As an expert in historical studies, I am well-versed in the intricacies of historical events and figures. One such figure that has always fascinated scholars and history enthusiasts alike is Catherine of Aragon. Born as the daughter of Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, she was a significant figure in the royal history of England due to her marriage to Henry VIII and the subsequent religious and political upheavals that followed.
When discussing Catherine of Aragon's marriage to Henry VIII, it's important to note that this was not her first marriage. Her first marriage was to Henry's elder brother, Prince Arthur, who died at a young age. This first marriage was a strategic alliance between the kingdoms of England and Spain, and it was intended to strengthen ties and influence across Europe.
Following Prince Arthur's death, Catherine's marriage to Henry VIII was arranged as a means to maintain the alliance between the two nations. The marriage was a complex affair, not only in terms of its political implications but also in the religious and legal battles that ensued later on, which ultimately led to the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England.
Now, to answer your question regarding Catherine of Aragon's age at the time of her marriage to Henry VIII: Catherine was born on December 16, 1485. Her marriage to Henry took place on June 11, 1509. To calculate her age at the time of the marriage, we can simply subtract her birth year from the year of her marriage and then consider the months and days to determine her exact age.
\[ \text{Age at marriage} = (\text{Year of marriage} - \text{Year of birth}) + (\text{Month and day of marriage} - \text{Month and day of birth}) \]
\[ \text{Age at marriage} = (1509 - 1485) + (6 - 12) + (11 - 16) \]
Since we are calculating the age at the time of the marriage, we need to account for the fact that the marriage took place after Catherine's birthday in that year. Therefore, we subtract one year from the difference between the years and then adjust the months and days accordingly.
\[ \text{Age at marriage} = (1509 - 1485 - 1) + (6 - 12) + (11 - 16) \]
\[ \text{Age at marriage} = 23 + (-6) + (-5) \]
\[ \text{Age at marriage} = 23 - 11 \]
\[ \text{Age at marriage} = 12 \]
So, Catherine of Aragon was 23 years old when she married Henry VIII on June 11, 1509.

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Wedding. Catherine's second wedding took place on 11 June 1509, seven years after Prince Arthur's death. She married Henry VIII, who had only just acceded to the throne, in a private ceremony in the church of the Observant Friars outside Greenwich Palace. She was 23 years of age.read more >>