Last week, I visited Vila Viçosa (Portugal) and in
order to illustrate the importance of such a visit, I decided to write this
post regarding the figure of Catherine of Branganza and her marriage to Charles
II.
Negotiations for the marriage began during the reign
of King Charles I, were renewed immediately after the Restoration, and on the
23rd of June, in spite of Spanish opposition, the marriage contract was signed,
England securing Tangier (in North Africa) and Bombay (in India), with trading
privileges in Brazil and the East Indies, religious and commercial freedom in
Portugal and two million Portuguese crowns (about £300,000); while Portugal
obtained military and naval support against Spain and liberty of worship for
Catherine. She reached England on the 13th of May 1662, but was not visited by
Charles at Portsmouth until the 20th. The next day the marriage was solemnized
twice, according to the Roman Catholic and Anglican usages. Catherine possessed
several good qualities, but had been brought up in a conventual seclusion and
was scarcely a wife Charles would have chosen for himself. Her personal charms
were not potent enough to wean Charles away from the society of his mistresses,
and in a few weeks after her arrival she became aware of her painful and
humiliating position as the wife of a licentious king.
The couple were married in two more ceremonies – a
Catholic one conducted in secret, followed by a public Anglican service – on 21
May at Domus Dei now known as the Royal Garrison Church at Portsmouth. Little
is known of Catherine's own thoughts on the match. While her mother plotted and
schemed to secure an alliance with England and her future husband celebrated
his restoration by sporting with his mistresses, Catherine's time had been
spent in the sombre seclusion of her convent home where there was little
opportunity for fun or frivolity. Even outside of the convent her actions were
governed by the strict etiquette of the royal court of Portugal. By all
accounts Catherine grew into a quiet, even-tempered young woman. The Portuguese
Ambassador proudly remarked that she was, 'totally without that meddling and
activity in her nature.' At the time of her marriage she was already
twenty-three, (something which was not lost on her critics), and had long since
resigned herself to the necessity of making a grand match abroad. Contented and
serene, Catherine's rather quaint response on being told of her impending
nuptials was to request permission to make a pilgrimage to a favourite shrine
of hers in Lisbon. Devoted to her beloved Portugal, as she set sail for England
any distress she may have felt at leaving her family and her home was no doubt
lessened by the knowledge that her marriage had been hailed as 'the welcomest
news that ever came to the Portuguese people'.
Catherine became pregnant and miscarried three times,
and during a severe illness in 1663, she thought, for a time, she had given
birth. Charles comforted her by telling her she had indeed given birth to two
sons and a daughter. Her position was a difficult one, though Charles continued
to have children by his many mistresses, he insisted she be treated with
respect, and sided with her over his mistresses when he felt she was not
receiving the respect she was due. After her three miscarriages, it seemed to
be more and more unlikely that the queen would bear an heir. Royal advisors
urged the monarch to seek a divorce. hoping that the new wife would be a
protestant and fertile, but Charles refused. This eventually led to her being a
target by the courtiers.
She did not involve herself in English politics,
instead she kept up an active interest in her native country. Anxious to
re-establish good relations with the Pope and perhaps gain recognition for
Portuguese independence, she sent Richard Bellings, later her principal
secretary, to Rome with letters for the pope and several cardinals. In 1669 she
involved herself in the relief of Candia in Crete, which was under siege by the
Turks and whose cause Rome was promoting, although she failed to persuade her
husband to take any action. In 1670, as a sign of her rising favour with the
pontiff she requested, and was granted, devotional objects.
On the first presentation to Charles
Maîtresse-en-titre, Barbara Palmer, 1st Duchess of Cleveland, who was created
the Countess of Castlemaine (Lady Castlemaine), she fainted away when Charles
insisted on making her Catherine's lady of the bedchamber. She accepted
Castlemaine, however later withdrew from the king's society, and in spite of
Clarendon's attempts to moderate her resentment, declared she would return to
Portugal rather than consent to a base compliance. To overcome her resistance
nearly the whole of her Portuguese retinue was dismissed. She was helpless, and
the violence of her grief and anger soon changed to passive resistance, and
then to a complete forbearance and complaisance which gained the king's regard
and favor. In the midst of Charles's debauched and licentious court, she lived
neglected and retired.
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Works Consulted
Plaidy, Jean.
(2008). ''The Merry Monarch's Wife: The Story of Catherine of Braganza.''
Broadway. ISBN 0-307-34617-X
Plaidy, Jean.
(2005). ''The Loves of Charles II: The Stuart Saga.'' Broadway. ISBN
1-4000-8248-X
Koen, Karleen.
(2006). ''Dark Angels.'' Broadway. ISBN 0-307-33992-0
Sousa, Manuel E.
(1995). ''Catherine of Braganza.'' Howell Press Inc. ISBN 978-9729019739
Elsna, Hebe.
(1967). ''Catherine of Braganza : Charles II's Queen.'' Hale.
Mackay, Janet.
(1937).''Catherine of Braganza.'' J. Long, Limited; First Edition edition.
Barnes, Margaret
Campbell. (1951). ''With All My Heart: The Love Story of Catherine of
Braganza.'' Macrae-Smith Company.
