Catalina of Motril was an enslaved servant to Queen Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife. She might have held the key to one of Tudor history’s biggest secrets of the royal bedchamber...
As a royal bed-chamber servant, Catalina would have held vital information about whether Katherine’s first marriage to Prince Arthur Tudor (Henry VIII’s brother) was consummated – a crucial detail in Henry VIII’s plans to divorce Katherine and marry Anne Boleyn. Catalina might have held the key to one of Tudor history’s biggest secrets of the royal bedchamber.

Born in Motril, Granada, a Muslim territory until 1492, Catalina was likely to have been enslaved after the Reconquista (Reconquest) of Granada. It's possible she was of North African heritage and Muslim although it’s likely she he may have converted to Christinaity on entering Katherine’s service. Catalina may not have been her real name. She may have been named after her royal mistress, La infanta Catalina (Katherine of Aragon).

Katherine of Aragon arrived in England in 1501 for her marriage to Prince Arthur. Two ‘esclaves’ (slaves) were recorded as being part of Katherine’s large Spanish entourage. Catalina was likely one of them although, once in England, Catalina’s status as a slave would be unclear. She would have been one of several people of colour at the Tudor court. (John Blanke, a Black Tudor musician was present at court from 1507).

Her role as Katherine’s bed-chamber servant meant she would have prepared the royal bed for Katherine’s marriages to Arthur and Henry, as well as attending to Katherine on the eve of her coronation whilst staying at the Tower of London.

Catalina’s position meant she would have been one of a handful of people who would know if the marriage to Prince Arthur was consummated.

At some point, Catalina married Oviedo, a crossbow maker, had two daughters and returned to Motril. We don’t know what happened to Catalina after 1531. She is one of history's forgotton witnesses but it’s clear she led a remarkable life.

Read more about Catalina’s story: https://www.hrp.org.uk/tower-of-londo...

Listen to Catalina’s story on our Outlier’s historical fiction podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast...

Further reading
For more information about Catalina of Motril and other people of colour in the Tudor period, please refer to the following books:

Black Tudors: The Untold Story by Miranda Kaufmann (London, 2019)

Lauren Johnson, ‘Catalina of Motril’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (October 2019)

Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga (London, 2016)

Staying Power: The History of Black People in Britain by Peter Fryer (London, 2018)

Special thanks to Hever Castle.

Cast
Storyteller: Nadia Nadif
Catalina of Motril: Elle Zahrouni
Anne Boleyn: Erin Charteris
Catherine of Aragon: Claudia Strange
Arthur Tudor: Lawrence Palmer
Henry VIII: Edward Taylor

Director: Matt Oliver
DP: Jake Davies
Focus: Andreea Gruioniu
Sound: Frank Maclaren
Music: Will Stapleton
Producer: Claudia Strange
Production Manager: Steve Goggin
Editor: Nadja Noel
Dubbing Mixer/Sound Design: Matt Alani
Curatorial advisors:
Dr Charles Farrris, Curator and Public Historian, Historic Royal Palaces
Dr Misha Ewen, Curator for Inclusive History, Historic Royal Palaces

Image Credits
Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) c.1550-99 Royal Collection Trust, attributed to the British School, 16th century.
Arthur, Prince of Wales (1486-1502) c. 1500, Royal Collection Trust, British School, 16th century.
Queen Mary I, by Master John (active 1544-1545), National Portrait Gallery, London.

by Master John