Early on in her marriage with the King of England Katherine of Aragon found herself very loyal to Spain and her father, Ferdinand of Aragon. Author, Alison Weir states in her book The Six Wives of Henry VIII, that Katherine greatly influenced her husband on the interests of Spain – sometimes more than the interests of England.
It was obvious that Katherine was still very loyal to her father and her home country. At this point in their marriage Katherine was Henry’s “go-to” on advice of any nature and she would not approve anything without her father’s sanction. My how things changed in twenty years.
In 1511, with the assistance from his queen, Henry VIII had grown very fond of Ferdinand of Aragon and it appeared he would do anything to appease his wife and father-in-law. Along with her father, Katherine began to turn her husband’s mind against France – the enemy of Spain. This feat was not necessarily a difficult one because Henry hated the French anyway. Henry VIII had become war-hungry and was contemplating war with France before the pressure was put on him from Katherine to do so. He believed that England had a claim on France through his predecessor’s�victories. Henry V had won France in the Battle of Agincourt and unfortunately over the years France gained its independence back. The King�felt that France should be his and was anxious to defeat the French in battle and go down in history as a victorious king.
In November of 1511, the plotting of Katherine and her father came to fruition when Henry agreed to sign the Treaty of Westminster – Henry and Ferdinand pledged to help each other against their mutual enemy, France.
In 1512, Henry VIII sent an army into France; They failed miserably.
Katherine convinced her husband to mount another attack upon France in 1513. The King led this attack himself instead of putting his trust into one of his men. Ferdinand of Aragon�was also mounting�an offense against France at the same time. The Venetian Ambassador is quoted as saying, “the King is bent on war, the Council is averse to it; the Queen will have it, and the wisest Councillors in England cannot stand against the Queen.” That statement says a lot about the power of persuasion Katherine had over her husband.
This article will chronicle the Battle of Flodden and Katherine’s involvement as regent of England. Please bear in mind that Katherine of Aragon was pregnant with her third child at this time, something which is not often spoken about. The pregnant regent who went to war with Scotland.
June 1513
King Henry along with the pregnant Queen Katherine by his side, road from London to Dover at the head of 11,000 men. At Dover castle Henry officially named Katherine regent upon his departure. He had commanded the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham and the elderly (70-year-old) Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey as her advisers.
The King had requested that the Earl of Surrey escort Katherine back to London. Katherine was very distraught for Henry’s safety when she bid him farewell at Dover, but Surrey was able to comfort her on their way back to London and calm her nerves.
July 1513
By late July in 1513,�Katherine, the regent, was informed at Richmond Palace that the Scots were planning an attack on England and were beginning to mobilize their troops. Scotland, and King James IV were allies with France. They were aware that the King was in France at the time and probably assumed that they could easily defeat an English army while the King was absent from his throne.
August 1513
On the 22 August 1513, the Scottish king (James IV) had an army of 80,000 men strong that crossed the border into England. They advanced into Northumberland. At the same time the Scots entered England, Surrey was heading north with his troops to meet them.
Queen Katherine received news of Henry’s victory at Th�rouanne on the 25th of August. She immediately wrote a letter of congratulations to Wolsey:
Master Almoner; what comfort I have with the good tidings of your letter I need not write it to you; for the very account that I have sheweth it the victory hath been so great, that I think none such hath been seen before: all England hath cause to thank God of it, and I especially, seeing that the King beginneth so well, which is to me a great hope that the end shall be like. I pray God send the same shortly, for if this continue so still, I trust in Him that every thing shall follow thereafter to the King’s pleasure and my comfort. Mr. Almoner, for the pains ye take remembering to write to me so often, I thank you for it with all my heart, praying you to continue still sending me word how the King doeth, and if he keep still his good rule as he began, I think, with the company of the Emperor, and with his good council his grace shall not adventure himself so much as I was afraid of before. I was very glad to hear the meeting of them both, which hath been, to my facying, the greatest honour to the King that ever came to prince. The Emperor hath done every thing like himself. I trust to God he shall be thereby known for one of the gallantest princes in the world, and taken for another man that he was before thought. Mr. Almoner, I think myself that I am so bound to him for my part, that in my letters I beseech the King to recommend me unto him; and if his grace thinketh that this shall be well done, I pray you to remember it. News from hence I have none, but such as I am sure the council have advertised the King of*, and therby ye see Almighty God helpeth here our part, as well as there. I trowe the cause is as…..here say, that the King disposeth himself to him so well, that I hope all…shall be the better for his honour, and with this I make an end at ….the xxv day of August.
G. Katherina
September 1513
While Henry was away dominating the French Katherine had to defend England when James IV of Scotland took the opportunity to invade England on behalf of his ally, France, while the King was away.
When James IV crossed the border into England, the queen rallied 40,000 soldiers and emulated her mother Isabel I of Castile. Katherine urged the troops to defend their country and “remember that the Lord smiled upon those whose stood in defense of their own! Remember that the English courage excels that of all other nations upon Earth!”
In early September Katherine traveled north to Buckingham where she awaited news from Surrey – while waiting she made a speech to the reserve troops who were camped outside the town. She urged them to victory for England’s just cause against the Scots. However, the reserve troops would not need to fight because word would soon arrive of Surrey’s victory at Flodden on 9 September 1513. It turned out to be one of the bloodiest battles ever seen in British history. Ten thousand Scots lay dead on the moor and among them was their king, James IV. Surrey sent the Queen the Scottish king’s banner and the bloody coat he had died in as their trophies. Katherine in turn sent them to Henry as proof of their victory. Along with the trophies she sent this letter to Henry:
Sir,
My Lord Howard hath sent me a letter open to your Grace, within one of mine, by the which you shall see at length the great Victory that our Lord hath sent your subjects in your absence; and for this cause there is no need herein to trouble your Grace with long writing, but, to my thinking, this battle hath been to your Grace and all your realm the greatest honor that could be, and more than you should win all the crown of France; thanked be God of it, and I am sure your Grace forgetteth not to do this, which shall be cause to send you many more such great victories, as I trust he shall do. My husband, for hastiness, with Rougecross I could not send your Grace the piece of the King of Scots coat which John Glynn now brings. In this your Grace shall see how I keep my promise, sending you for your banners a king�s coat. I thought to send himself unto you, but our Englishmens� hearts would not suffer it. It should have been better for him to have been in peace than have this reward. All that God sends is for the best.
My Lord of Surrey, my Henry, would fain know your pleasure in the burying of the King of Scots� body, for he has written to me so. With the next messenger your Grace�s pleasure may be herein known. And with this I make an end, praying God to send you home shortly, for without this no joy here can be accomplished; and for the same I pray, and now go to Our Lady of Walsingham that I promised so long ago to see. At Woburn the 16th of September.
I send your Grace herein a bill found in a Scotsman�s purse of such things as the French King sent to the said King of Scots to make war against you, beseeching you to send Mathew hither as soon as this messenger comes to bring me tidings from your Grace.
Your humble wife and true servant, Katharine. -� Hanson, Marilee. “Letter from Katharine of Aragon to her husband, King Henry VIII 16 September 1513″��
Here is a contemporary account of the events at the Battle of Flodden:
When the two armies were within three miles of each other Surrey challenged the King of Scots to�battle, by Rugecross; who answered he would wait for him till Friday at noon. At eleven on 9 Sept. Howard passed the bridge of Twyssell with the vanguard and artillery, Surrey following with the rear. The army was divided into two battles, each with two wings. The Scotch army was divided into fivebattles, each a bowshot distant from the other, and all equally distant from the English, “in grete plumpes, part of them quadrant,” and some pikewise, and were on the top of the hill, being “a quarter of a mile from the foot thereof.” Howard caused the van to stale in a little valley till the rear joined one of the wings of his battle; then both advanced in line against the Scots, who came down the hill, and met them “in good order, after the Almayns manner, without speaking a word.” Earls of Huntley, Eroll, and Crawford met Howard with 6,000 men, but were soon put to flight, and most of them slain. The King of Scots with a great power attacked Surrey, who had Lord Darcy’s son on his left. These two bore the brunt of the battle. James was slain within a spear’s length of Surrey; many noblemen with him; no prisoners taken. At the same time, Lennox and Argyle joined battle with Sir Edward Stanley, and were put to flight. Edmund Howard was on the right-wing of Lord Howard with 1,000 Cheshire and 500 Lancashire men, and many gentlemen of Yorkshire, who were defeated by the Lord Chamberlain of Scotland (Alex. lord Hume). Mr. Gray and Sir Humphrey Lyle are taken prisoners, Sir Wynchard Harbottle and Maurice Barkley slain; Edm. Howard was thrice “feled,” when Dacre came to his relief and routed the Scots, after having eight score of his men slain. The battle began between 4 and 5 in the afternoon, and the chase was continued three miles with great slaughter; 10,000 more would have been slain if the English had been horsed.
The Scots were 80,000, of whom 10,000 were killed; the English lost only 400. [“The Borders not only stale away as they lost 4 or 5,000 horses, but also they took away the oxen that drew the ordnance, and came to the pavilions and took away all the stuff therein, and killed many that kept the same.” (fn. 7) ] The English and Scotch ordinance has been conveyed, by the help of Dacre, to Etall Castle. The King of Scots’ body is brought to Berwick. No great man of Scotland has returned, except the Chamberlain.�
October 1513
Her involvement in the Battle Flodden had exhausted her so much that she worried she might miscarry the child. While she never made it to the battlefield she is said to have traveled as far as Buckingham. Nonetheless, the preparation and everyday rigor of planning the war had taken the toll on her body and unborn child. On the 8th of �October, prior to Henry’s return to�England, Katherine delivered a premature son. He died shortly after birth. It’s sad to see such a victory in battle became a defeat in producing an heir for the king. I often wonder how Henry reacted.
I cannot tell you the number of times a queen consort of England was named regent while the king was away and in turn was in charge of the safety of the country and succeeded. The number cannot be high. It seems that Katherine’s upbringing as a Spanish Infanta and daughter of two powerful Catholic monarchs helped her to victory at the Battle of Flodden. I have no doubt that had another queen been named regent during the time that England would have lost many more men and possibly its throne to Scotland.
References & Sources:
��http://englishhistory.net/tudor/letter-katharine-aragon-husband-king-henry-viii-16-september-1513/, February 27, 2015
��http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol1/pp997-1012
Weir, Alison; The Six Wives of Henry VIII
Weir, Alison; The Children of Henry VIII
The Anne Boleyn Files: Victory for Regent Catherine of Aragon
http://www.philippagregory.com/family-tree/katherine-of-aragon
http://www.luminarium.org/encyclopedia/catherinearagon.htm
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Katherine was a warrior in her own right. She was a brave, strong and very intelligent woman. Anne Boleyn couldn’t hold a candle to her. I often wonder if Henry ever realized that. The biggest mistake he made was leaving her.
Enjoyed this article so very much! Katherine most definetly was the best of Henrys wives! To think SHE took and defended England agenst their enemies and while she was pregnant! She truly loved England. Henry should’ve been more kinder to her. She is an AWESOME inspiration!!!!
Thanks, Candia! I just purchased Alison Weir’s new novel about her. I was surprised to find it in the fiction section but the person at the book store made it sound like historical fiction, so I’ll have to do some research after reading it. I look forward to learning even more about Katherine of Aragon.
I find your writing fascinating and I quite look forward to reading them.
Thank you, Jan – so glad you enjoy it! 🙂
It is interesting that Henry had so much faith in Catherine through so many years and he threw it all away for Anne Boleyn. Not a smart move!
Anne must have really appealed to him, huh? 😉
she was “coy” which can be the biggest allure
No, it was not a smart move at all. Queen Catherine of Aragon loved and adored the ground Henry the Eight walked on and she lived her life according to the whims of Henry the Eight and for Henry the Eight to do to her what he did with the schemeing Anne Boleyn is beyond horrendous.
What was important and still is in certain countries today is that Henry V111 needed a male heir to the throne. Boys would run and fight for the country. Girls were bargaining power with other countries to fight other countries and they were betrothed at a young age and were there to produce a male heir to their future husband. Mary as his heir was not enough or Katherine however good she was could not keep him from Anne Boleyn.
Anne was a temptress to a vulnerable man and they wasted seven child bearing years. They were not aware of the ticking clock then.
LYou still see it today when you think why on earth did he or she walk away from that marriage which was so solid?. Then after all that waste of lives his son dies, Mary marries and she is completely controlled by Philip of Spain no heir and Elizabeth knowing she would have had to give up her independence if she married because she would taken second place to a husband, decided to be the Virgin Queen. Plus knowing what happened to her mother must have had a bearing on her decision.
How different we could be now as a Catholic country.?….
I found this very interesting and that she was prepared to risk her unborn child for Henry and defending England. I think Alison Weir is excellent. I had not remembered that she was so close to her father and brother. Which was dangerous also from our point of view.
I think history is all about if and but. I liked Henry. If he had lots of heirs what a difference had would be. How interestingly different it would be if Elizabeth had a child. But we are left with history as it is. Thank you to the previous reply starting the If and But in my mind…..
It really makes you wonder if all the events of the Battle of Flodden had not happened would she have lost the child? She really was her mother’s daughter. I don’t know a whole lot about Isabel I of Castile but I know she was a fierce ruler. I thought I read somewhere once that she gave birth once all alone – I could be completely wrong, but just imagine!
I think that it is better to read the actual history than the if and the but. Elizabeth would never have had a child. She had the same physical problems as Queen Mary the First of England did. She did not want to marry, not even Robert Dudley, Earl of Leiseter. All she wanted was absolute power and to rule alone, totally by herself and she did not care what history thought of her She did not care what happened after her death. While she was alive, she only wanted to rule England and control Scotland. She was not kind. She could not possibly have been a mother. Look at what she did to the Lady Catherine Grey and the Lady Mary Grey for marrying. She could not stand the thought that people might want to marry. She took a hard stand against marriage. If only Queen Mary the First and King Philip of Spain had had a child. It would have been wonderful. Then people would have died for their faith not remained imprisoned for it, which is what the “great” Elizabeth did. She was not great at all. I was just being sarcastic.
Thank you for posting this. This is a very interesting article on Katherine of Aragon. Alison Weir is my favorite author for historical fact. Katherine was the best of Henry VIII’s wives, and he certainly didn’t deserve her. Ah, if only Arthur had lived…
Suzanne, I’m SO happy you enjoyed this article. As I’ve stated many times, I love to find things about the people of the Tudor period that I don’t often see others writing about.
I often wonder how different things would have been had Arthur lived. Sadly, I’m not sure the Tudor period would be as interesting as it is now. Hahaha
I know, if only Prince Arthur of Wales had lived.