On This Day

King Henry VIII (17) of England marries first wife Catherine of Aragon (23), widow of his brother Arthur

Catherine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón, also spelled Katherine; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509...

Catherine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón, also spelled Katherine; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until its annulment on 23 May 1533. She had previously been Princess of Wales as the wife of Henry's elder brother Arthur, Prince of Wales for a short time before his death.

Catherine was born at the Archbishop's Palace of Alcalá de Henares, and was the youngest child of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. She was three years old when she was betrothed to Arthur, the eldest son of Henry VII of England. They married in 1501, but Arthur died five months later.

Historical Significance

Catherine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón, also spelled Katherine; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until its annulment on 23 May 1533.

Key People

Henry VIII

Catherine of Aragon

Events Before

  1. German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller is the first to use the name America on his world map "Universalis Cosmographia

    German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller is the first to use the name America on his world map "Universalis Cosmographia"

  2. Maximilian I is proclaimed Holy Roman Emperor, the first emperor in centuries not crowned by the Pope

    Maximilian I (22 March 1459 – 12 January 1519) was King of the Romans from 1486 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1508 until his death in 1519.

  3. League of the kingdom signed (covenant against Venice)

    League of the kingdom signed (covenant against Venice)

  4. Portuguese under Francisco de Almeida, attack, pillage and burn the Muslim trading city of Dabul, Sultanate of Bijapur (

    Portuguese under Francisco de Almeida, attack, pillage and burn the Muslim trading city of Dabul, Sultanate of Bijapur (modern India)

  5. Ludovico Sforza dies

    Ludovico Sforza, Italian duke of milan, known for duke of milan, died on 1508-05-27.

Events After

  1. Jews are expelled from Colmar, Alsace

    Jews are expelled from Colmar, Alsace

  2. Charles of Gelre conquers the Dutch city of Oldenzaal

    Charles of Gelre conquers the Dutch city of Oldenzaal

  3. Governor Afonso d'Albuquerque establishes the first overseas Portuguese mint, to issue gold coins in the Indian trading

    Governor Afonso d'Albuquerque establishes the first overseas Portuguese mint, to issue gold coins in the Indian trading city of Goa [1]

  4. 38 Jews are burned at stake in Berlin, Prussia

    38 Jews are burned at stake in Berlin, Prussia

  5. Spanish conquest of Tripoli by Pedro Navarro for Aragon crown; over 3,000 killed and more than 5,000 inhabitants enslave

    Spanish conquest of Tripoli by Pedro Navarro for Aragon crown; over 3,000 killed and more than 5,000 inhabitants enslaved

More from the 1500s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on June 11, 1509?
Catherine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón, also spelled Katherine; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until its annulment on 23 May 1533. She had previously been Princess of Wales as the wife of Henry's elder brother Arthur, Prince of Wales for a short time before his death. Catherine was born at the Archbishop's Palace of Alcalá de Henares, and was the youngest child of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon.
Why is King Henry VIII (17) of England marries first wife Catherine of Aragon (23), ... significant?
Catherine of Aragon (Spanish: Catalina de Aragón, also spelled Katherine; 16 December 1485 – 7 January 1536) was Queen of England as the first wife of Henry VIII from their marriage on 11 June 1509 until its annulment on 23 May 1533.
Who was involved in King Henry VIII (17) of England marries first wife Catherine of Aragon (23), ...?
Key figures include Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon.

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