903: Catherine of Valois
Used as a Political Tool to Hand France to England During the Hundred Years' War
Born: 27 October 1401, Paris, France
Died: 2 January 1437, Bermondsey Abbey, London, England (Present-day Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom)
Catherine’s marriage to Henry V legitimized his claim to be king of England and France and made things awkward for Catherine considering her brother was the heir to the French throne (the future Charles VII). Catherine’s father was King Charles VI, known as “Charles the Wise” by some despite the fact it was well known in his time he suffered from severe mental issues.
Despite being a princess, Catherine’s early life was far from glamorous. Because of her father’s issues, Catherine’s mother seized control of the country when Catherine was only three years old. Catherine grew up impoverished, with only a few of her siblings as companions.
In 1420, Henry V of England invaded France and renewed his claim to the French throne. It was decided Charles (Catherine’s father), would name Henry as his heir in place of Charles’ own son (and Catherine’s brother), the Dauphin. This is why I previously stated Catherine’s marriage was an awkward family affair from day one.
In June of 1420, Catherine and Henry married. In February of the following year, Catherine was crowned Queen of England. In December of that same year, her and Henry’s only child, Henry VI, was born.
Catherine was the mother of Henry VI and grandmother of Henry VII. When Catherine’s son Henry VI was only a few months old, her husband Henry V died of dysentery while campaigning in France. Catherine’s son never got to meet his father. Sadly, Catherine’s son, Henry VI, inherited her father, Charles VI’s mental defects. A few months later, Catherine’s father died as well, making the infant Henry VI king of both England and France. Unfortunately, Catherine was not named regent for her son in either England or her native France, nor was she granted custody of her son. Instead, Henry was to be raised by his father’s brothers.
Catherine was forbidden to remarry until her son, now England’s youngest king in their history, was an adult. Seeing as Henry became king at the grand old age of eight months, that would have been a really long wait. The reason for the gap was because of the tense political climate Henry V’s death left the country in. Never before in English history had there been such a long minority—meaning the period until the king was old enough to rule in his own right. The politicians surrounding the young king did not want Catherine to remarry someone that might put Henry VI in jeopardy of possibly produce an heir to compete for his place on the throne.
This meant Catherine was legally forbidden to marry until her son was able to give his okay. After Henry VI’s seventh birthday, he ceased to live with his mother full time. This made Catherine’s predicament even more lonely than before.
Instead of waiting around for one day far in the future, Catherine married in secret. She just happened to pick the least likely suitor, arguably in English history, the servant/squire Owen Tudor.
Owen was Welsh and not a member of the nobility or aristocracy. At the time, the Welsh were seen as far beneath the English, and so no one would ever accuse Catherine of marrying to attain a higher place in society. Owen had, however, distinguished himself in the fighting at Agincourt, so he wasn’t a complete peasant either. She still had to keep the marriage, and family she’d soon build, a secret, however.
Catherine would have four or five babies in five years: three boys and at least one girl, maybe two (sources differ). At least one of the girls, if she had more than one, probably died in infancy. The only information we know with certainty about Catherine’s children pertains to her three sons. Owen became a monk, while Edmund and Jasper distinguished themselves at court and became very important to their half-brother, Henry VI, later on. Edmund would go on to marry Margaret Beaufort and have one son, Henry Tudor (the future Henry VII), though Edmund died before his son was born. But anyway, back to Catherine.
After having her children, Catherine then died, aged only thirty-five after a brief illness. Her younger children and husband were all in jeopardy for being Welsh and for being born in defiance of royal decree.
Owen spent two years in prison around the time of Catherine’s death. Most sources say he was imprisoned beforehand, but some say after. In any case, he was arrested for having a relationship with Catherine, but was eventually pardoned and released by his stepson, the king.
Catherine was buried in Westminster Abbey; Henry VI placing an inscription on her tomb describing her as the widow of Henry V. The inscription failed to mention her second marriage or her children, though Henry was not entirely cruel to his stepfather and half-siblings. He later knighted his stepfather, and his half-brothers Edmund and Jasper did quite well for themselves as well.
Many years later, Owen was captured and executed by Edward IV’s forces. Edward had forced Henry VI off the throne previously. Henry VI’s only son, also named Edward, was killed at the Battle of Tewkesbury around the same time.
Owen’s final words were recalling his wife, the queen.
After Edward IV died, his brother, Richard III became king (after Richard conveniently oversaw the disappearance of his nephews, Edward’s children). Richard III was then overthrown by Henry Tudor, Catherine’s grandson through one of her Welsh sons. And so, Catherine became mother and grandmother to two different English kings, though not from the same direct family line.
During the reign of Catherine’s grandson, Henry VII, her tomb was damaged as Henry tried to hide his less than ideal ancestry. The lid of her tomb was raised at this time, and Catherine’s corpse was unveiled, becoming a tourist attraction of sorts. Her body and tomb were not restored until nearly four hundred years later, during the reign of Queen Victoria.
Catherine is briefly portrayed by Johnny Depp’s daughter, Lily-Rose, in the Netflix Film The King (which portrays Henry V’s story).
Badges Earned:
Find a Grave Marked
Located In My Personal Library:
The Wars of the Roses by Dan Jones
The Woodvilles: The Wars of the Roses and England's Most Infamous Family by Susan Higginbotham
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-of-Valois
http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_36.html
https://www.historyofroyalwomen.com/catherine-of-valois/catherine-valois-queen-welshman/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8344315/catherine-of_valois