A proposed portrait of Maria de Salinas – © Pinterest
On the 2nd of October 1501, a Spanish ship arrived at Plymouth’s harbour. After a treacherous journey battling storms and gigantic waves, it was finally on English soil. The vessel was carrying a 15-year-old Catherine of Aragon and her assembly of ladies-in-waiting; her Spanish life far behind her. After a decade of marriage negotiations, Catherine was set to marry Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales and eldest son of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York. One particular individual alongside Catherine was Maria de Salinas. This remarkable young woman would become one of Catherine’s closest and most trusted confidantes during her time as Queen of England and wife to Henry VIII. Maria would be a loyal companion to Catherine during some of the most turbulent events in British history and Catherine’s life. Their friendship is a remarkable celebration of sisterhood and today, this blog will shine a light on Maria’s story.
Historians speculate 1490 to be the year of Maria’s birth, in Alava, Basque Country in Spain. Daughter to Juan de Salinas and Ines de Albornoz, not much is known of her early life and family. Maria’s parents were members of the royal household in Castile and her father was secretary to Queen Isabella of Portugal; Catherine of Aragon’s older sister. When Maria’s father died in 1495, Maria and her two sisters moved into the royal household with their mother, serving both Queen Isabel of Portugal and Queen Isabella of Castile. Maria’s social status, therefore, was incredibly high and well respected; her family were professional courtiers and trusted among the Spanish court. Maria was well prepared for her journey and life in England.
In 1500, the list for Catherine’s household was drawn up seven months before departure. Maria was not listed by name but titled “The daughter of Ines de Albornoz”. She was at the bottom of the list and soon to be a maid of honour; a young woman at court who would finish her education and gain a good marriage. Maria’s attire would have consisted of a traditional Spanish, black lace dress with her hair flowing loose; a mark of virginity.
During Princess Catherine and Prince Arthur’s wedding in 1501, Maria would have walked behind Catherine’s raised, white satin train, taking in the crowds of people standing in St. Paul’s Cathedral. She would have helped to prepare Catherine for her wedding night with Arthur; filled with nerves and excitement amongst the other ladies-in-waiting. Sadly, this union did not last. On the 2nd of April 1502, Prince Arthur died at Ludlow Castle, leaving a widowed Catherine. Maria and the other ladies-in-waiting would have comforted and supported their mistress during this time, providing a space for Catherine to express her troubles and concerns.
But tragedy struck once again for the princess. After the death of Queen Isabella, Catherine was to spend 8 years in a purgatory of uncertainty, poverty and distress. The kingdoms of Spain were divided, and Catherine’s sister Juana was now Isabella’s heiress, not her husband Ferdinand. This meant Catherine was no longer desirable and King Henry VII searched for a more advantageous match for his heir, Prince Henry. Catherine was used as a pawn between the English and Spanish courts; another disheartening reminder of the lack of choice sixteenth-century women faced. However, during this time, Maria remained highly loyal to Catherine, continuing to serve and assist her during these difficult years. For her faithful service, Maria was awarded a place at court, when Catherine finally became wife and queen to Henry VIII. Catherine knew that she could trust Maria with her life and had her best interests at heart; one can only imagine the relief and gratitude Catherine had to be able to confide and rely on someone during this awful time. This is only the beginning of what would be an incredible and selfless friendship.
Throughout history, it wasn’t uncommon for many monarchs and nobles to betray and backstab friends, soon becoming enemies; perhaps Henry II and Thomas Beckett spring to mind. However, this is not the case for Catherine and Maria; it was a mutual friendship of loyalty and love. Maria was intelligent and sharp-minded; using this to place Catherine’s best interests at heart. Catherine’s father, Ferdinand of Aragon, was incredibly cold and shameful towards his daughter and expected Catherine to put Spain above all else in her husband’s court. Maria knew the arrogant, treacherous behaviour of Ferdinand and encouraged Catherine to support her English subjects instead. Maria’s friendship with Catherine was so strong that it sparked criticism and complaint from others.
By 1514, Ambassador Caroz de Villagarut, appointed by Ferdinand, complained of Maria’s influence on Catherine; accusing Maria of conspiring against the Spanish court and even stated: “‘The few Spaniards who are still in her household prefer to be friends of the English and neglect their duties as subjects of the King of Spain. The worst influence on the queen is exercised by Dona Maria de Salinas, whom she loves more than any other mortal”.
Here we can see just how close the two women were and how much Catherine trusted Maria. Maria’s love for Catherine wanted her to thrive and excel at being an English queen; a selfless and supportive friendship. Despite these rumours and hateful conspiracies against Maria, Catherine insisted she remained at court and even wrote to her father at the end of 1515 convincing him to recognise Maria as one who had “faithfully served her and who has always comforted her in her hours of trial”. This sentence alone strongly demonstrates the compassion and love Maria had for Catherine and the mutual appreciation and respect Catherine had for her, pleading with Ferdinand to see how important Maria was.
In 1516, Maria had achieved the goal that was expected of all noble sixteenth-century women: marriage. His name was William, Baron Willoughby of Eresby, and the pair were granted the manors of Grimsthorpe, Southorpe and Edenham in Lincolnshire from Henry VIII and 1,100 marks from Catherine as Maria’s dowry. The wedding took place on the 2nd of June, at Greenwich and now, Maria’s future was secured; she was Lady Willoughby. Maria continued to remain at court and serve Catherine after the wedding. Interestingly, Henry VIII named one of his new ships in her honour, the Mary Willoughby. It strongly suggests that Maria was a very respected member of Catherine’s household and the Tudor court.
Maria and William lost both of their sons, Francis and Henry, who died in infancy. Likewise, Catherine had also miscarried and suffered from stillborn births; two of them also sons. Maria and Catherine would most likely have connected and comforted each other through their grief, sharing the same trauma from losing a child. This pain they both held would have strengthened their friendship further. Maria’s only surviving child was a daughter named Katherine; after the Queen. It wasn’t uncommon for nobles to name their children after the current monarchs but by Maria doing this, it only highlights further her love for the queen. Furthermore, Catherine was appointed godmother to Maria’s daughter; showing the two ladies’ closeness.
In 1526, Lord Willoughby died, leaving Maria a widow and in a state of trouble. For several years, she remained in a legal dispute with her brother-in-law, Christopher Willoughby, over William’s lands. Sir Christopher declared that the land left to Maria was rightfully his and the dispute went so far, that Sir Thomas More had to redistribute the lands. This was a hard, long fight for Maria, but luck was on her side. She attracted the help of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and brother-in-law to the king, who gained assistance from Cardinal Wolsey. Maria was a strong, intelligent woman and wasn’t afraid to play dirty during the dispute. She continued to collect revenue from her rightful estates and administered them too. Charles Brandon assisted Maria by intending her daughter Katherine to marry his eldest son. This tactic allowed the king to see favour on Maria’s side and help win her cause with Charles' noble rank and influence.
Despite the grief and stress her husband’s death caused her, it’s evident that Maria’s marriage was a successful one. William wanted their daughter to marry on Maria and Queen Catherine’s advice; he respected and trusted her opinions. Though he had been married before, he built a tomb so Maria could lie by his side after her death and not his first wife. He strongly trusted her and left all of his property to Maria. This demonstrates how trustworthy she was, and the incredible impact she had on other people’s lives. William loved and respected her, and his death must have saddened her deeply. No doubt that Catherine was there to comfort and support her friend.
1527 saw Henry VIII’s eyes beginning to wander towards Anne Boleyn, one of Catherine of Aragon’s ladies-in-waiting. He became obsessed with having a male heir and Catherine could not provide this for him; after suffering multiple miscarriages and stillbirths. For Henry to divorce his wife, he needed permission from the Pope. Papal agreement was not on his side, however, and this soon became one of the most infamous trials in Christendom. Henry’s love for Catherine had vanished and he declared their marriage as incestuous and wrong due to alleged rumours that Catherine and Arthur’s previous marriage was consummated. Catherine must have felt devasted and of course, Maria would have supported her and stuck by the queen’s side. Maria was known for her intense dislike towards Anne and during the attempts to divorce Catherine, Maria was sent away from court; ordered never to see her mistress and best friend again.
Maria did not comply. In 1535, Catherine fell ill and began to deteriorate at Kimbolton Castle, however, for Maria to visit her, she needed permission. Maria wrote to Sir Thomas Cromwell, stating: ‘for I heard that my mistress is very sore sick again. I pray you remember me, for you promised to labour with the king to get me licence to go to her before God sends for her, as there is no other likelihood’. The permission was refused, yet Maria still rode to Kimbolton, arriving on New Year’s Day 1536; braving stormy, freezing weather in the middle of the night to see her lifelong friend. Catherine and Maria spent hours talking in their native Castilian language; Maria touchingly still referring to Catherine as her mistress. Maria held Catherine in her arms as she passed away on the 7th of January 1536. She risked her life and potential imprisonment to visit her friend and former mistress as she lived her final moments; proving the lengths Maria would go to and her selfless, loyal character. This is an example of one of the most unshakeable and strongest friendships in history and one cannot imagine the pain Maria felt after losing this.
Maria herself passed away in May 1539. England lost one of the most strongest, courageous and loyal women of the sixteenth century. However, her devotion to Catherine still survived long after their deaths. Maria’s daughter Katherine married again, after her husband’s death, to Robert Bertie. Their son Peregrine is a descendant of Princess Diana, and Diana’s son William is set to inherit the throne of England in years to come; Maria’s bloodline, therefore, will inherit the English crown and not Henry VIII’s. Is this karma for Henry and what he did to Maria’s most loving friend? Perhaps. Nonetheless, it’s an incredibly well-deserved end and a fitting legacy for Maria’s incredible story.
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