A Little Bit of Her-Story
A Little Bit of Her-Story
CATHERINE OF ARAGON
Birth and death: December 15, 1485–January 7, 1536
Marriage: 1st to Arthur (Henry’s older brother) November 14, 1501 (aged 15)
2nd to Henry: June 11, 1509 (aged 23)
Children: Mary, born February 18, 1516 (later Queen Mary I); 3 stillborn children; 2 died as babies; further miscarriages
Interests: Religion, sewing, dancing, a bit more religion
Cause of death: Probably a type of cancer
Remembered for: Her refusal to accept that her marriage was invalid; her faith; her dramatic speech to Henry at the court to judge the annulment of their marriage
Did you know? Catherine was Regent (while Henry fought in France in 1513) during the Battle of Flodden; when James IV of Scotland was killed in the battle she wanted to send his body to Henry as a present.
Queenspiration: Beyoncé and Shakira
ANNE BOLEYN
Birth and death: Probably 1501–May 19, 1536
Marriage: January 25, 1533 (aged 31)
Children: Elizabeth, born September 7, 1533 (later Queen Elizabeth I); at least two miscarriages
Interests: Fashion, dancing, flirtation, collecting evangelical works
Queen Links: Lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon
Cause of death: Executed on Tower Green, London
Remembered for: Headlessness; bringing about the break with the Pope; having a sixth finger
Did you know? Anne was fluent in French and would have acted as a translator during the visit of Emperor Charles V to court in 1522.
Queenspiration: Lily Allen and Avril Lavigne
JANE SEYMOUR
Birth and death: 1507 or 1508–October 24, 1537
Marriage: May 30, 1536 (aged 28 or 29)
Children: Edward, born October 12, 1537 (later King Edward VI)
Interests: Religious faith, obedience
Queen Links: Lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn
Cause of death: Hemorrhage after birth of Prince Edward
Remembered for: Being the “only one he truly loved”; having two troublesome brothers who fought over the regency of the young Prince after King Henry’s death
Did you know? Catherine was Regent (while Henry fought in France in 1513) during the Battle of Flodden; when James IV of Scotland was killed in the battle she wanted to send his body to Henry as a present.
Queenspiration: Adele and Sia
ANNE OF CLEVES
Birth and death: 1515–July 16, 1557
Marriage: January 6, 1540 (aged 24)
Children: None
Interests: Staying alive
Queen Links: Anne visited Katherine Howard once she became queen and bowed down to her
Cause of death: Probably cancer
Remembered for: Being chosen from her portrait and then rejected when Henry met her.
Did you know? When Henry first met her he disguised himself, possibly imagining some sort of romantic reaction. When he kissed her, she is said to have turned away coldly at this hideous stranger molesting her; according to a witness, Lord Russell, he “never saw His Highness so marvelously astonished.”
Queenspiration: Nicki Minaj and Rihanna
KATHERINE HOWARD
Birth and death: Probably 1523–February 13, 1542
Marriage: July 28, 1540 (aged 17)
Children: None
Interests: Religious faith, obedience
Queen Links: Lady-in-waiting to Anna of Cleves; cousin to Anne Boleyn
Cause of death: Executed on Tower Green, London
Remembered for: Being completely used (and abused) by those with more power
Did you know? From her arrest on November 8, 1541 to her execution three months later, Katherine stayed under house arrest at Syon House; in late January 1542, an Act was passed in parliament that made it treason for a woman to become the king’s wife without “plain declaration before of her unchaste life,” meaning Henry could have her killed.
Queenspiration: Ariana Grande and Britney Spears
CATHERINE PARR
Birth and death: Probably 1512–September 5, 1548
Marriage: 1. to Sir Edward Burgh, a courtier 1529-1533
2. to John Neville, Lord Latimer 1534-1543
3. to Henry VIII, July 12, 1543
4. to Thomas Seymour May 1547 in secret
Children: A daughter (to Thomas Seymour), who died as a baby
Interests: Writing books; encouraging education; Reformation
Queen Links: Her mother was lady-in-waiting to Catherine of Aragon; friendly with her daughter Princess Mary
Cause of death: Childbirth
Remembered for: Surviving
Did you know? Catherine was the first woman in England to publish books under her own name and in English.
Queenspiration: Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé
