Catherine d'Aragon

Catherine d'Aragon was the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and the daughter of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. She was originally married to Henry's older brother, Arthur, but after his death, she married Henry in 1509. Catherine was a devout Catholic and a strong queen who was deeply committed to her marriage and her faith. Her inability to produce a male heir led to a turbulent relationship with Henry, ultimately resulting in his request for an annulment, which was denied by Pope Clement VII. This refusal contributed to the English Reformation, as Henry broke from the Catholic Church to establish the Church of England. Catherine's legacy endures through her daughter, Mary I of England, and her role in a significant turning point in English religious history.