latristereina:And in Alcalá, on December 15, 1485 was born the infanta Catalina, the last of
latristereina:And in Alcalá, on December 15, 1485 was born the infanta Catalina, the last of Isabel’s children. “The birth of a son,” says Palencia, “would have caused los reyes greater happiness, for a succession depending on an only son inspired no small fear, and the fecundity of their daughters boded difficulties for future relationships.” That is, the birth of another daughter increased the dreaded possibility of disputed succession. Even so, of all the children, Catalina would most resemble her mother.- Peggy K. Liss, Isabel the Queen: Life and TimesThe ambassadors also saw mock skirmishes and running with dogs ‘in the way they fought with the Saracens [that is, the Moors]’. Machado spent much of his time watching Isabella, who had little Catherine with her, marvelling at how affectionate and attentive she was. ‘It was beautiful to see how the queen held up her youngest daughter,’ he noted.- Giles Tremlett, Isabella of Castile: Europe’s First Great QueenHer idyll, if that was what it was, came to an end in the late spring of 1501. The future princess of Wales had been expected in England eight months earlier (when her husband-to-be turned fourteen), but Isabel procrastinated. An Italian visitor who reached Granada late in 1500 reported that Catherine had been ill, though she was well enough to receive him on New Year’s Day 1501. It still, however, took her several months to set off for England.Isabel was, perhaps, unwilling to part with her last child. Catherine was younger than her sisters had been when they left. Eight months earlier she and her parents had gathered at the old royal encampment of Santa Fe – near to Granada – to say goodbye to María. The sister she was closest to, the one she had grown up with, went off to marry the king of neighbouring Portugal. She was a replacement for her deceased elder sister Isabel.- Giles Tremlett, Catherine of Aragon: Henry’s Spanish QueenHappy Birthday, @queenmiriamele! -- source link
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