Catherine of Valois Biography

Birth of Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI of France

Henry V opens marriage negotiations, along with a large dowry and acknowledgement of his right to the throne of France

Catherine and Henry V are married at the Parish Church of St John or at Troyes Cathedral

Coronation of Catherine of Valois, Queen to Henry V

Birth of Henry VI, son of Henry V & Catherine of Valois

Death of Henry V. Henry V never saw their child (the future Henry VI). Catherine is only 20 and becomes a Queen Dowager

Death of Henry V. Henry V never saw their child (the future Henry VI). Catherine is only 20 and becomes a Queen Dowager

Charles VI died a couple of months after Henry V, making the young Henry VI king of England and English-occupied northern France

There is no clear evidence either way whether Catherine and Owen Tudor actually married. No documentation of such a marriage exists. Moreover, even if they had been married, the question exists if the marriage would have been lawful, given the Act of 1428. From the relationship of Owen Tudor and Queen Catherine descended the Tudor dynasty of England, starting with King Henry VII

Parliament of 1427 passed a bill which set forth the provision that if the queen dowager remarried without the King's consent, her husband would forfeit his lands and possessions, although any children of the marriage would not suffer punishment. The King's consent was contingent upon his having attained his majority. At that time, the king was only six years old

Birth of Edmund Tudor, later Henry VII, son of Catherine & Owen Tudor

Secretly marries Henry Tudor, a commoner & so she can avoid objections by Parliament

Catherine entered into a sexual relationship with Welshman Owen ap Maredudd ap Tudor, who, in 1421, in France, had been in the service of Henry Vs steward Sir Walter Hungerford. Tudor was probably appointed keeper of Catherines household or wardrobe.

The relationship began when Catherine lived at Windsor Castle, and she became pregnant with their first child there. At some point, she stopped living in the King's household and in May 1432 Parliament granted Owen the rights of an Englishman.

This was important because of Henry IVs laws limiting the rights of Welshmen

Retires to a nunnery

Buried in Westminster Abbey

Death of Catherine of Valois. Shortly after childbirth