Spanish History

The fly in the ointment, though, was the fact that Catherine claimed to be a virgin when she married Henry. Therefore the argument regarding the impure marriage did not apply to her. When Henry married his brother's widow Catherine, the Pope had granted him special authorization to do so, as her marriage to the sickly Arthur was never consummated. Now, years later, Henry wanted to get out of his marriage, using the same argument that had been overridden by the Pope’s dispensation allowing Henry and Catherine to marry.

Driven by his desires for Anne Boleyn, and for a son to succeed him, Henry approached Catherine regarding a divorce. The year was 1527, and they had been married for 18 years. Henry used the argument that his sense of right and wrong would no longer allow him to remain living in sin with his brother’s widow, in an impure union that was "no marriage at all". His conclusion was that God had shown his anger by not giving them a living son.

As Catherine had always been a considerate, supportive wife, he expected her to instantly comply with his wishes. In turn, Henry was prepared to be generous. As long as she settled to his terms, and allowed the marriage to be annulled, Catherine could continue to live in the royal style to which she was familiar. She would have to consent to Henry’s putting her daughter Mary lower in the succession to the throne, behind any children he would have with a new "legitimate" wife, and to give up the title of Queen. She would henceforth have the title of "Princess Dowager of Wales", to reflect her status as Arthur’s widow. Henry felt that the matter could be settled quickly, and allow him to marry Anne in ample time to produce many fine sons.

When Catherine heard the news, she burst out crying. She dearly loved her husband, and thought that meddling advisors who wanted him to discard her in order to marry a younger, foreign princess had influenced Henry. Henry didn’t help matters by telling her he loved and respected her above all women, and would stay with her if only their immortal souls would not be endangered by his false marriage. Catherine disagreed. With her strong religious convictions, she knew that the Pope would not have given them permission to marry if the marriage were impure.

In Catherine’s mind, she was married to Henry for life. After 18 years, she was not going to turn around and say that she had never been married, and that her daughter was illegitimate. She believed that all that was needed was for the Pope to review the matter, and assure Henry that the dispensation allowing their marriage was completely valid.

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