OTD 3 January 1437 Catherine of Valois

On 27 October 1401, Catherine of Valois was born at the Hôtel St. Pol in
Paris, France.



Family

Catherine was the youngest daughter of King Charles VI of France and
Isabeau of Bavaria.

Her siblings were inter alia:

- Isabella, Queen of England;
- Michelle of Burgundy (first wife of Philip the Good);
- King Charles VII of France.

She was thus a member of the noble house of Valois.



Love and Marriage

In May 1420, a peace treatment was made between France and England
during the Hundred Year's War. The document was called the Treaty of
Troyes, in which King Charles VII of France recognized King Henry V
of England as his heir.

On 2 June 1420 Catherine of Valois married Henry V of England at the
Cathedral of Troyes. Later Catherine went with her husband to England
where she was crowned as Queen at Westminster Abbey on 23
February 1421. Her husband King Henry V returned to France to
continue the war.

By this time Catherine was already pregnant and on 6 December 1421,
she gave birth to a son Henry. Her husband never saw his own son,
because on 31 August 1422 King Henry V of England died.

At the age of 21, Catherine became a widow and queen dowager.
She started a relationship with Owen Tudor, a Welshman. This began
when Catherine lived at Windsor Castle.

Catherine and Owen Tudor started the Tudor dynasty in England,
however there were no mentions that the two actually were married!
But Tudor historians do mention a marriage.
Catherine and Owen would have several children together.



Death

Catherine of Valois, the dowager queen of England died on 3 January 1437
shortly after childbirth in London. She was buried at Westminster Abbey.





Source pictures: Wikipedia



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