1501 - 1531

Catalina Motril

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Catalina of Motril was an enslaved servant to Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife. She might have held the key to one of Tudor history’s biggest secrets of the royal bedchamber.

As a royal bed-chamber servant, Catalina would have held vital information about whether Katherine’s first marriage to Prince Arthur Tudor (Henry VIII’s brother) was consummated – a crucial detail in Henry VIII’s plans to divorce Katherine and marry Anne Boleyn. Catalina might have held the key to one of Tudor history’s biggest secrets of the royal bedchamber.

Born in Motril, Granada, a Muslim territory until 1492, Catalina was likely to have been enslaved after the Reconquista (Reconquest) of Granada. She was of North African heritage and Muslim (Moor), although it’s likely she may have converted to Christianity on entering Katherine’s service. Catalina may not have been her real name. She may have been named after her royal mistress, La infanta Catalina (Katherine of Aragon).

Katherine of Aragon arrived in England in 1501 for her marriage to Prince Arthur. Two ‘esclaves’ (slaves) were recorded as being part of Katherine’s large Spanish entourage. Catalina was likely one of them, although, once in England, Catalina’s status as a slave would be unclear. She would have been one of several people of colour at the Tudor court. (John Blanke, a Black Tudor musician, was present at court from 1507).

Her role as Katherine’s bed-chamber servant meant she would have prepared the royal bed for Katherine’s marriages to Arthur and Henry, as well as attending to Katherine on the eve of her coronation whilst staying at the Tower of London.

Catalina’s position meant she would have been one of a handful of people who would know if the marriage to Prince Arthur was consummated. At some point, Catalina married Oviedo, a crossbow maker, had two daughters and returned to Motril. We don’t know what happened to Catalina after 1531. She is one of history's forgotten witnesses, but it’s clear she led a remarkable life.

(information taken from Historic Royal Palaces)

Sources and Attribution

https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-london/history-and-stories/catalina-of-motril/#:~:text=Catalina%20of%20Motril%20was%20born,Reconquista%20(Reconquest)%20of%20Granada.

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