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Katherine of Aragon

(1485-1536), First Queen of Henry VIII

Sitter associated with 17 portraits
Katherine of Aragon, queen of England, was the youngest daughter of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile. She was named Catalina (or Katherine as she was known in England) after her maternal great-grandmother. She came to England in 1501, aged fifteen, to marry Arthur, Prince of Wales, but only months after the marriage Arthur died. In 1509 she married Arthur's younger brother, Henry VIII. They had five children, of whom only Princess Mary, later Mary I of England, survived. Katherine died in 1536, firm in her refusal to relinquish her title as queen of England, despite Henry VIII's annulment of their union and remarriage to Anne Boleyn in 1533.

Explore the portrait of King Henry VIII and his Six Wives (NPG D48093) from all angles

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Katherine of Aragon, by Unknown artist - NPG L246

Katherine of Aragon

by Unknown artist
oil on oak panel, circa 1520
On display in Room 1 on Floor 3 at the National Portrait Gallery
NPG L246

Katherine of Aragon, attributed to Lucas Horenbout (or Hornebolte) - NPG 4682

Katherine of Aragon

attributed to Lucas Horenbout (or Hornebolte)
watercolour on vellum, circa 1525
NPG 4682

Katherine of Aragon, attributed to Lucas Horenbout (or Hornebolte) - NPG L244

Katherine of Aragon

attributed to Lucas Horenbout (or Hornebolte)
watercolour on vellum, circa 1525-1526
NPG L244

Katherine of Aragon, by Robert White, printed for  Richard Chiswell, after  Unknown artist - NPG D24935

Katherine of Aragon

by Robert White, printed for Richard Chiswell, after Unknown artist
line engraving, 1681
NPG D24935

Katherine of Aragon, by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after  Adriaen van der Werff - NPG D18834

Katherine of Aragon

by Cornelis Martinus Vermeulen, after Adriaen van der Werff
line engraving, published 1697
NPG D18834

Louise of Savoy, formerly known as Katherine of Aragon, after Jacobus Houbraken, after  Hans Holbein the Younger - NPG D24180

Louise of Savoy, formerly known as Katherine of Aragon

after Jacobus Houbraken, after Hans Holbein the Younger
pen and ink on tracing paper, 1743
NPG D24180

Louise of Savoy, formerly known as Katherine of Aragon, by Jacobus Houbraken, published by  John & Paul Knapton, after  Hans Holbein the Younger - NPG D24170

Louise of Savoy, formerly known as Katherine of Aragon

by Jacobus Houbraken, published by John & Paul Knapton, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, published 1744
NPG D24170

Louise of Savoy, formerly known as Katherine of Aragon, by John Goldar, after  Hans Holbein the Younger - NPG D24174

Louise of Savoy, formerly known as Katherine of Aragon

by John Goldar, after Hans Holbein the Younger
line engraving, circa 1750-1795
NPG D24174

Katherine of Aragon, published by John Player & Sons, after  Unknown artist - NPG D48132

Katherine of Aragon

published by John Player & Sons, after Unknown artist
colour relief halftone cigarette card, 1935
NPG D48132

'King Henry VIII and his Six Wives', designed by William K. Harper, manufactured by  Doulton & Co Ltd - NPG D48093

'King Henry VIII and his Six Wives'

designed by William K. Harper, manufactured by Doulton & Co Ltd
coloured and glazed earthenware, 1990
NPG D48093

Katherine of Aragon; Anne Boleyn; Jane Seymour; Anne of Cleves; unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine Howard; Katherine Parr, printed by Harrison & Sons Ltd, issued by  The Post Office, after  Hans Holbein the Younger - NPG D49645

Katherine of Aragon; Anne Boleyn; Jane Seymour; Anne of Cleves; unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine Howard; Katherine Parr

printed by Harrison & Sons Ltd, issued by The Post Office, after Hans Holbein the Younger
sheet of six colour photogravure postage stamps, issued 21 January 1997
NPG D49645

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Laurie Pettitt

19 March 2017, 11:18

Long before Henry became cruel, he was in love. Katherine of Aragon became his Regent whilst he was fighting for Pope Julius II and Pope Leo X, against Louis XII in France. The Popes thought that Louis's ambitions threatened a Christendom which was under attack on all fronts. Moghuls, Saracens. Russia, and the new Heresies brewing in Northern Europe. In 1513, when King James IV of Scotland (Perfidious Jim) set out to invade England, Katherine, at the head of an army of 40,000 was heading North. Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey demolished the Scottish Army at Flodden and Katherine's army was stood down. However, Surrey and Katherine thought it might be a good time to Invade Scotland but Henry, the beast, said "No. They have lost too much already". Letters between Katherine and Henry were often informal and 'jokey'. They spoke of an easy relationship
There is a wonderful Web Site called British History Online .AC in which, are the State Papers of Henry VIII. You can find out how much Sir Thomas Howard (son of Earl of Surrey) loved the Ship Mary Rose.
In my opinion, the Best of Henry's Queens.