Who was Henry's first wife?
2 Answers
Henry VIII's first wife was **Catherine of Aragon**. She was a Spanish princess, the daughter of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile. Catherine was originally married to Henry's older brother, **Arthur**, the Prince of Wales. However, Arthur died in 1502, just a few months after their marriage, leaving Catherine a widow.
To maintain the alliance between England and Spain, a marriage was arranged between Catherine and Henry, who became king in 1509. They married on **June 11, 1509**, shortly after Henry ascended to the throne. Catherine was a deeply religious and intelligent woman, and for many years, their marriage seemed stable. They had one surviving child, **Mary I of England**, who later became queen.
However, Catherine's inability to produce a male heir became a significant issue for Henry. Desperate for a son to secure the Tudor dynasty, Henry sought an annulment from the Pope, arguing that his marriage to Catherine was cursed because she had previously been married to his brother. The Pope refused to grant the annulment, leading to a major conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. In response, Henry broke away from the Church, establishing the **Church of England** and declaring himself its head. This allowed him to annul his marriage to Catherine in 1533 and marry **Anne Boleyn**, leading to one of the most famous political and religious shifts in English history.
Catherine of Aragon spent the rest of her life in relative isolation, as Henry considered her no longer his queen. She died in 1536, remaining steadfast in her belief that she was Henry's lawful wife.
To maintain the alliance between England and Spain, a marriage was arranged between Catherine and Henry, who became king in 1509. They married on **June 11, 1509**, shortly after Henry ascended to the throne. Catherine was a deeply religious and intelligent woman, and for many years, their marriage seemed stable. They had one surviving child, **Mary I of England**, who later became queen.
However, Catherine's inability to produce a male heir became a significant issue for Henry. Desperate for a son to secure the Tudor dynasty, Henry sought an annulment from the Pope, arguing that his marriage to Catherine was cursed because she had previously been married to his brother. The Pope refused to grant the annulment, leading to a major conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. In response, Henry broke away from the Church, establishing the **Church of England** and declaring himself its head. This allowed him to annul his marriage to Catherine in 1533 and marry **Anne Boleyn**, leading to one of the most famous political and religious shifts in English history.
Catherine of Aragon spent the rest of her life in relative isolation, as Henry considered her no longer his queen. She died in 1536, remaining steadfast in her belief that she was Henry's lawful wife.