Queenship Power & Politics Read online

  Queenship, Power & Politics

  A comparison of the roles of Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn at the Tudor Court

  Janet McCall

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter one: Early life of Catherine of Aragon

  Chapter two: Early life of Anne Boleyn

  Chapter three: Queenship

  Chapter four: Downfall

  Conclusion

  Bibliography

  Introduction:

  The Queen consorts of Henry VIII are usually remembered for their failure to aid Henry in securing the Tudor dynasty. The study of Queen Consorts has recently become popular as they are an anomaly in the structure of power during the Renaissance period. Power in the early Modern period was male dominated, Henry’s obsession to produce a legitimate son is testimony to the importance of continuing male rule. The two most prominent and well documented wives of the Tudor monarch were Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn, the period from 1527 to 1536 was one entrenched in rivalry and competition for the position of Queen. The events of this period resulted in irreversible changes for both domestic and foreign politics, which led to the creation of the Church of England. An analysis of Catherine and Anne’s reigns is crucial to understanding the nature of queenship in early modern England.

  The Court of Henry VIII was a magnate, it was the centre of power. Henry’s Court was the machine of government, it was here where the most critical decisions were made, where international relations were discussed and alliances were formed. Political life centred on the person of the King. Henry VIII was the centre of power in England, undoubtedly his personal relationships also were inextricably linked to politics. His queen consorts were placed at the centre of the Court and maintained their own autonomous power, which was subsequently dependent upon their relationship with Henry.

  Women in the sixteenth century were defined by their sexuality, their power depended on their marriage alliances and their fertility. The central concern and duty for Henry’s consorts was to provide him with a living male heir. Through the analysis of Henry VIII’s queen consorts in detail it is possible to understand the extent of the personal political power they possessed, how much influence they had and the extent to which their power relied on them being in the King’s favour.

  Due to the limited availability of sources relating to the consorts, I have focused primarily on the two most prominent wives of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn in order to research the extent of female involvement with political power. They were the only two of Henry VIII’s wives who were formally crowned Queen of England in Westminster Abbey, this instantly attaches political prominence to their role. This book will explore the extent to which Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon held power and the extent to which this depended on their personal relationship with Henry VIII. I will explore Anne and Catherine’s rise to power before their marriage to the King, followed by their time in the role of Queen Consort and finally the circumstances surrounding their downfall from power, in order to comment of the nature of their involvement with Court politics.

  The majority of sources which have survived have been collated from a number of different archives to create The Calendar of State Papers, Foreign and Domestic 1509-1603. These volumes were originally complied in the nineteenth century by eminent historians J. S. Brewer, J. Gairdner and R. H. Brodie. The calendar form provides a clear chronological sequence to view events recorded by both domestic and foreign contemporaries. The documents have been translated in to English which is extremely useful, however we must account for the possibility of mistranslation when analysing documents, as this could potentially distort the overall meaning. This is an invaluable resource when studying the Tudor period as it allows a unique insight in to the workings of Tudor Government. It is a useful source to use when analysing the extent of the Queen Consorts’ role within Henry VIII’s government. However, due to the compiling of the documents in the nineteenth century we according to Stephen Alford have to view The State Papers through a Victorian lens.[1] To fully utilise the documents preserved, a revisionist approach is required.

  The Life and Death of Cardinal Wolsey is an account written by George Cavendish, who served as Cardinal Wolsey’s undersecretary until his demise in 1530. The account was composed in the years between the 4th November 1554 and the 24th June 1558, over twenty years after Cavendish left Court.[2] As the biography was written sometime after the events written about we must account for some inaccuracies caused by a general loss of memory. The text was written during the reign of Mary I, it evidently favours Mary’s mother Catherine over her rival Anne Boleyn. This carefully constructed and detailed account was intended to be published by Cavendish, however it religious tensions prevented its publishing until 1641.[3] Cavendish’s close proximity to the Cardinal for a considerable period of time allow for a unique insight in to the inner workings of the Court. The source is limited due to its obvious bias nature towards Anne Boleyn and because of the time lapse between events and the composition. However, Cavendish provides a unique contemporary insight in to the Tudor Court from a person positioned at the centre of power.

  The Spanish Chronicle composed by an unknown author, details events beginning in 1527 and ending with the Duke of Northumberland’s execution in 1553. It was originally composed in Spanish under the title, `Chronica Del Rey Enrico Otavo De Inglaterra’. I have used a translated version of the Chronicle by M.A.S Hume for the purposes of my research. The Chronicle documents contemporary events, some in more detail than others which indicates the author felt some events were more prominent. Hume suggests the original Spanish document appears to have been written around 1550.[4] It is evident from the source the writer was present in London for the events which are depicted, this eye witness source provides an insight in to the perceived role of Queen Consorts. The Chronicle is obviously bias due to the author presumably being Spanish and Catholic, but it depicts contemporary events which is extremely useful. This source provides historians with a foreign perception of the events of Tudor life, by remaining annonomoys the author arguably depicts an honest view of their perception of events which is very valuable to the study of this period.

  The dispatches of Eustace Chapuys provide a full account in to the events of the Tudor Court beginning from his arrival to England in October 1529. Chapuys was the Imperial ambassador to Charles V, his meticulous accounts detail the daily events especially concerning the divorce of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. His translated reports are included in the Calendar of State Papers, Foreign and Domestic 1509-1603. The Calendar includes governmental documents which can be compared to corresponding foreign reports. Ambassadorial dispatches were often written in cipher, therefore when reading this type of source we must consider the reliability as it is possible parts may have been decoded incorrectly. The Ambassador’s bias towards Anne Boleyn is obvious to detect, he refers to her as “the Lady”, “putain” and the “Concubine”, but the events depicted correspond to surviving governmental documents. Lauren Mackay suggests despite his lack of objectivity, the dispatches provide a first-hand glance in to life at Court.[5] Chapuys accounts are invaluable to this study, his position required him to report to the Holy Roman Emperor in accurate detail on the politics of Henry’s reign thus providing modern historians with a detailed source.

  The lives of Catherine and Anne are intertwined, historians work often takes a one sided preferment to one of the queens, this method for almost five centuries has created a distinctive historiography. Catherine of Aragon is traditionally portrayed as a powerless victim, whilst Anne is portrayed as a seductress and the cause of the reformation. This distinction is evident in Nicholas Sander’s The
Rise and Fall of the Anglican Schism, which was written in 1585. The work begins by Sander stating Queen Catherine “was so saintly a woman” in comparison to Anne who “was full of pride, ambition, envy and impiety”.[6] This staunch Catholic view has provided the basis for the historiographical interpretations of Henry’s first two consorts.

  J.A Froude continues Sander’s contrasting image of Anne and Catherine. He asserts royal ladies were courtiers’ politicians played, Catherine represented imperial interests and as a result she became a pawn used in the game of international politics.[7] He characterises Anne as a figure who was pushing her own interests and not those of her family.[8] Froude was writing in the late nineteenth century, Catherine’s perceived virtuous and obedient life complimented nineteenth century female ideals.

  Similarly, Mattingly’s biography of Catherine depicts her as political pawn who was destined to become a key political figure.[9] However he suggests she possessed a form power through her refusal to accept the annulment of her marriage which suggests her actions were the most powerful in the long term as she defined the events of English history. The extent of Catherine’s power is often not considered in the historiography as the revisionist outlook focuses on her loss of her title and her defeat by Anne Boleyn.

  Eric Ives champions Anne Boleyn in his biographical work, Anne Boleyn `The Most Happy'. He asserts the belief Anne was an active and effective politician at the Tudor Court.[10] He notes the evidence of Anne’s encouragement and influence has left no paper trail, thus making it difficult to track her involvement with politics. Despite this he maintains the view Anne was a powerful force in comparison to Catherine. This has been reiterated by David Mathew who believes Anne became a fierce political figure in her own right.[11] David Starkey also characterises Anne as a key political figure in her own right. He boldly claims, Anne bred a Court faction by introducing her own ideology.[12] Starkey like Ives, focuses on Anne’s role as the influencer of Henry VIII, her behind the scenes actions are often attributed to take effect in royal policy. Although this assumption has been recently criticised by Susan Bordo who claims, Starkey mixes fact and fiction to create a dramatic image of Anne by suggesting the downfall of Wolsey was her doing.[13]

  Retha Warnicke has contested both Ives and Starkey’s view by suggesting Anne Boleyn was not an autonomous figure but was rather the victim of an ambitious father and an arrogant uncle.[14] Warnicke argues Catherine and Anne became victims of the King’s desire to further his linage thus suggesting the careers of both Queens was dependent upon their fertility.

  As the historiography has developed the interest in Anne has increased, Susannah Lipscomb has noted her role in the Tudor Court defied the gender norms and this has resulted in her tarnished image by writers such as Sander.[15] The role of Catherine as a political figure however still needs further development, the image created by Sander has stayed intact.

  This a period in which female power experienced unique developments, which were exploited through the employment of personal monarchy. This book will analyse both Catherine and Anne’s role within the system of political power in order to comment on the nature of female involvement with politics between the years 1502-1536. Anne and Catherine were victims of their own family and positions at the Tudor Court, their downfalls suited those at court and provided opportunities to those around them. History has eternalised the personalities and characteristics of both queens, however it is important to study the evidence and nature of court politics to understand female power was extremely limited and dependant on the monarch and power did not necessarily come with a title.

  Chapter one

  Catherine of Aragon’s early Life

  Women in sixteenth century England were at the mercy of male control, noblewomen and royals were expected to marry for economic gain and the increase and maintaining of their families honour and power.[16] Catherine of Aragon was destined to marry for the maintaining of her parents Spanish power, similarly Anne was destined to marry to further the Boleyn family power and strengthen her family’s political ties at the Tudor Court. Although both women were of different social ranks the ambitions of their families were arguably the same. Anne’s family required her to marry for the advancement of her family’s involvement in domestic politics, whereas Catherine’s family placed her on the international stage.[17] This chapter will investigate the extent to which family power impacted both Anne and Catherine.

  Catherine of Aragon was the daughter of Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Spain, two of the most powerful European rulers. Catherine was the youngest child of the Spanish rulers and was born on 16thDecember 1485 at the Archbishop’s Palace in Alcalá de Henares (near Madrid). As a member of such a powerful dynasty it was inevitable that Catherine would marry to increase and secure political alliances as after all her parents rule was far from peaceful. Catherine received a first rate education for a female in the early modern period, she was tutored by Allessandro Geraldini who had taken Holy Orders. Catherine was fluent in Latin, Spanish, Greek and French. The Princess’s education included religion, philosophy, history and heraldry in addition to the academic education it was usual for ladies of status to learn domestic skills such as sewing, dancing, cooking and courtly manners and etiquette. Catherine also had a very religious upbringing from a very young age Catherine became a devout catholic and this would continue and grow stronger throughout her life. People in early modern Europe were on the whole Catholics, thus practicing Catholic services in Latin and showing allegiance to the Pope who they recognised as God’s representative on earth.

  Catherine’s parents were keen to make a match for their youngest daughter, they had already arranged prominent marriages for their other daughters; Princess Isabella became Queen Consort of Portugal, Princess Joanna married the heir of the Holy Roman Emperor and became Queen of Castile and Princess Maria also became a Queen Consort of Portugal; so Catherine would be no exception. Catherine’s proposed match would be the future King of England, Prince Arthur Tudor. The Tudor dynasty was very new, Arthur’s father Henry VII had claimed the throne on the battlefield in 1485 ending the Wars of the Roses and thus was keen to secure his reign and make strategical allegiances. A match with the Spanish Royal family would be perfect for Henry, especially since Catherine was of English decent through her mother Isabella who was a descendant of Edward III of England. She was the third cousin of Henry VII and the fourth cousin of his wife Elizabeth of York. This link to English royalty would have greatly please Henry Tudor who was obsessed with legitimising his own reign, this is evident in his own marriage to Elizabeth of York who was the daughter of Edward IV of the rival House of York. Subsequently, the match between Princess Catherine and Prince Arthur was arranged by their parents, the couple were married by proxy on 19th May 1499.

  The wedding of the royal couple was to be a lavish affair, Catherine prepared to leave for England to start her life as the future Queen of England at 15 years old, and probably aware it was unlikely that she would ever return to her homeland again. The reality of being a royal princess was having to leave your family, friends and home to begin a new life in a foreign country away from everything you hold dear, Catherine must have struggled with leaving behind her beloved Spain to go to a country where its native language was unfamiliar to her to embark on a life of pressure and scrutiny. The couple met in November 1501 and were married ten day later at St Paul’s Cathedral on 14th November 1501. There were huge celebrations all around London, it was a spectacular even in which gave Henry VII hope in the survival of his dynasty but also a large dowry from Spain in which was to be made in two payments (one before and one after the marriage), as was the custom of the father of the bride to provide money to her new father in law.

  Catherine and Arthur began married life at Ludlow Castle, this was a traditional castle for the Prince of Wales to preside over the Council of Wales and the marcher lands (borderlands). Married life was brought to an abrupt halt and a devastating conclusion for Catherine
the new Princess of Wales. The couple had both become ill with the `sweating sickness’ according to reports. Prince Arthur died on 2nd April, leaving the Spanish Princess a widow at just 16 years old. This was a disaster for Henry VII who lost his heir but also risked losing Catherine’s dowry and chance to unite with the Spanish house.

  The Following the death on Prince Arthur in April 1502, Catherine’s powerful parents King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile were eager to keep their daughter in England and marry her to Henry VII’s younger son a new heir Henry in order to maintain the relationship with the two counties. Following the tragic loss of Arthur, Elizabeth of York, his mother became pregnant with the hope of delivering another living son and heir but unfortunately died along with the child whilst giving birth, a common occurrence throughout this period. A letter written by Ferdinand to his ambassador in England Duke de Estrada remains in the Calendar of State Papers relating to Spain. The King of Aragon wrote following the death of Queen Elizabeth of England wrote, “it was necessary to hasten the coming hither of the said Princess, our daughter, it has now become a matter of pure necessity that she should depart immediately”.[18] His concern was clearly for the welfare of his daughter but also for the need to secure international alliances as Catherine was increasing in age her marriage prospects were decreasing. Ferdinand was becoming impatient for Catherine to be betrothed to the new Prince of Wales, “much greater also will be the necessity and obligation of her coming hither if the betrothal between her and the Prince of Wales should not be immediately concluded”.[19] This contemporary letter clearly conveys his desire to secure international relations. By recalling Catherine back to Spain if she was not betrothed signifies her importance to international politics and it highlights her marriage was of great concern to her father. The reiteration of the securing of the marriage contact further supports the view Catherine’s marriage was of the upmost importance to her parents. This is evident in the instructions given to his ambassador, “before her departure, you shall endeavour, by all possible ways and means that you can use, to have the betrothal of the Princess of Wales with the Prince of Wales concluded and settled”.[20]