OPPOSITION TO THE REFORMATION:

Catherine of Aragon and her daughter Mary

BIOGRAPHY: CATHERINE OF ARAGON

After only being able to provide Henry with a single daughter (Mary), Catherine had to go through the process of Henry believing that their marriage was cursed and wanted an annulment granted to him.

She was defiant and defended herself thoroughly, but he still married Anne secretly.

Until the end of her life, Catherine would refer to herself as Henry's only lawful wedded wife and England's only rightful queen.

Only surviving child of Catherine and Henry; disappointed at the lack of a male heir, and eager to re-marry, Henry attempted to have his marriage to her mother annulled.

She was not permitted to see her mother, who was sent by Henry to live away from court.

Mary was deemed illegitimate. She was styled "The Lady Mary" rather than Princess, and her place in the line of succession was transferred to her half-sister, Elizabeth, Anne's daughter.

BIO GRAPHY: MARY, D AUGHTER OF CATHERINE

MOTIVES FOR THEIR OPPOSITION

At first, Catherine was kept in the dark about Henry's plans for their annulment and when the news got to Catherine she was very upset. She was also at a great disadvantage since the court that would decide the case was far from impartial. Catherine then appealed directly to the Pope, which she felt would listen to her case since her nephew was Charles V, the Holy Roman Emperor.

MOTIVES FOR THEIR OPPOSITION

The political and legal debate continued for six years. Catherine was adamant in that she and Arthur, her first husband and Henry's brother, did not consummate their marriage and therefore were not truly husband and wife. Catherine sought not only to retain her position, but also that of her daughter Mary.

MOTIVES FOR THEIR OPPOSITION

Mary was determined not to submit to the Reformation because she knew it was a shame for her mother and for herself to accept the new queen and any of her offspring. Both Catherine and Mary knew that if they kept their opposition strong, they would be able to influence the opposition against Henry and Anne and make it stronger: this developed into what is known as the Aragonese faction.

WHAT FOR M O F OPPOS IT IO N THEY TO OK

Despite humiliation, Catherine launched a campaign to ensure that the Pope would not grant the annulment that Henry wanted

Catherine also refused the Pope when he asked her to gracefully enter a nunnery

Mary determinedly refused to acknowledge that Anne was the Queen or that Elizabeth was a princess, further enraging the King

HO W THE GOVER NMEN T DEALT W ITH THEM

Clauses inserted requiring the entire population, as required, to swear oaths supporting the new order of succession following the divorce – death was a punishment for those who refused.

Such clauses were: The Act of Succession, 1534; The Act in Restraint of Appeals, 1533 (designed to prevent Catherine from challenging any legal decisions made on the Great Matter in England); and the Treason Act, 1534.

HO W EFFECTIVE WAS THEIR OPPO SIT IO N?

It was effective in the sense that Catherine and Mary resisted for such a long time – it delayed the annulment for seven years.

However, it was not effective enough – the annulment still took place secretly and still led to the break from Rome.