Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon
From the first moment of their marriage, Katherine felt that Henry loved her. He even said so. Six weeks or so after her wedding, Ferdinand received a letter from the man who was now his son-in-law. After reminding the Spanish king that he had chosen Katherine “having rejected all other ladies in the world that have been offered to us,” Henry went on to praise his wife with endearing, youthful exuberance: “And, as regards that sincere love, which we have to the most serene queen our consort, her eminent virtues daily more and more shine forth, blossom, and increase so much, that, if we were still free, her we would yet choose for our wife before all other.”
The following weeks were idyllic for the king and queen. The new king loved every minute. He could not resist telling Ferdinand what a superb time he was having. He was diverting himself, he wrote, “with jousts, birding, hunting, and other innocent pastimes,” also in visiting different parts of the kingdom, where he wanted to show himself and his pretty bride to his people. Despite all this jollity, however, Henry was quick to reassure Ferdinand that he did not “neglect affairs of state”; he was a king capable of living life to the full and ruling at the same time. Katherine’s own joy shines in her letters after the wedding. Night had become day. She loved her energetic, chivalrous young husband and continued to revere a father who had allowed her to be ‘so well married’. Like Henry, she was carried away by the delights on offer. “Our time is ever passed in continual feasts.”
As to the king my lord, amongst the reasons that oblige me to love him much more than myself, the one most strong, although he is my husband, is his being the true son of your highness, with desire of greater obedience and love to serve you than ever son had to his father. I have performed the office of ambassador as your highness sent to command, as was known by the king my lord, who is, and places himself entirely in the hands of your highness, as of so entire a father and lord … The news from here is that those kingdoms of your highness are in great peace, and entertain much love towards the king my lord and to me.
Ferdinand responded by sending Henry some expensive Spanish horses that Katherine had requested. Soon after their marriage, Katherine’s confessor described her as being in ‘the greatest gaiety and contentment that ever there was’.
In sìte of the five year age gap between them, the couple had a number of interests in commom, especially during the early years of their marriage. Both loved learning, literature, religion, music, pageantry and finery, dancing, entertaining, riding and hunting. There was also a great deal of physical attraction between them. As a young man, Henry VIII was considered to be the most handsome prince in Europe. He was charming, elegant, slim, tall and athletic with striking red/gold hair and ‘the colour of twin roses in his cheeks’. He was quick to laugh and ‘intelligent, with a merry look’.
Henry and Katherine seemed a good match and their relationship began passionately. During the early years of the reign, when the young King and Queen passed their time in ‘disports’, there were picnics, hunts, tournaments, banquets, balls, sporting events, elaborate masquerades and pageants. Both Katherine and Henry presiding over a glittering court.
The couple’s public relationship in the early part of Henry’s reign displayed an easy cooperation, which allowed them to exchange public roles freely during civic ceremonies. One role, which Henry VIII was apparently comfortable relinquishing, was that of host during a number of special banquets. Consequently, when Henry VIII allowed Katherine to hold the chair of estate for him while he danced, he understood that he was sharing his ceremonial power with her. Her presence there sustained his authority in the hall.
Katherine has been described as Henry’s first love; she was certainly the first woman he publicly displayed affection for. Henry loved to appear in Katherine’s apartments in disguise, believing that she did not recognise him, and see her astonishment. It was a game of which, in his youth, Henry never tired; and Katherine, for her part, never spoilt his pleasure by disclosing that she knew who it was.
Henry rode in jousts under the name Sir Loyal Heart, wearing Katherine’s colors, and returned after the match to lay his prizes at her feet. At some earlier jousts, Henry wore Katherine’s initials on his sleeve. Their entwined initials “HK” adorned their palaces, and possessions. His anxiety to please her was ostentatious and occasionally childish, but her desire to please him was no less, and she not only took great care with her physical appearance, but was also meticulously deferential.
For Katherine, Henry was the love of her life. She was devoted, from the very beginning of her marriage, to him. Her obvious attachment to her husband was touching and pleased the court. She referred to him variously as ‘Your Grace’, ‘my husband’ or even ‘my Henry’. Like her mother, Katherine prided herself on embroidering her husband’s shirts herself. Henry loved Katherine greatly, stating publicly in French that his highness was happy because he was owner of such a beautiful angel and that he had found himself a flower. Henry loved writing poems and songs to his Queen as “Pastime with a good company” and “Green Groweth the Holly”. An early poem or “ballet” attributed to Henry includes the line,’ I love true where I did marry.’ Fray Diego could see it, writing to Ferdinand of Aragon that ‘the king my Lord adores her, and her Highness him.’
In the early times of their marriage the Katherine’s influence over the young Henry VIII was very strong. She was his friend, lover and advisor. He knew how smart Katherine was and valued her opinions on everything from music to politics. Henry would do nothing without her approval; even when it came to matters of state, he would say to his councillors, or to visiting ambassadors, ‘The Queen must hear this,’ or 'This will please the Queen.' After the midday meal he was usually to be found in the Queen’s apartments, discussing politics, theology or books, receiving visitors, or just ‘taking his pleasure as usual with the Queen’. Often he took his supper there, and he always joined Katherine for Vespers. His chief desire was to please her. Both Katherine and Henry genuinely respected learning. Their court was once described by Erasmus as “more a university than a court” because so many men of letters found employment or patronage through the king or queen.
The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Alison Weir
The Six Wives and Many Mistresses of Henry VIII: The Women’s Stories by Amy Licence
Sister queens: the noble, tragic lives of Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Queen of Castile by Julia Fox
Mistresses of Henry VIII by Kelly Hart
The Illustrated Six Wives of Henry VIII by Elizabeth Norton
Henry VIII: King and Court by Alison Weir
Catherine of Aragon: Henry’s Spanish Queen by Giles Tremlett
The Six Wives of Henry VIII by D. M. Loades
The Color Line: A History by Ethan Malveaux
Katherine and Henry: England’s Dramatic Duo by Denise E. Cole
http://spartacus-educational.com/TUDaragon.htm#section3
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