Origins:
Catherine of Valois was born into the House of Valois as the daughter of King Charles VI of France; she went on to marry into the Houses of Lancaster and Tudor. Catherine was of French descent from her father and German descent from her mother. In addition to this, she also possessed Luxembourgish & Italian origins, and was connected to the Kingdom of Bohemia (modern Czech Republic). Before her marriage to King Henry V of England, Catherine already had ties to the English royal family as she was a sister-in-law to King Richard III.
Early life:
Catherine of Valois was born the daughter of Charles VI of France and Isabelle of Bavaria on 27th October 1401 at the royal palace of Hotel Saint-Pol in Paris. Catherine was born the youngest daughter of her parents; in total, they had six sons and six daughters. Some of her siblings include Isabella, Queen of England, Joan, Duchess of Brittany, Michelle, Duchess of Burgundy and Charles VII of France.
Catherine’s father, Charles VI, suffered from a mental illness which led to her mother seizing control of the French government and becoming a political figure.
Catherine’s education was delivered in a convent in Poissy where it was focused on religious studies.
The Treaty of Troyes occurred in 1420 between England and France and in its terms Charles VI recognised Henry V of England as his heir, disinheriting his own son. It was also agreed that Henry would marry Catherine to strength his ties to the French throne so they were married on 2nd June 1420.
Marriage to Henry V & Motherhood:
Catherine was crowned Queen of England at Westminster Abbey on 23rd February 1421 and a few months later she gave birth to a son, Henry, heir to both the English and French thrones, on 6th December 1421 at Windsor Castle. This would be her only child with Henry V as he died on 31st August 1422 and their son was left an infant king of England, and after the death of Catherine’s father, also king of France.
Widowhood and Marriage to Owen Tudor:
In 1428, an act was passed which prevented Catherine from marrying without the consent of the king and council, this was because she was the Dowager Queen of England and if she were to marry again, her new husband could try and wield too much power.
Owen Tudor had entered Catherine’s service by being appointed her Keeper of the Wardrobe and soon became her lover. Owen was a welsh courtier from the noble family of Tudor. Legend says that Owen caught the Dowager Queen’s eye when she watched him swim or that he tripped and fell into her lap. They were supposedly married in 1429 and they produced five children, Catherine’s marriage to Owen caused a major scandal.
Death:
Catherine died in disgrace on 3rd January 1437 and after her death, Owen was arrested for his marriage to Catherine and was held in Newgate Prison. Catherine’s wooden effigy still survives but her coffin was accidently raised after her death and became a tourist attraction for generations. Her remains were properly re-interred in the reign of Queen Victoria, in 1878 and she was re-buried in Henry V’s Chantry.
Legacy:
Her legacy survived through her two sons by Owen, Edmund and Jasper. Jasper became the Earl of Pembroke and Edmund became the Earl of Richmond. Edmund married Lady Margaret Beaufort and fathered the future Henry VII of England, the founder of the Tudor dynasty; this gives Henry VII French descent thanks to Catherine.
With thanks to www.englishmonarchs.co.uk for the information.
Picture is of Catherine's marriage to Henry in 1420.
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