Catherine of Navarre
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Catherine ( eu, Katalina, oc, Catarina; 1468 – 12 February 1517),
Queen of Navarre This is a list of the kings and queens of kingdom of Pamplona, Pamplona, later kingdom of Navarre, Navarre. Pamplona was the primary name of the kingdom until its union with Kingdom of Aragon, Aragon (1076–1134). However, the territorial desig ...
, reigned from 1483 until 1517. She was also Duchess of
Gandia Gandia ( es, Gandía) is a city and municipality in the Valencian Community, eastern Spain on the Mediterranean. Gandia is located on the Costa del Azahar (or ''Costa dels Tarongers''), south of Valencia and north of Alicante. Vehicles can acce ...
, Montblanc, and Peñafiel, Countess of
Foix Foix (; oc, Fois ; ca, Foix ) is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. It is the capital of the department of Ariège as it is the seat of the Préfecture of that department. Foix is located in the Occitanie region of south ...
,
Bigorre Bigorre ({{IPA-fr, biɡɔʁ; Gascon: ''Bigòrra'') is a region in southwest France, historically an independent county and later a French province, located in the upper watershed of the Adour, on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, part of t ...
, and Ribagorza, and Viscountess of
Béarn The Béarn (; ; oc, Bearn or ''Biarn''; eu, Bearno or ''Biarno''; or ''Bearnia'') is one of the traditional provinces of France, located in the Pyrenees mountains and in the plain at their feet, in southwest France. Along with the three Bas ...
.


Biography

Catherine was the younger daughter of Gaston of Foix, Prince of Viana, and
Magdalena of Valois Madeleine of France, also called Magdalena of Valois (1 December 1443 – 21 January 1495), was a French princess who became Princess of Viana by marriage to Gaston of Foix. She was the regent of Navarre between 1479 and 1494 during the minorit ...
, the sister of
Louis XI of France Louis XI (3 July 1423 – 30 August 1483), called "Louis the Prudent" (french: le Prudent), was King of France from 1461 to 1483. He succeeded his father, Charles VII. Louis entered into open rebellion against his father in a short-lived revo ...
. She was born and raised during the reign of her paternal great-grandfather, King John II, who was succeeded by her grandmother
Eleanor Eleanor () is a feminine given name, originally from an Old French adaptation of the Old Provençal name ''Aliénor''. It is the name of a number of women of royalty and nobility in western Europe during the High Middle Ages. The name was introd ...
in 1479. Their father having already died, the crown of Navarre devolved upon Catherine's brother
Francis Phoebus Francis Phoebus ( eu, Frantzisko Febus, french: François Fébus, oc, Francés Fèbus, es, Francisco Febo; 4 December 1467 – 7 January 1483) was King of Navarre (1479–1483), Viscount of Bearn, and Count of Foix (1472). He was the son of G ...
upon their grandmother's death the same year.


Reign

In 1483 the death of Francis made Catherine queen under the regency of their mother. Her uncle John of Foix, appealing to the
Salic Law The Salic law ( or ; la, Lex salica), also called the was the ancient Frankish civil law code compiled around AD 500 by the first Frankish King, Clovis. The written text is in Latin and contains some of the earliest known instances of Old Du ...
alien to the
Kingdom of Navarre The Kingdom of Navarre (; , , , ), originally the Kingdom of Pamplona (), was a Basque kingdom that occupied lands on both sides of the western Pyrenees, alongside the Atlantic Ocean between present-day Spain and France. The medieval state took ...
, claimed the throne and ignited a
civil war A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...
(1483–1492) that reignited the old conflict of the Beaumont-Agramont parties. In 1484, hard pressed by ambitions over the throne of Navarre, Magdalena of Valois decided to marry 15-year-old Catherine to
John of Albret John III (french: Jean d'Albret; 1469 – 14 June 1516) was ''jure uxoris'' King of Navarre from 1484 until his death, as husband and co-ruler with Catherine of Navarre, Queen Catherine. He was a son of Alain I of Albret, Alain I, Lord of Albret ...
, hailing from a noble family in western Gascony. This marriage was favored by many of Catherine's Iberian subjects and would have given Catherine much needed support in her fight against her uncle's claim. The wedding took place at the Notre Dâme Cathedral of
Lescar Lescar (; oc, Lescar) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department and Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of south-western France. Lescar is the site of the Roman city known variously as Benearnum, Beneharnum or Civitas Benarnensium, the lo ...
in 1486, but the coronation of the young couple in Pamplona was deferred until 1494, after a fleeting peace treaty with Louis of Beaumont, Count of Lerín, and Catherine's granduncle, King Ferdinand II of Aragon, was signed. However, the marriage did not garner the sympathy of the Navarrese Beaumont party, always preferring
Isabella I of Castile Isabella I ( es, Isabel I; 22 April 1451 – 26 November 1504), also called Isabella the Catholic (Spanish: ''la Católica''), was Queen of Castile from 1474 until her death in 1504, as well as List of Aragonese royal consorts, Queen consort ...
's and
Ferdinand II of Aragon Ferdinand II ( an, Ferrando; ca, Ferran; eu, Errando; it, Ferdinando; la, Ferdinandus; es, Fernando; 10 March 1452 – 23 January 1516), also called Ferdinand the Catholic (Spanish: ''el Católico''), was King of Aragon and Sardinia from ...
's offer to marry Catherine to their son
John, Prince of Asturias John, Prince of Asturias and Girona ( es, Juan; 30 June 1478 – 4 October 1497), was the only son of King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile, and heir-apparent to both their thrones for nearly his entire life. Early lif ...
, and even the Agramont party split. Catherine's mother Magdalena died in 1495. The marriage appears not to have been consummated until 1491. It is possible that the consummation, being a political event, was purposely postponed in order to prevent Catherine and her husband being declared of legal majority, which would allow Catherine's mother Magdalena to continue her regency.Woodacre, Elena (2013). The Queens Regnant of Navarre: Succession, Politics, and Partnership, 1274-1512. Palgrave Macmillan. In any event, Catherine's mother Magdalena continued her regency even after the coronation of Catherine and her spouse in 1494, and continued to sign charters and other documents and be mentioned first. In 1494, Magdalena's regency was finally ended when Magdalena was taken hostage by Aragon, and Catherine personally took control over the government with her husband at the age of twenty-six. Catherine was described as “very mature, she had great courage, prudence and the magnanimity and always worked with all fidelity at the royal pledges to help the King, her husband, in the government as it ran to both their account.” In 1504, she made her will, confirming her son
Henry Henry may refer to: People *Henry (given name) * Henry (surname) * Henry Lau, Canadian singer and musician who performs under the mononym Henry Royalty * Portuguese royalty ** King-Cardinal Henry, King of Portugal ** Henry, Count of Portugal, ...
's right to succeed her and expressing her wish to be buried at the Cathedral of Pamplona—ultimately both she and John were interred in Lescar. The political alliance between the houses of Valois and
Foix Foix (; oc, Fois ; ca, Foix ) is a commune, the former capital of the County of Foix. It is the capital of the department of Ariège as it is the seat of the Préfecture of that department. Foix is located in the Occitanie region of south ...
ahead of an impending Spanish invasion led to marriage negotiations between Catherine and
Louis XII Louis XII (27 June 14621 January 1515), was King of France from 1498 to 1515 and King of Naples from 1501 to 1504. The son of Charles, Duke of Orléans, and Maria of Cleves, he succeeded his 2nd cousin once removed and brother in law at the tim ...
in 1512. It was suggested that Henry should marry a daughter of the French king.


1512 Castilian-Aragonese invasion

Ferdinand, who had allied with the Pope against France, presented a set of claims to the legitimate royal family of Navarre. Catherine did not accept the demands, and Ferdinand sent
Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Duke of Alba Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez, 2nd Duke of Alva (in full, es, Don Fadrique Álvarez de Toledo y Enríquez de Quiñones, segundo Duque de Alba de Tormes, segundo marqués de Coria, conde de Salvatierra, señor del estado de Valdecorne ...
, who occupied
Pamplona Pamplona (; eu, Iruña or ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. It is also the third-largest city in the greater Basque cultural region. Lying at near above ...
on 25 July 1512. The Castilians went on to conquer St-Jean-Pied-de-Port (Donibane Garazi in
Basque Basque may refer to: * Basques, an ethnic group of Spain and France * Basque language, their language Places * Basque Country (greater region), the homeland of the Basque people with parts in both Spain and France * Basque Country (autonomous co ...
) after setting fire to
Roncevaux Roncesvalles ( , ; eu, Orreaga ; an, Ronzesbals ; french: Roncevaux ) is a small village and municipality in Navarre, northern Spain. It is situated on the small river Urrobi at an altitude of some in the Pyrenees, about from the French bor ...
, and wrought havoc across the ''merindad'' of Ultrapuertos (
Lower Navarre Lower Navarre ( eu, Nafarroa Beherea/Baxenabarre; Gascon/Bearnese: ''Navarra Baisha''; french: Basse-Navarre ; es, Baja Navarra) is a traditional region of the present-day French ''département'' of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It corresponds to the ...
). The Spanish troops would retain the southern half of that region intermittently for the next years. Catherine and John III, overwhelmed by the Castilian push, fled to Bearn, constituent part of their kingdom. They set their base in Pau, Orthez and Tarbes, where they alternately resided most of the time until their deaths. On 23 March 1513, the
Cortes Cortes, Cortés, Cortês, Corts, or Cortès may refer to: People * Cortes (surname), including a list of people with the name ** Hernán Cortés (1485–1547), a Spanish conquistador Places * Cortes, Navarre, a village in the South border of N ...
of Navarre reunited in Pamplona (Iruñea in Basque), greatly reduced to the pro-Spanish Beaumont party, and pledged allegiance to Ferdinand in exchange for his loyalty to the Navarrese laws. In 1515, Upper Navarre was annexed to the
Crown of Castile The Crown of Castile was a medieval polity in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and, some decades later, the parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accessi ...
as a different kingdom (''aeque principalis''), and it would be one constituent part of the Kingdom of the Spains, as Spain came to be known during the following period.


Later years

In 1516, two columns led by King John III and
Pedro, Marshal of Navarre Pedro de Navarra ( eu, Petri Nafarroakoa; before 1471 - 24 November 1522) was a nobleman in Navarre and its highest military authority as Marshal of Navarre during the kingdom's last years of independence, as well as the following tumultuous period ...
, crossed the Pyrenees south and attempted to reconquer Navarre but they failed to progress into the heartland of the kingdom. Devastated by the defeats undergone, John retreated to
Monein Monein (; oc, Monenh) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. Geography Neighbouring Communes *North: Lahourcade and Pardies *West: Lucq-de-Béarn and Cardesse *South: Estialescq and Lasseube *East: ...
, and died on 17 June 1516. Queen Catherine did not outlive her husband much longer, and died in her domain of
Mont-de-Marsan Mont-de-Marsan (; Occitan: ''Lo Mont de Marçan'') is a commune and capital of the Landes department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, southwestern France. Population Military installations The French Air and Space Force operates the ''Constantin Rozan ...
on 12 February 1517, just a few months later. By then, she had given birth to 13 children (other sources point to 14). From 1512 to her death in 1517, Catherine was actual queen only in some areas of
Basse-Navarre Lower Navarre ( eu, Nafarroa Beherea/Baxenabarre; Gascon/Bearnese: ''Navarra Baisha''; french: Basse-Navarre ; es, Baja Navarra) is a traditional region of the present-day French ''département'' of Pyrénées-Atlantiques. It corresponds to the ...
, or Lower Navarre, north of the
Pyrenees The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...
, but her domains extended to the contiguous Principality of Bearn and other lands.


Children

She and
John III of Navarre John III (french: Jean d'Albret; 1469 – 14 June 1516) was ''jure uxoris'' King of Navarre from 1484 until his death, as husband and co-ruler with Queen Catherine. He was a son of Alain I, Lord of Albret and his wife Frances, Countess of Pér ...
were parents to thirteen children: * Anne of Navarre (19 May 1492 – 15 August 1532). *Magdalena of Navarre (29 March 1494 – May 1504). *Catherine of Navarre (1495 – November 1532). Abbess of the Trinity at
Caen Caen (, ; nrf, Kaem) is a commune in northwestern France. It is the prefecture of the department of Calvados. The city proper has 105,512 inhabitants (), while its functional urban area has 470,000,Montivilliers Montivilliers ( or ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Seine-Maritime Departments of France, department in the Normandy (administrative region), Normandy region in northern France. Geography A large light industry, light industrial and farm ...
. *A stillborn son in 1500. *Andrew Phoebus of Navarre (14 October 1501 – 17 April 1503). *
Henry II of Navarre Henry II (18 April 1503 – 25 May 1555), nicknamed ''Sangüesino'' because he was born at Sangüesa, was the King of Navarre from 1517, although his kingdom had been reduced to a small territory north of the Pyrenees by the Spanish conquest of 1 ...
(18 April 1503 – 25 May 1555).''The Encyclopædia Britannica'', Vol.13, (New York:1910), 293. *Buenaventura of Navarre (14 July 1505 – 1510/1511). *Martin of Navarre (c. 1506 – last mentioned in 1512). *Francis of Navarre (1508 – last mentioned in 1512). *
Charles of Navarre Charles of Navarre or Charles d'Albret (12 December 1510, Pau - September 1528, Naples) was a prince of Navarre. Charles was a member of the Albret dynasty and one of the youngest children of the Navarrese monarchs Catherine and John III. On t ...
(12 December 1510 – September 1528). Took part in the Siege of Naples during the
War of the League of Cognac The War of the League of Cognac (1526–30) was fought between the Habsburg dominions of Charles V—primarily the Holy Roman Empire and Spain—and the League of Cognac, an alliance including the Kingdom of France, Pope Clement VII, the Repub ...
but was captured. Died while still held as a
prisoner of war A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...
. *
Isabella of Navarre Isabella of Navarre (1395 – 31 August 1450) was the younger surviving daughter of Charles III of Navarre and his wife Eleanor of Castile (d. 1416), Eleanor of Castile. She was a member of the House of Évreux. Early life and family Shortly be ...
(1513/1514 – last mentioned in 1555). Married Rene I, Viscount of Rohan.


References


External links

* , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Catherine Of Navarre 1468 births 1517 deaths 15th-century Princes of Andorra 16th-century Princes of Andorra 15th-century Navarrese monarchs 16th-century Navarrese monarchs 15th-century women rulers 16th-century women rulers Queens regnant of Navarre Princes of Andorra
Navarre Navarre (; es, Navarra ; eu, Nafarroa ), officially the Chartered Community of Navarre ( es, Comunidad Foral de Navarra, links=no ; eu, Nafarroako Foru Komunitatea, links=no ), is a foral autonomous community and province in northern Spain, ...
House of Foix Counts of Foix Burials at Lescar Cathedral Navarrese infantas