Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon (1485–1536) was queen of England as Henry VIII’s first wife from 1509 until their marriage was annulled in 1533. Her refusal to accept the annulment helped trigger England’s break with the papacy.

Ferdinand II of Aragon: King of Aragon from 1479 to 1516, he ruled jointly with Isabella I over much of Spain. Catherine was his youngest daughter, born into the dynasty that sought an English alliance.
Annulment of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon’s marriage: The legal and ecclesiastical process that ended Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine in 1533. Catherine contested the case, insisting the marriage was valid and Rome alone could judge it.
Henry VIII: King of England from 1509 to 1547, known for his six marriages and the English Reformation. His pursuit of an annulment ended their marriage and reshaped England’s religious government.
English Reformation: The series of political and religious changes that established the Church of England apart from papal authority. The annulment conflict helped Henry VIII justify breaking with Rome.
The Spanish Armada: The Spanish fleet sent against England in 1588 during the Anglo-Spanish War. Later English memory often contrasted Catherine’s Spanish birth with her loyalty to England.
Isabella I of Castile: Queen of Castile from 1474 to 1504, she helped unite the Spanish crowns with Ferdinand II of Aragon. Catherine’s mother arranged her dynastic marriage to Arthur, Prince of Wales.
Leviticus 20:21: A biblical verse forbidding a man to marry his brother’s wife. Henry’s case for annulment relied on this prohibition, which Catherine disputed as inapplicable.
Mary I of England: Queen of England from 1553 to 1558 and the only surviving child of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Catherine defended Mary’s legitimacy and her status as Henry’s heir.
Church of England: The established Christian church in England, formed through the English Reformation. Its royal supremacy emerged from the break with Rome during Catherine’s marriage dispute.
The Tudors: The English royal dynasty that ruled from 1485 to 1603. Catherine’s marriage and the succession crisis became central episodes in Tudor history.

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