catalina-de-aragon:24 June 1509The Coronations of Henry VIII and Katherine of AragonOn the morning o
catalina-de-aragon:24 June 1509The Coronations of Henry VIII and Katherine of AragonOn the morning of 24 June, Midsummer’s Day, the coronation took place. Katherine and Henry under canopies carried by the barons of the Cinques Ports, processed behind twenty-eight bishops from the Palace of Westminster to the Abbey. Queen Katherine was dressed like a bride, wearing an embroidered gown of white satin, with her hair – “of a very great length, beautiful and goodly to behold” – falling loose down her back beneath a coronet set. A carpet of striped cloth had been laid out for them and once they’d entered Westminster Abbey the enthusiastic onlookers pounced and tore the carpet to shreds in the hope of taking home a royal souvenir. Inside two thrones had been placed on a platform in front of the high altar.In the Abbey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Warham, presented Henry to his people who acclaimed him by calling out “Vivat, vivat rex!“, or “Long Live the King!”, four times. When asked if they would receive, obey and take Henry as their King, the crowd in the Abbey all cried “Yeh! Yeh!”. Henry then swore the nine oaths of kingship before Warham anointed him with holy oils and crowned him. Katherine was then crowned Queen of England. She was anointed on the head and breasts, the coronation ring was put on the fourth finger of her right hand, the crown on her head, the scepter in her right hand and the ivory rod surmounted with the dove in her left. Katherine was crowned with the crown of St Edith.After the coronation, the royal party processed back to Westminster Hall for a celebration banquet. The banquet was opened by a fanfare of trumpets and special procession of dishes, led by the Duke of Buckingham and the Lord Steward, both on horseback. The celebrations did not end with the banquet. There was a special tournament that night and then two days of jousting and feasting. In that month that followed, many social occasions presented the new Queen to the English public. Katherine made a fine impression and was well received by the people of England.The expenses for the King’s coronation were £ 1,700 and the Queen’s £ 1,500, «three times as much as had been spent on wedding celebrations in 1501». Henry and Katherine’s coronation signalled the beginning of a new era in the Tudor dynasty. Henry now had his queen, a crown and the adoration of his people, all he needed to secure the dynasty once and for all was a male heir. In Thomas More’s coronation poem, there are references to Catherine’s great lineage.The alliance between the two realms is also pointed out but the central emphasis is made on Catherine’s main role in England, to give King Henry VIII male offspring:This blessed lady has joined in lasting alliance two nations, each of them powerful.She is descended from great kings, to be sure; and she will be the mother of kings as great as her ancestors.Until now one anchor has protected your ship of state-a strong one, yet only one.But your queen, fruitful in male offspring, will render iton all sides stable and everlasting.(x)(x)(x) -- source link
#history#henry viii#16th century