Catherine of Aragon

Born in 1485 to Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon, Catherine was betrothed at three and married at fifteen to Arthur, Prince of Wales, who died five months later. She spent years in limbo before marrying his younger brother Henry VIII in 1509, serving as regent in 1513 and rallying England during the Scottish invasion at Flodden. By 1526 Henry wanted a son and Anne Boleyn; when the pope refused annulment, Henry broke with Rome, declared the marriage invalid in 1533, and banished Catherine from court. She refused to accept his supremacy over the Church or relinquish her title, living…