On the 3rd January 1437 occurred the death of Catherine of Valois, Queen to Henry V, and after his death to Owen Tudor. Catherine's marriage to Tudor is not documented, but from their relationship the mighty Tudor dynasty sprang.
Catherine is often referred to as rather amorous or 'over sexed,' a derogatory term often thrown at women, which, it seems, is okay behaviour if you're a male!
Catherine is often referred to as rather amorous or 'over sexed,' a derogatory term often thrown at women, which, it seems, is okay behaviour if you're a male!
Catherine is thought to have died whilst in Bermondsey Abbey and was buried in the old Lady chapel of Westminster Abbey. In 1503 Catherine's body had been was found 'loosely wrapped in lead' From the sixteenth to the eighteenth century her remains were often displayed as a curiosity.
One of the saddest things I've read about Catherine was written by Samuel Pepys in his diary in 1660.
"I now took to Westminster Abbey, it being Shrove Tuesday;and here we did see, by particular favour, the body of
Queen Katerine of Valois; and I had the upper part of her body in my hands, and I did kiss her mouth, reflecting upon it that I
did kiss a Queen, and that this was my birthday, thirty six years old, that I did first kiss a Queen. When Henry the Seventh
built his chapel, it was taken up and laid in this wooden coffin; but I did there see that, in it, the body was buried in a leaden
one, which remains under the body to this day"
Not the actions of a normal man surely? Somebody ought to have given him a clip round the ear!
One of the saddest things I've read about Catherine was written by Samuel Pepys in his diary in 1660.
"I now took to Westminster Abbey, it being Shrove Tuesday;and here we did see, by particular favour, the body of
Queen Katerine of Valois; and I had the upper part of her body in my hands, and I did kiss her mouth, reflecting upon it that I
did kiss a Queen, and that this was my birthday, thirty six years old, that I did first kiss a Queen. When Henry the Seventh
built his chapel, it was taken up and laid in this wooden coffin; but I did there see that, in it, the body was buried in a leaden
one, which remains under the body to this day"
Not the actions of a normal man surely? Somebody ought to have given him a clip round the ear!
Sadly, Catherine's remains were still left unburied and available to view at Westminster until 1793! It was not until the late
19th century that it was removed to Henry V's chantry.
19th century that it was removed to Henry V's chantry.
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