Charles II is remembered today in history as a King who lived a very hedonistic lifestyle.
He also was a King who was invited onto the throne during the Restoration of the Monarchy,
and he sought to punish those men who signed the death warrant and execution notice of
his father Charles I. He ordered some people such as Oliver Cromwell to be dug up from
Westminster Abbey, and his remains were paraded throughout London before they were posthumously
executed.
But his title as the Merry Monarch derives from the fact he was a King who loved women
and had many mistresses, and he also partied heavily and drank lots.
But despite having a number of mistresses, and it’s believed 12 illegitimate children
he did have a wife who was married to him for a number of decades.
Catherine of Braganza today is remembered as the forgotten wife of Charles II, and she
was mistreated by her husband.
But what is her story?
Catherine was born on the 25th November 1638 in Portugal, and she was the son of the King
of Portugal John IV.
Her father was proclaimed King on the 1st December 1640, and her father’s position
now as a powerful European monarch saw Catherine as a daughter who could be used to later secure
an alliance with a powerful European nation.
Portugal was building up a large widespread colonial empire, and Catherine was proposed
as a bride for John of Austria, Louis XIV of France and Charles II of England.
But Charles II was chosen, marriage negotiations later took place.
Her mother was considered a power behind the throne, Queen Luisa and she was a devoted
mother, and she kept a close eye on Catherine’s education, but she was given a rather sheltered
upbringing.
However the negotiations for the marriage of Charles II and Catherine of Braganza took
place following the Restoration of the Monarchy in England.
Many Spanish people opposed the marriage, but it was signed off on the 23rd June 1661.
The negotiations included instruction for the army, and Catherine came to England around
the 13th May 1662 but she was not visited by her husband to be Charles until a week
later.
The couple married at Portsmouth in a Catholic secret ceremony, but also a public Anglican
service.
But then on the 30th September 1662, the couple came to London and were part of a huge procession,
and musicians and minstrels played their way into the city, and many played the Portuguese
Bagpipes, the Queen’s favourite instrument.
They processed as the royal couple throughout the city, over a large bridge which had also
been especially built.
They were greeted by the Queen Mother at their palace, Charles’ mother and then fireworks
marked the evenings celebrations.
Catherine despite having a secluded upbringing did have a number of good Queen like qualities.
Henrietta Maria, her mother in law and the wife of the executed Charles I stated, she
‘is the best creature in the world, from whom I have so much affection, I have the
joy to see the King love her extremely, She is a saint!.’
However despite her charm, and beauty she was never enough for her husband.
It’s not really known what Catherine thought of her husband, but Charles II’s lifestyle
was a huge departure from the life in the covent that she was accustomed to and used
to.
Charles despite being married could not keep himself away from his mistresses and within
a few weeks of coming to England, she knew that she was the wife of an adulterous King
who would play away with many women.
She was not use to the frivolous lifestyle her husband had, and it’s considered that
she was a rather quiet woman who at times did not utter her frustrations towards her
husbands life.
She became pregnant at least three times and miscarried these, but her husband did comfort
her.
During one bout of severe illness Catherine was delusional and believed she had given
birth, but Charles II did lie to her, and said she had given birth to two sons and a
daughter.
But Charles continued to see his mistresses, and despite treating his wife with respect
at court, and insisting that she be treated like a Queen, he had a large number of illegitimate
children with his mistresses.
He made many of them pregnant and allegedly had 12 illegitimate children, but he did not
have a legitimate heir from his marriage with Catherine of Braganza.
Following her miscarriages, some royal advisors told the King to seek a divorce and to marry
a new Protestant wife who was considered futile, but Charles refused to do this and he dismissed
the idea of divorcing her.
Catherine was faithful to her husband despite him not being so faithful and loyal.
But because she was a Catholic, she was not the most popular monarch England has ever
seen.
Her religion prevented her being crowned a Queen, and she faced difficulties with language
barriers, but her loyalty to the King did change the public’s perception of her.
She did become a little but more fun, as at court she would play cards and also play on
Sunday’s which shocked protestants, and she also enjoyed dancing and taking part in
masques.
She loved the countryside and would fish and partake in archery sessions.
She seemed to be liberated from her days at the convent, and she also allegedly ‘showed
off her pretty, near legs and ankles,’ and she wore shorter dresses as time went on.
She even at one point in 1670 attended a country fair in disguise but was quickly discovered
by the crowd who wanted to see her.
She was not involved in English politics, but was active in what was happening back
home in Portugal.
Charles II had a royal yacht built for her, and Catherine would travel up the Thames on
it, and also return to Portugal on it.
But there was a shocking moment at court, when Barbara Palmer the King’s official
mistress was presented to her.
Charles insisted on making his mistress Catherine’s Lady of the Bed chamber, and following this
she was furious.
Catherine stopped spending time with the King, and she declared she would return to Portugal
rather than accept Palmer as the lady of her bedchamber.
Charles then dismissed all of her Portuguese ladies and courtiers, and she stopped resisting
when this happened, but this broke Queen Catherine.
She was the target of anti-Catholic sentiment, and was seen as dangerous by some Protestants.
She was a target of Protestant extremists, and there was a plot against her but the animosity
towards her brought Charles and Catherine closer.
He visited her quarters more often, but Charles in 1685 was ill and he was dying.
He asked for Catherine but she sent a message asking that her presence at his deathbed be
excused.
Following the King’s death, she remained in England and lived in Somerset House throughout
the reign and deposition of James II her brother in law.
She remained in England, and stayed here due to a lawsuit she had against her former Lord
Chamberlain, and she was very money motivated.
After the Glorious Revolution when William III and Mary II came onto the throne, she
had a good position with them, but this got worse over debates about religion.
She was forced out and returned to Portugal in 1692, and it’s alleged she secretly married
Louis de Duras, the 2nd Earl of Feversham.
But on the 31st December 1705 she died at Bemposta Palace in Lisbon.
But her legacy is an interesting one.
It’s believed that it was her that may have brought tea drinking to England, and she also
brought other items such as Porcelain and Cottons to popularity.
But ultimately her life was very sad and rather tragic.
She could not produce a legitimate heir to the throne, and she lived almost in the shadows
when Charles II would visit his many mistresses.
She was a woman cast aside by the King as he preferred the company and bed of other
women, but despite being unable to produce a son or daughter to rule next, the King did
have a number of illegitimate children.
This must have plagued and hurt Catherine of Braganza, and must have been heartbreaking
for her to have lived with.
Thanks for watching
To support our channel, please make sure to subscribe