House York Father Edward IV | Name Catherine York | |
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Children Henry Courtenay, 1st Marquess of Exeter, Margaret Courtenay, Baroness Herbert Parents Elizabeth Woodville, Edward IV of England Siblings Elizabeth of York, Cecily of York, Anne of York Similar People | ||
Catherine or Katherine of York (14 August 1479 – 15 November 1527) was the ninth child and sixth daughter of King Edward IV by his wife Elizabeth Woodville. From birth to death, she was daughter to Edward IV, sister to Edward V, niece to Richard III, sister-in-law to Henry VII and aunt to Henry VIII.
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Early life
The daughter of King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Catherine of York was born at Eltham Palace in 1479.
During her early years, one potential husband for Catherine was John, Prince of Asturias, eldest son of Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.
According to an agreement drawn up in 1487, Catherine would marry James Stewart, Duke of Ross, second son of James III. This agreement was nullified with the death of James III in 1488.
Marriage
In October 1495, Henry VII arranged a marriage between Catherine and William Courtenay. They were parents to three children:
In 1500, Catherine and William Courtenay moved to their home on Warwick Lane. After this point, the couple was regularly at court.
Catherine was the chief mourner at the funeral of her sister, Elizabeth of York, in 1503.
In 1504, William Courtenay was charged with treason in relation to his dealings with Edmund de la Pole. Catherine remained at court. William Courtenay was pardoned in 1509 and restored by Henry VIII in 1511.
Later life
After William Courtenay's death in 1511, Henry VIII gave Catherine control of the earldom. The title went to the couple's son Henry.
On 13 July 1511, Catherine took a vow of celibacy in the presence of Richard FitzJames, Bishop of London.
For the rest of her life, Catherine remained in the favor of Henry VIII. She was godmother to his daughter Mary.
Catherine outlived all of her siblings by over a decade, dying in 1527. She died at Tiverton Castle and was buried next door at St Peter's Church following an elaborate funeral.
Arms
The arms of Catherine were her husband’s arms impaling her own paternal arms: Baron: Quarterly, first and fourth: or, three torteaux (Courtenay); second and third: or, a lion rampant azure (de Redverd); Femme: quarterly, first: France modern and England, second and third: or, a cross gules (de Burgh), fourth (Mortimer). These arms may be seen, exposed to the elements and thus very worn, sculpted above the south porch of St Peter's Church, Tiverton, Devon.