Alternate History: What If Catherine of Aragon Agreed to the Divorce With Henry VIII?

If Catherine of Aragon had accepted her divorce from Henry VIII would it have changed much? So much resided on that decision to fight.

Henry VIII tore the country apart just to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn. He believed that his marriage to Catherine was not valid due to her previous marriage to his brother Arthur. However, she regularly said that her marriage to Arthur was not consummated, so she and Henry were able to marry.

Her belief that her marriage was valid led to Henry tearing the country apart religiously. He broke from Rome and caused problems that would last for the centuries. But what if Catherine of Aragon never did all that? What if Catherine of Aragon agreed to the divorce that Henry VIII wanted? What would that alternate history look like?

Catherine of Aragon and Mary Tudor Would Have Been Cared For

Henry VIII would have provided for his ex-wife and daughter had Catherine just agreed to the divorce.

Catherine of Aragon's life may have been very different by agreeing to the divorce. Henry VIII showed his fourth wife what came from bowing to his wants and desires. Anne of Cleves was later faced with the same problem of Henry VIII wanting a divorce. She was well provided for afterwards, and the same thing may have happened to Catherine of Aragon.

As a “reward” for agreeing to Henry, he was willing to let her go to a nunnery. She could have been much happier, and even healthier. There is no confirmation over what caused her death, but cancer is suspected. While her death would have likely been at the same time, it could have been much more comfortable.

Mary Tudor would have also been provided for and cared for. Rather than helping to raise her half-sister, she would have possibly had her own properties, and may have even been married off earlier. She certainly would have been able to visit her mother, which is something all mother and daughter wanted by the time of Catherine of Aragon’s death.

The Religious Reformation Would Have Been Very Different

While the religious reformation may have still happened, it would have likely been very different without Henry's need to break from Rome.

There were many changes to religion after 1533. Henry VIII initially broke away from Rome and was focusing on radicalising the religion. With the help of Anne Boleyn and her reformist sympathisers, Henry VIII quickly brought in a number of Acts of Successions and oaths for people to sign. It led to bad blood between the Protestants and Catholics.

It could have all been handled differently. There is no point denying that the religious reformation wouldn’t have happened.

Thomas More and Bishop Fisher Would Have Survived

Catherine's decision ended up affecting the lives of many others around her.

There are two victims of the religious reformation that stand out for me; Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher, who was later made a cardinal. The two refused to see Henry VIII as the Supreme Head of the Church, but without the break from Rome that wouldn’t have been an issue. The two would have never been placed in a position to renounce their religious views.

Sure, there would have still been the need to see Anne Boleyn as queen, but the two would possibly have been happy to do that. Catherine of Aragon would have stepped down out of choice, and the pope would have agreed that she and Henry were no longer legally married. That would have meant Henry VIII was free to marry Anne Boleyn.

The two would never have been executed. They may have even continued to counsel the king.

	Utopia (Penguin Classics) First published in 1516, Thomas More's Utopia is one of the most important works of European humanism. Through the voice of the mysterious traveler Raphael Hythloday, More descr... View on Amazon
	The Life of Thomas More Peter Ackroyd's The Life of Thomas More is a masterful reconstruction of the life and imagination of one of the most remarkable figures of history. Thomas More (1478-1535) was a... View on Amazon
	Life and Writings of Sir Thomas More Sir Thomas More was one of England's most famous men during the reign of Henry VIII, a staunch Catholic who opposed the Reformation and ended up losing his head when anti-Cathol... View on Amazon
	The King's Good Servant but God's First : The Life and Writings of Saint Thomas More Thi biography of St. Thomas More explores his devotion to his family, the roots of his spiritual and intellectual formation, his participation in the Renaissance of Christian hu... View on Amazon

Would Anne Boleyn’s Reign Have Been Cut Short?

Her successor may have lived longer without the reformation lasting as long as it did.

Anne Boleyn's lifespan may have been affected by Catherine of Aragon's decision Without Anne being the “other woman” as much as she was in real life, there is the chance that she would have kept her head, at least for a little longer. One thing for certain is that the country wouldn’t have been torn apart. Henry VIII wouldn’t have had to live with doing that and executing one of his closest friends (Thomas More).

However, there would have still been plenty of people working against the Boleyn faction, especially if they were trying to bring in the Protestant religion.

The difference is that Anne may have had the right person on her side. Thomas Cromwell may not have turned against a queen who was clearly a reformist sympathiser. That would have worked in his favour. He may have worked to keep her on the throne, at least long enough to change the religious views of the country.

Catherine of Aragon refusing to accept her marriage was coming to an end affected so much in history. If she had just accepted the divorce, so much could have changed. This would not have only affected her, but also her daughter, her successor and Thomas More. It’s interesting to see that one decision could have changed so much.