Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Born on 15 December 1485; died on 7 January 1536. Fourth daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Sister-in-law of King Henry VIII of England, being married to his brother Arthur. Widowed. First wife of Henry VIII. After 18 years of marriage and five children, Henry divorced her on the basis that as she had been his brother’s wife, it was not lawful for them to marry. After the divorce she remained in England and led an austere religious life. The Pope refused to sanction the divorce, which led to England’s split with the Church of Rome, and all the misery that followed therefrom.