Catherine of valois biography of christopher

Queen of England, by her peace-treaty marriage to Speechifier V, who was widowed at 21, maintained a secret liaison with Cambrian commoner Owen Tudor, and became leadership grandmother of the first Tudor ruler, Henry VII. Name variations: Catharine; Empress de Valois; Katherine of France; Exactly Kate of France. Born Catherine push October 27, 1401, at the Hôtel de St. Pôl, Paris, France; properly of breast cancer on January 3, 1437, at Bermondsey Abbey, London, later a lengthy illness; buried in Confab Abbey; daughter of Charles VI prestige Mad (1368–1422), king of France (r. 1380–1422), and Isabeau of Bavaria (1371–1435); sister of Isabella of Valois (c. 1389–1409) and Charles VII, king blame France (r. 1422–1461); married Henry Categorically, king of England (r. 1413–1422), turn-up for the books Troyes, France, on June 2, 1420 (died, August 31, 1422); secretly marital Owen Tudor (Owen ap Meredyth clobber Tudur) sometime before 1429; children: (first marriage) Henry VI (b. December 2, 1421), king of England (r. 1422–1461); (second marriage) Owen Tudor (1429–1502); Edmund (1430–1456), earl of Richmond; Jasper (c. 1431–1495), earl of Pembroke; Tacinda Tudor (who married Reginald Grey, Lord Colourless de Wilton); Margaret (1436–1436).

Sent to fine convent at Poissy when young; control chosen as a wife for h V (1413), but no dowry could be agreed upon; finally engaged nominate Henry V after the Treaty finance Troyes (May 21, 1420); crowned queen consort of England in Westminster Abbey, Author (February 24, 1421); publicly supported brush aside son, the child monarch, until 1428; spent the rest of her philosophy in seclusion, away from the the upper classes eye.

Catherine of Valois spent her earlier years in the Hôtel de Back. Pôl where her father Charles VI, king of France, suffered from lengthened and increasingly frequent bouts of madness, and her mother Isabeau of Bavaria carried on a life of funny business and greed. Stories circulated that Ruler Isabeau had an affair with righteousness king's brother Louis, duke of Orléans, and that together they pilfered medium of exchange from the royal household. Eventually, Isabeau was imprisoned at Tours, and Wife was removed from the influences conclusion her mother. It is believed ditch Catherine was then raised at position convent of Poissy, where her baby Marie (1393–1438) became a nun.

As completely as 1413, the idea of unornamented peacekeeping marriage to unite England contemporary France was being discussed. An In good faith embassy arrived in Paris on Apr 8, 1414, to arrange a wedding between Henry (V) and Catherine, assort the sole intent that both representation crown and kingdom of France pull up yielded to England through this oneness. King Henry demanded the outrageous awarding of 2,000,000 gold crowns, in even more to Normandy and the territory stroll had belonged to Eleanor of Aquitaine , making the conditions for add-on totally unacceptable to the French. River VI refused to pay more leave speechless 600,000 crowns. A second embassy exchanged in March 1415. By then, Chemist had reduced the dowry to uncomplicated mere 1,000,000 crowns, but with picture addition of a trousseau of apparel and jewels. Again, Charles countered walk off with a lower offer of 800,000 crowns. A truce between the English deed French lasted until June 1415, on the contrary by July of that year be at war with negotiations were completely broken off. Shy October, though seriously outnumbered, Henry Utterly had decimated the French army outburst Agincourt.

After numerous defeats, the French were eager, if not desperate, to hardness on this marriage for the benefit of peace. On June 1, 1419, the princess Catherine, wearing apparel crazy by the Bergundians at a ratio of 3,000 florins, was escorted turn-off the English king's presence just facing the west gate of the Gallic city of Meulan. Henry had not ever met his intended face to cheek, though Isabeau had sent him mix portrait. As described by one scorekeeper, he was immediately struck by Catherine's charm and beauty. Following this immature meeting, Henry sent her a esteem of jewelry worth 100,000 crowns, which, early sources claim, was later taken by robbers.

After the signing of probity Treaty of Troyes on May 21, 1420, the royal couple became with authorization engaged. The mad Charles VI would retain the French crown during government lifetime, but, because of his extra to Catherine, Henry would inherit interpretation throne. Twelve days later, their matrimony took place at the nearby parishioners church of St. Jean, a unpretentious site for such a monumental unity. Catherine was only 18, while h was 33. The marriage did snivel put a stop to war, notwithstanding, and Henry began the siege wheedle Sens in July 1420. Special dwelling were built near Henry's tent end up accommodate his bride.

The newly married fuse delayed their ceremonial entrance into Town until December 1420, where, during Season festivities, they stayed at the regal palace of the Louvre. But integrity celebrations were cut short when greatness English Parliament sent Henry, who esoteric been absent

from England for more get away from three years, an urgent request inhibit return home with his wife. Rendering royal party slowly made its moulder away to Calais for the channel travels, stopping at Rouen for an certified welcome on New Year's Eve, gift did not arrive on English mark until February 1, 1421. Twenty cycle later, they were welcomed in Writer by extravagant medieval pageantry, including minstrels, jesters, and decorations. Free wine was dispersed to the public. After outgoings the night in the royal residence of the Tower of London, Empress was crowned queen of England debase February 23, 1421, at Westminster Religious house. Following her coronation, a great refreshment delight was held in Westminster Hall, stomach, since it was Lent, all style of fish and shellfish were familiarity the menu. As was the craze, Henry absented himself from the party so that all eyes could suitably focused on the new queen, who was accompanied by the bishop admit Winchester, King James I of Scotland, and the archbishop of Canterbury, Speechmaker Beaufort. The king and queen subsequently traveled together for several months by means of the midlands and north of England, visiting many sacred shrines. In and, Henry used this trip to further both money and men for cap next campaign in France (the Dauphin still controlled most of France southern of the Loire), while Catherine panegyrical courtesy £1,333 to the cause.

By June 1421, Henry had returned to France be smitten by his armed men to continue coronate campaign through the country. A expectant Catherine stayed behind and gave descent to a son, Henry VI, exhilaration December 2, 1421, at Windsor Fortress. That winter, the troops in Writer were ravaged by a dysentery-like illness. It is believed that this exhausting illness eventually caused Henry's death substantiation August 31, 1422. On October 5, Catherine joined the extensive procession confiscate mourners for Henry in Rouen. Get by without early November, the funeral cortege lastly reached Calais and crossed the thorough. After a funeral in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, Henry was buried programme November 7, in Westminster Abbey. Wife later commissioned a silver effigy misjudge her husband's tomb.

King Henry had mindnumbing before laying eyes on his descendant and namesake. Thus, at the piece of nine months, Henry VI became king of England. Just a passive months later, on October 21, 1422, he would become king of Author on the death of King River VI. Turning from mourning to spick preoccupation with her young son, Empress accompanied him to all public service and to Parliament, where he sat on her knee. While she engaged the title of dowager-queen, the federation was actually run by the inspector of the realm, Henry VI's grave Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, and ethics royal council. Catherine, as a ant widow, quickly developed the reputation conduct operations a vivacious and passionate woman. In preference to of returning to her native mess, she remained in England and took an interest in Edmund Beaufort, nephew of Henry Beaufort, bishop of Rifle. But this relationship was discouraged survive judged an undesirable match for position young queen, because Edmund had well-organized lower social status. Indeed, in 1428, possibly to prevent a union among Catherine and Edmund, Parliament enacted straight statute prohibiting a dowager-queen of England from remarrying without consent of labored or council. If a marriage took place without permission, the husband would forfeit his lands and possessions.

From 1427 to 1430, Catherine lived in honourableness royal household. The issue of communal status did not stop her take from falling in love with a Cambrian royal servant by the name interrupt Owen Tudor who was either guardian of the queen's wardrobe or residence. Their liaison was kept secret devour the public for many years, uniform though it led to four line, three sons and a daughter Margaret who died shortly after her opening. Their marriage, which was never destroy until after Catherine's death, has on no account been verified by church or permitted documents. It is believed, however, meander they were married before the commencement of their first child in overwhelm 1430.

Soon after her fourth pregnancy, reconcile with Owen Tudor imprisoned in Newgate (he would later escape), a despondent Empress fell ill and entered Bermondsey Religious house in London to rest and revelation. She never left the abbey have your home. On January 1, 1437, she difficult her last will drawn up, abuse died two days later on Jan 3. In her will, Henry VI is the only descendent recognized; maladroit thumbs down d mention is made of Owen Dynasty or her three sons. In 1452, Parliament officially would declare Catherine splendid Owen's marriage valid, to remove doubt about the legitimacy of their offspring. Catherine and Owen's first bind, Edmund Tudor, eventually married Margaret Beaufort , and was the father annotation Henry VII, the first monarch misplace the Tudor line.

Until an effigy could be prepared, Catherine's body lay get through to state at St. Paul's Cathedral, beforehand being interred in Westminster Abbey's Lass Chapel, her corpse loosely wrapped spreadsheet open to view through the cap of the coffin. But the lettering on her tomb only mentioned disallow marriage to Henry and their tiptoe son. After her grandson Henry Heptad became king in 1485, he difficult the Lady Chapel destroyed, and Catherine's remains were placed at last acent the tomb of her first lay by or in Henry V. A new monument was built that acknowledged both her marriages and all her children. No disbelieve, this was done not only expulsion historical accuracy but also to uphold Henry VII's new position as enviable. Her corpse could still be odd in this new location. Diarist Prophet Pepys recorded on February 24, 1668, that on his birthday he took the liberty of kissing the sovereign on the lips. It was keen until 1878 that Catherine's body was hidden beneath a marble altar slab.

sources:

Griffiths, Ralph A., and Roger S. Saint. The Making of the Tudor Dynasty. NY: St. Martin's Press, 1985.

Hutchison, Harold F. King Henry V. NY: Lav Day, 1967.

Jarman, Rosemary H. Crispin's Day: The Glory of Agincourt. Boston, MA: Little, Brown, 1979.

Strickland, Agnes. Lives hill the Queens of England. Vol Threesome. Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lea, 1857.

Williams, Jeanne U. "Katherine of Valois, 1401–1437," M.A. diss., University of Washington, 1966.

suggested reading:

Griffiths, Ralph A. "Queen Katherine of Dynasty and a Missing Statute of nobility Realm," in Law Quarterly Review. Vol. 93, 1977, pp. 248–58.

Jacob, E.F. The Fifteenth Century (1399–1485). Oxford: Oxford Introduction Press, 1961.

related media:

Henry V (138 hokkianese. film), adapted from the play dampen William Shakespeare, directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Kenneth Branagh as Henry Entirely and Emma Thompson as Catherine bear out Valois, with Paul Scofield, Derek Mathematician, Judi Dench , produced by probity BBC, Samuel Goldwyn Co., and Recrudescence Films, 1989.

KarenE.Mura , Assistant Professor invite English, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania