How did Catherine of Aragon, King Henry VIIIs 1st wife, die?
She was not beheaded. Her marriage to Henry VIII was annulled. Catherine was the daughter of the famous Ferninand II and Isabella of Spain. They are mostly known for sending Columbus across the seas in search of new natural resources. Catherine of Aragon was married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur, when both were quite young. Arthur died shortly after. Catherine appealed to the Pope to annull the marriage due to lack of consumation (never bedded together). The marriage was annulled. Catherine then married the next in-line, Henry VIII. Henry VIII annulled the marriage after no male heirs were produced. This was important then because there was no precedent of a supreme Queen (without a King). Henry VIII was obsessed with having an heir. This very issue led to the demise of six wives total in various ways. The Pope was not very cooperative with Henry VIII in helping Henry VIII move onto a new woman to create a new heir. In reaction to the Pope’s opposition to annullment, Henry VIII deci
