a split between Henry VIII and the Catholic Church, which eventually led to the establishment of the Church of England.

Did Catherine of Aragon have any children with Henry VIII?

Catherine of Aragon had several pregnancies during her marriage to Henry VIII, but only one of her children survived infancy – a daughter named Mary, who later became Queen Mary I of England.

What happened to Catherine of Aragon after her divorce from Henry VIII?

After her divorce from Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon was banished from court and lived in various castles throughout England. She was eventually moved to Kimbolton Castle, where she died in 1536 at the age of 50.

How is Catherine of Aragon remembered today?

Catherine of Aragon is remembered today as a brave and dignified woman who stood up for her beliefs and her rights. She is also remembered as a key figure in the English Reformation and as the mother of Queen Mary I, who was the first queen to rule England in her own right.

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