June 11 - Henry VIII Marries Catherine of Aragon

This Day in History: 11 June 2020

 

11 June 1509

 

511 years ago, today, King Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon, the first of his six wives. This was a private ceremony with the newly ascended king, in the church of the Observant Friars outside Greenwich Palace. This was actually Catherine's second marriage, with her first being to Henry's brother, Prince Arthur. The wedding was also held on the seventh anniversary of Arthur's death. Because of this, however, the new marriage depended on the Pope granting a dispensation, as canon law forbade a man to marry his brother's widow. Catherine testified that her marriage to Prince Arthur was never consummated, so according to canon law, the marriage was not valid.

 

To Catherine and her followers' dismay, Henry divorced her against the will of the Roman Catholic Church, as she failed to produce the desired male heir. This most likely had a large role in initiating the Protestant Reformation in England. Henry would go on to have five more wives after Catherine, two of whom (Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard) were executed for alleged adultery after they grew tiresome for Henry. Catherine and Henry's only surviving child, Mary, ascended to the throne upon the death of her half-brother, Edward VI. Her reign only lasted 5 years before her sister, Elizabeth, the only surviving child of Henry and Anne Boleyn, was crowned in her place as Queen Elizabeth I.

 

Want to find out more about the marriage of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon? Click here for more details, or here for historical documentary on Henry and Catherine's marriage.