Catherine of Braganza has regularly been referred to as ‘the forgotten queen’ and there is much truth in this statement. This new biography places Catherine within the context of the history of Portugal and their seaborne empire, and the strong political and commercial ties between England and Portugal dating to the mid-fourteenth century which played a key role in the culmination of the Marriage Treaty of 1661. Her legacy lives on in her dowry, specifically the port of Bombay which allowed England to become a global empire, introducing many everyday items into European culture.
Catherine had a rough time when she arrived in England to marry the Stuart King Charles II. First of all, the Portuguese court was solemn and subject to rigid etiquette, and she had been given a convent education, supervised by her mother. It’s unclear if she lived in the convent, was taken there for instruction or the nuns came to her, but she grew up very religious and dedicated to her Catholic faith. She clearly had not been tutored in politics or governance or how to cultivate supporters. To be thrown into the decadent atmosphere of the Stuart Restoration court had to have been extremely difficult for her.
Catherine had a hard time with the courtiers swarming around her making demands and she didn’t like the food. She did not drink liquor and probably drank water which wasn’t a good thing to do. She became ill and withdrew from court for a while, seeking refuge in her chapel. But the Portuguese ambassador eventually convinced her to join in court festivities.
One of the first signs of trouble in the marriage occurred when Lady Castlemaine, Charles’ premier mistress at the time, insisted on being given a position in Catherine’s court. We don’t know how Catherine first learned about Castlemaine. Perhaps her astute mother Queen Luisa, or someone in her Portuguese entourage, told the queen about Castlemaine. Or she just observed Charles’ behaviour and figured it out. When Charles first introduced his mistress to Catherine by surprise in a crowded room, Catherine had a nosebleed and fainted, which infuriated and embarrassed Charles.
Lady Castlemaine, Charles’ premier mistress
at the time of his marriage to Catherine
The queen refused to allow Castlemaine a position which was perfectly within her rights, and Charles’ lord chancellor, Henry Hyde did his best to convince Catherine to accept this state of affairs. But Catherine had a temper and expected to be treated according to her station in life and adamantly refused, even going so far as to threaten to return to Lisbon. Charles dismissed all of Catherine’s Portuguese servants except for one elderly lady-in-waiting and her Portuguese priests. And people in the court began to shun Catherine.
Just at this juncture, during an impasse, Catherine’s mother-in-law, Dowager Queen Henrietta Maria arrived from France for a visit. Henrietta Maria, very pleased that Charles had married a Catholic, adored Catherine. The two women shared worshipping together and spent many hours in conversation. It is highly likely Henrietta Maria convinced Catherine to accept her husband’s infidelities and concentrate on having an heir.
Catherine had the wherewithal to make a deliberate decision to accept Lady Castlemaine and gave her the coveted position in her household. With the encouragement of her mother-in-law, as well as her husband, Catherine resolved to learn to dance and began to participate in court functions. She loved her husband, and they got along well together although she did complain about her treatment by the mistresses.
Susan Abernethy
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About the Author
I've always felt sorry for Catherine of Braganza. Must have been such a culture shock for her moving from Portugal to England and to such a free-and-easy court - if that's the right word!
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