Catherine of York
Encyclopedia
Catherine or Katherine of York (14 August 1479 – 15 November 1527) was the ninth child and sixth daughter of Edward IV of England
and Elizabeth Woodville
. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III
, sister-in-law to Henry VII
and aunt to Henry VIII.
. Edward IV hastened to seek a marriage contract for his youngest daughter. On 28 August 1479, a marriage contract was concluded. The contract promised Catherine to John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
and Isabella I of Castile
. The alliance was still being negotiated when her father died on 9 April 1483. This marriage was never concluded.
Her brother-in-law Henry VII
, husband of her sister Elizabeth
, later negotiated with James III of Scotland
to obtain a possible husband for her. According to an agreement drawn up in November of 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross
, second son of James III. The same agreement promised the hand of her mother Elizabeth Woodville to James III and the hand of one of her sisters to the future James IV of Scotland
. James III was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn
(11 June 1488). His son and successor James IV never pursued this agreement.
(born 1475). He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
and his wife and distant cousin Elizabeth Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
Her husband was attainted in 1504 and was thus not able to succeed his father on 28 May 1509. Her nephew Henry VIII
apparently had greater trust for William and created him Earl of Devon
on 10 May 1511. However William died on 9 June 1511. He was Earl for less than a full month. Their son Henry succeeded his father, later being created Marquess of Exeter
.
, Bishop of London
on 13 July 1511.
As a widow
, Catherine reportedly went through periods of both "wealth" and "adversity" but was reportedly favored by her nephew Henry VIII who "brought her into a sure estate". She survived her husband by sixteen years. She was buried in Tiverton.
and Elizabeth Woodville
. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III
, sister-in-law to Henry VII
and aunt to Henry VIII.
. Edward IV hastened to seek a marriage contract for his youngest daughter. On 28 August 1479, a marriage contract was concluded. The contract promised Catherine to John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
and Isabella I of Castile
. The alliance was still being negotiated when her father died on 9 April 1483. This marriage was never concluded.
Her brother-in-law Henry VII
, husband of her sister Elizabeth
, later negotiated with James III of Scotland
to obtain a possible husband for her. According to an agreement drawn up in November of 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross
, second son of James III. The same agreement promised the hand of her mother Elizabeth Woodville to James III and the hand of one of her sisters to the future James IV of Scotland
. James III was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn
(11 June 1488). His son and successor James IV never pursued this agreement.
(born 1475). He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
and his wife and distant cousin Elizabeth Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
Her husband was attainted in 1504 and was thus not able to succeed his father on 28 May 1509. Her nephew Henry VIII
apparently had greater trust for William and created him Earl of Devon
on 10 May 1511. However William died on 9 June 1511. He was Earl for less than a full month. Their son Henry succeeded his father, later being created Marquess of Exeter
.
, Bishop of London
on 13 July 1511.
As a widow
, Catherine reportedly went through periods of both "wealth" and "adversity" but was reportedly favored by her nephew Henry VIII who "brought her into a sure estate". She survived her husband by sixteen years. She was buried in Tiverton.
and Elizabeth Woodville
. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III
, sister-in-law to Henry VII
and aunt to Henry VIII.
. Edward IV hastened to seek a marriage contract for his youngest daughter. On 28 August 1479, a marriage contract was concluded. The contract promised Catherine to John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
and Isabella I of Castile
. The alliance was still being negotiated when her father died on 9 April 1483. This marriage was never concluded.
Her brother-in-law Henry VII
, husband of her sister Elizabeth
, later negotiated with James III of Scotland
to obtain a possible husband for her. According to an agreement drawn up in November of 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross
, second son of James III. The same agreement promised the hand of her mother Elizabeth Woodville to James III and the hand of one of her sisters to the future James IV of Scotland
. James III was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn
(11 June 1488). His son and successor James IV never pursued this agreement.
(born 1475). He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
and his wife and distant cousin Elizabeth Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
Her husband was attainted in 1504 and was thus not able to succeed his father on 28 May 1509. Her nephew Henry VIII
apparently had greater trust for William and created him Earl of Devon
on 10 May 1511. However William died on 9 June 1511. He was Earl for less than a full month. Their son Henry succeeded his father, later being created Marquess of Exeter
.
, Bishop of London
on 13 July 1511.
As a widow
, Catherine reportedly went through periods of both "wealth" and "adversity" but was reportedly favored by her nephew Henry VIII who "brought her into a sure estate". She survived her husband by sixteen years. She was buried in Tiverton.
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, sister-in-law to Henry VII
Henry VII
Henry VII may refer to:* Henry VII, Duke of Bavaria * Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor * Henry VII of England * Henry II of Sicily sometimes described as Henry of Germany...
and aunt to Henry VIII.
Early life
She was born in Eltham PalaceEltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public...
. Edward IV hastened to seek a marriage contract for his youngest daughter. On 28 August 1479, a marriage contract was concluded. The contract promised Catherine to John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
. The alliance was still being negotiated when her father died on 9 April 1483. This marriage was never concluded.
Her brother-in-law Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, husband of her sister Elizabeth
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
, later negotiated with James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
to obtain a possible husband for her. According to an agreement drawn up in November of 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross
James Stewart, Duke of Ross
James Stewart, Duke of Ross was the son of King James III of Scotland and Margaret of Denmark.-Titles and Offices:He was made Marquess of Ormond at his baptism...
, second son of James III. The same agreement promised the hand of her mother Elizabeth Woodville to James III and the hand of one of her sisters to the future James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
. James III was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn
Battle of Sauchieburn
The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on June 11, 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about two miles south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between as many as 30,000 troops of King James III of Scotland and some 18,000 troops raised by a group of dissident Scottish nobles...
(11 June 1488). His son and successor James IV never pursued this agreement.
Marriage
By late October, 1495, Catherine was already married to William CourtenayWilliam Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon was the son of Sir Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Elizabeth Courtenay....
(born 1475). He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1485 creation)
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon KG was an English peer and member of the House of Lords.A loyalist of the House of Tudor, he fought alongside Henry VII at Bosworth and had been one of his original companions in France. There he went to pay homage to the future King of the Lancastrian affinity...
and his wife and distant cousin Elizabeth Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
- Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of ExeterHenry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of ExeterHenry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, KG, PC was the eldest son of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York, and grandson of King Edward IV of England.He was an older brother of Margaret Courtenay...
(c. 1496 – 9 January 1539) - Edward Courtenay (c. 1497 - 12/13 July 1502);
- Margaret CourtenayMargaret CourtenayMargaret Courtenay was the only daughter of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York. Her maternal grandparents were Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville....
(c. 1499 - bef. 1526) married Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 2nd Earl of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester was an English nobleman, son of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Herbert, 3rd Baroness Herbert. On his father's death on 15 April 1526, he succeeded as the second Earl of Worcester...
Her husband was attainted in 1504 and was thus not able to succeed his father on 28 May 1509. Her nephew Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
apparently had greater trust for William and created him Earl of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
on 10 May 1511. However William died on 9 June 1511. He was Earl for less than a full month. Their son Henry succeeded his father, later being created Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon...
.
Later life
Catherine was still only 31 years old and would be expected to marry again. However she took a voluntary vow of chastity in the presence of Richard FitzJamesRichard FitzJames
Richard FitzJames was a medieval Bishop of Rochester, Bishop of Chichester and Bishop of London.FitzJames was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1481 and 1491....
, Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
on 13 July 1511.
As a widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Catherine reportedly went through periods of both "wealth" and "adversity" but was reportedly favored by her nephew Henry VIII who "brought her into a sure estate". She survived her husband by sixteen years. She was buried in Tiverton.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/012001/12/plantagenet_tomb.shtml - Possible discovery of Catherine's tomb.
Ancestry
Catherine or Katherine of York (14 August 1479 – 15 November 1527) was the ninth child and sixth daughter of Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, sister-in-law to Henry VII
Henry VII
Henry VII may refer to:* Henry VII, Duke of Bavaria * Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor * Henry VII of England * Henry II of Sicily sometimes described as Henry of Germany...
and aunt to Henry VIII.
Early life
She was born in Eltham PalaceEltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public...
. Edward IV hastened to seek a marriage contract for his youngest daughter. On 28 August 1479, a marriage contract was concluded. The contract promised Catherine to John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
. The alliance was still being negotiated when her father died on 9 April 1483. This marriage was never concluded.
Her brother-in-law Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, husband of her sister Elizabeth
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
, later negotiated with James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
to obtain a possible husband for her. According to an agreement drawn up in November of 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross
James Stewart, Duke of Ross
James Stewart, Duke of Ross was the son of King James III of Scotland and Margaret of Denmark.-Titles and Offices:He was made Marquess of Ormond at his baptism...
, second son of James III. The same agreement promised the hand of her mother Elizabeth Woodville to James III and the hand of one of her sisters to the future James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
. James III was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn
Battle of Sauchieburn
The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on June 11, 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about two miles south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between as many as 30,000 troops of King James III of Scotland and some 18,000 troops raised by a group of dissident Scottish nobles...
(11 June 1488). His son and successor James IV never pursued this agreement.
Marriage
By late October, 1495, Catherine was already married to William CourtenayWilliam Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon was the son of Sir Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Elizabeth Courtenay....
(born 1475). He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1485 creation)
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon KG was an English peer and member of the House of Lords.A loyalist of the House of Tudor, he fought alongside Henry VII at Bosworth and had been one of his original companions in France. There he went to pay homage to the future King of the Lancastrian affinity...
and his wife and distant cousin Elizabeth Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
- Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of ExeterHenry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of ExeterHenry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, KG, PC was the eldest son of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York, and grandson of King Edward IV of England.He was an older brother of Margaret Courtenay...
(c. 1496 – 9 January 1539) - Edward Courtenay (c. 1497 - 12/13 July 1502);
- Margaret CourtenayMargaret CourtenayMargaret Courtenay was the only daughter of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York. Her maternal grandparents were Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville....
(c. 1499 - bef. 1526) married Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 2nd Earl of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester was an English nobleman, son of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Herbert, 3rd Baroness Herbert. On his father's death on 15 April 1526, he succeeded as the second Earl of Worcester...
Her husband was attainted in 1504 and was thus not able to succeed his father on 28 May 1509. Her nephew Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
apparently had greater trust for William and created him Earl of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
on 10 May 1511. However William died on 9 June 1511. He was Earl for less than a full month. Their son Henry succeeded his father, later being created Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon...
.
Later life
Catherine was still only 31 years old and would be expected to marry again. However she took a voluntary vow of chastity in the presence of Richard FitzJamesRichard FitzJames
Richard FitzJames was a medieval Bishop of Rochester, Bishop of Chichester and Bishop of London.FitzJames was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1481 and 1491....
, Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
on 13 July 1511.
As a widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Catherine reportedly went through periods of both "wealth" and "adversity" but was reportedly favored by her nephew Henry VIII who "brought her into a sure estate". She survived her husband by sixteen years. She was buried in Tiverton.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/012001/12/plantagenet_tomb.shtml - Possible discovery of Catherine's tomb.
Ancestry
Catherine or Katherine of York (14 August 1479 – 15 November 1527) was the ninth child and sixth daughter of Edward IV of EnglandEdward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
and Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, sister-in-law to Henry VII
Henry VII
Henry VII may refer to:* Henry VII, Duke of Bavaria * Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor * Henry VII of England * Henry II of Sicily sometimes described as Henry of Germany...
and aunt to Henry VIII.
Early life
She was born in Eltham PalaceEltham Palace
Eltham Palace is a large house in Eltham, within the London Borough of Greenwich, South East London, England. It is an unoccupied royal residence and owned by the Crown Estate. In 1995 its management was handed over to English Heritage which restored the building in 1999 and opened it to the public...
. Edward IV hastened to seek a marriage contract for his youngest daughter. On 28 August 1479, a marriage contract was concluded. The contract promised Catherine to John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand II of Aragon
Ferdinand the Catholic was King of Aragon , Sicily , Naples , Valencia, Sardinia, and Navarre, Count of Barcelona, jure uxoris King of Castile and then regent of that country also from 1508 to his death, in the name of...
and Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I of Castile
Isabella I was Queen of Castile and León. She and her husband Ferdinand II of Aragon brought stability to both kingdoms that became the basis for the unification of Spain. Later the two laid the foundations for the political unification of Spain under their grandson, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor...
. The alliance was still being negotiated when her father died on 9 April 1483. This marriage was never concluded.
Her brother-in-law Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
, husband of her sister Elizabeth
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
, later negotiated with James III of Scotland
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
to obtain a possible husband for her. According to an agreement drawn up in November of 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross
James Stewart, Duke of Ross
James Stewart, Duke of Ross was the son of King James III of Scotland and Margaret of Denmark.-Titles and Offices:He was made Marquess of Ormond at his baptism...
, second son of James III. The same agreement promised the hand of her mother Elizabeth Woodville to James III and the hand of one of her sisters to the future James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
. James III was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn
Battle of Sauchieburn
The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on June 11, 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about two miles south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between as many as 30,000 troops of King James III of Scotland and some 18,000 troops raised by a group of dissident Scottish nobles...
(11 June 1488). His son and successor James IV never pursued this agreement.
Marriage
By late October, 1495, Catherine was already married to William CourtenayWilliam Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon was the son of Sir Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Elizabeth Courtenay....
(born 1475). He was the eldest son and heir-apparent of Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon (1485 creation)
Edward Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon KG was an English peer and member of the House of Lords.A loyalist of the House of Tudor, he fought alongside Henry VII at Bosworth and had been one of his original companions in France. There he went to pay homage to the future King of the Lancastrian affinity...
and his wife and distant cousin Elizabeth Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
- Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of ExeterHenry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of ExeterHenry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, KG, PC was the eldest son of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York, and grandson of King Edward IV of England.He was an older brother of Margaret Courtenay...
(c. 1496 – 9 January 1539) - Edward Courtenay (c. 1497 - 12/13 July 1502);
- Margaret CourtenayMargaret CourtenayMargaret Courtenay was the only daughter of William Courtenay, 1st Earl of Devon and Catherine of York. Her maternal grandparents were Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville....
(c. 1499 - bef. 1526) married Henry Somerset, 2nd Earl of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 2nd Earl of WorcesterHenry Somerset, 2nd Earl of Worcester was an English nobleman, son of Charles Somerset, 1st Earl of Worcester and Elizabeth Herbert, 3rd Baroness Herbert. On his father's death on 15 April 1526, he succeeded as the second Earl of Worcester...
Her husband was attainted in 1504 and was thus not able to succeed his father on 28 May 1509. Her nephew Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
apparently had greater trust for William and created him Earl of Devon
Earl of Devon
The title of Earl of Devon was created several times in the Peerage of England, and was possessed first by the de Redvers family, and later by the Courtenays...
on 10 May 1511. However William died on 9 June 1511. He was Earl for less than a full month. Their son Henry succeeded his father, later being created Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter
Marquess of Exeter is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The first creation came in the Peerage of England in 1525 for Henry Courtenay, 2nd Earl of Devon...
.
Later life
Catherine was still only 31 years old and would be expected to marry again. However she took a voluntary vow of chastity in the presence of Richard FitzJamesRichard FitzJames
Richard FitzJames was a medieval Bishop of Rochester, Bishop of Chichester and Bishop of London.FitzJames was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1481 and 1491....
, Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
on 13 July 1511.
As a widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
, Catherine reportedly went through periods of both "wealth" and "adversity" but was reportedly favored by her nephew Henry VIII who "brought her into a sure estate". She survived her husband by sixteen years. She was buried in Tiverton.
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/news/012001/12/plantagenet_tomb.shtml - Possible discovery of Catherine's tomb.
Ancestry
Ancestors of Catherine of York, Countess of Devon
