Consider the story of D. Catarina de Bragança Statue. It is not just bronze. It’s a tale of a queen without a kingdom in bronze. D. Catarina de Bragança born in 1638 was the daughter of John IV of Portugal.
She became Queen of England, Scotland, and Ireland through her marriage to King Charles II. The marriage lasted from 1662 until his death in 1685.
D. Catarina was unpopular in England because of her Roman Catholic faith. She faced accusations and suspicion. Despite these challenges she remained devoted to her husband.
She is often credited with popularizing tea drinking in England. Imagine that a statue could represent a cultural shift as simple as drinking tea. D. Catarina’s statue is more complex than it seems.
Negotiations for her marriage began during the reign of King Charles I. The marriage contract was signed in 1661. England gained Tangier and Bombay plus trade privileges. Portugal received military support against Spain. D. Catarina brought a dowry of two million Portuguese crowns.
D. Catarina arrived in Portsmouth in 1662. Charles II initially expressed satisfaction with her. He found her countenance agreeable and her conversation good. However rumors suggested he called her a bat instead of a woman. But historian Antonia Fraser considered it unlikely.
They married in two ceremonies a Catholic one in secret then a public Anglican service.
D. Catarina’s procession into London included Portuguese musicians. They played shawms and bagpipes her favorite instruments. The Queen Mother was pleased with her and called her a saint.
D. Catarina miscarried several times. Charles continued to have children with his mistresses. But he insisted that D. Catarina be treated with respect. He rejected the idea of a divorce despite pressure from royal advisors.
D. Catarina was not a popular choice as queen because she was Roman Catholic. She faced language barriers and political conflicts. Over time her loyalty and affection for Charles changed the public’s view of her.
She loved playing cards and dancing. She enjoyed organizing masques. D. Catarina had a great love for the countryside and picnics. She also enjoyed fishing and archery.
D. Catarina was anxious to re-establish good relations with the pope. She sent envoys to Rome with letters for the pope and cardinals.
D. Catarina fainted when Charles’s mistress was presented to her. Charles insisted on making Palmer Catherine’s Lady of the Bedchamber. After this D. Catarina withdrew from spending time with the king.
As the highest-ranking Catholic in the country D. Catarina was a target during the Popish Plot. However Charles defended her.
After Charles’s death D. Catarina remained in England until 1692. She then returned to Portugal. She served as regent for her brother Peter II.
D. Catarina died in Lisbon in 1705. Her marriage had a significant impact on the history of India. Charles II rented Bombay to the East India Company. She is often credited with popularizing tea drinking in Britain.
Queens in New York City was supposedly named after D. Catarina. But there is no historical evidence to prove it. Audrey Flack designed a statue of D. Catarina for New York. However it was never erected due to public opposition. A quarter-scale model exists in Lisbon.
So consider this statue of D. Catarina de Bragança. It is a symbol of a queen caught between two worlds. It is a symbol of political intrigue and cultural exchange.