Katherine of Aragon's Heart

About this event

The discovery of a gold Tudor pendant and the Legend of the Black Heart Instituto Cervantes London presents an exceptional event featuring Rachel King, curator at the British Museum and specialist in medieval and early modern history, dedicated to one of the most fascinating discoveries connected to the figure of Catherine of Aragon: the discovery and study of a precious heart pendant, now preserved in the British Museum. The talk will offer audiences an insight into the historical, archaeological, and heritage research that has shed new light on goldsmithing in in the early years of Henry VIII’s first queen, one of the most influential women in European history. The event will also provide an opportunity to discuss the research undertaken by writer Patricia Rodríguez for her novel The Fires of Kimbolton ( Los fuegos de Kimbolton ). During the session, the process of documentation that made it possible to reconstruct the historical, political, and human context surrounding Catherine of Aragon’s final days will be examined, together with the many legends and testimonies associated with the preservation of her heart. The author will share how her work with historical sources, archives, and specialist studies became the starting point for a literary work that combines historical rigour with imaginative storytelling. Through a dialogue between academic research and literary creation, the event will explore the enduring relevance of Catherine of Aragon and her significance to both Spanish and British history. This conversation will offer a unique opportunity to discover how historical findings can inspire new narratives and help keep alive the memory of a woman whose life continues to generate enormous interest more than four centuries after her death. Event in English.