Though Catherine of Braganza (1638 to 1705) wed Charles II of England (reign 1660 to 1685) in a union of great political consequence, her life and impact in Restoration England remain largely overlooked in the English-speaking world. In her latest work, Charles II's Portuguese Queen: The Legacy of Catherine of Braganza, historian Susan Abernethy illuminates Catherine's queenship, diplomacy, and patronage, revealing a woman far more complex and influential than history has long acknowledged.

James Blake Wiener of World History Encyclopedia speaks with Abernethy about Catherine's life, legacy, and the new insights her research brings to this remarkable queen in this exclusive interview.

JBW: Susan, what initially sparked your interest in Catherine of Braganza? Was it a moment, a document, or a curiosity about her as an overlooked queen?

SA: Many years ago, I read the historical fiction novel called The Merry Monarch's Wife by Jean Plaidy (née Eleanor Hibbert). Later, when I began my blog, The Freelance History Writer, in 2012, my plan was to have an article on every Queen of England. The article on Catherine proved to me there were not a lot of good sources in English, and the most recent biographies were from 1905 by the American writer Lillias Campbell Davidson and from 1935 by Janet Mackay. There are plenty of bios of Charles II's mistresses, and Catherine had been overshadowed by these more glamorous women. I wanted to put the spotlight on her and give her a much-needed update.

JBW: Catherine's life bridges Portugal and England, two very different worlds in the 17th century. How did her childhood in Portugal shape the queen she became in Restoration England?

SA: Catherine grew up very sheltered. Educated by nuns, one could even say she lived a cloistered life. The etiquette at the Portuguese court was formal in the extreme. Her mother intended for her to marry, if not the king of France, at least the king of England, and she wanted to be sure Catherine did not interfere in politics. Her education was inadequate, including religious training and embroidery. She learned no other languages than Portuguese and Spanish, no dancing instruction, and certainly no guidance in politics or how to cultivate a following.

So Catherine arrived in the decadent Restoration Stuart court completely ill-equipped, ending up ill and withdrawn. Following a visit from her mother-in-law, Dowager Queen Henrietta Maria, Catherine's attitude completely changed. She had the wherewithal to realize she needed to adapt to her new surroundings, and it is my belief that Henrietta Maria convinced her to accept her husband's infidelities and to try to join the court festivities. Charles hired a dancing master for her, and she began to exercise her duties as queen through artistic and cultural promotion.

JBW: When you began researching Catherine, were there aspects of her story that surprised you or contradicted her usual portrayal in English historiography?

SA: Yes, absolutely. It appeared to me that people viewed her as weepy and depressed all the time and that she stayed in the background at court. I found this to be totally untrue. She used her influence in many ways, such as promoting Catholic Baroque artists like Jacob Huysmans and Benedetto Gennari, staging evening circles where courtiers could come to her chambers for gossip and entertainment, putting on masques, plays, and musical performances, and learning to dance and participate in court functions. One of the most surprising moments was when I learned she secretly sponsored the opening of a Catholic women's school under the auspices of the non-cloistered Mary Ward sisters. Ward, who had known Henrietta Maria, wanted to educate women in the same methods as the Jesuits. Ward's efforts were not exactly sanctioned by the Pope, but she did eventually gain acceptance and opened several schools on the Continent. I found this fascinating. Following the death of King Charles, Catherine rented a house near this school in Hammersmith.

JBW: Catherine's Catholicism made her a target in Anglican England, yet she seems to have navigated that hostility with poise and dignity. How did her faith influence her role and her political position at court?

SA: As her Portuguese biographer, Virginia Rau, states, Catherine's faith bordered on mysticism, so this was an integral part of her personality and life. According to her marriage treaty, Catherine had the ability to worship in her own chapels at St. James Palace and Somerset House, and she did this openly, although at certain times in her life, it was difficult. The most important aspect of her queenship was her ability to be a Catholic without making any overt effort to change the religion of the English people. As we have seen, she secretly sponsored a Catholic women's school, and she did pay to have Catholic sermons printed and distributed. This, along with her loyalty and love for her husband, allowed her to remain faithful, navigate the complicated religious climate in England, and gain the esteem of the English people. Charles would ultimately defend her when the Popish Plot broke out in 1678.

JBW: Catherine is often remembered as the queen who 'brought tea to England,' but of course, her significance goes far beyond that. How do you think her image has been simplified or distorted over time?

SA: Certainly, her image has been distorted due to the never-ending merry-go-round of mistresses of Charles. These women were more dazzling than Catherine and tended to gain more comment and gossip than the queen, forcing her into the background. Other than an anti-French, pro-Portuguese policy, Catherine tended to stay out of politics, where some of the mistresses, especially Louise de Kéroualle, Duchess of Portsmouth, inserted themselves into politics.

Catherine bringing tea to England is certainly not true, as evidence of tea in the country is found from 1620 onwards, well before her arrival in 1662. Her influence lies in bringing the social drinking of tea to prominence during her tenure, along with many other aristocratic ladies in England at the time. However, she did bring several other items with her, such as cane chairs, lacquer cabinets, porcelain, and cotton fabrics, among other things. John Evelyn comments on the lacquer cabinets when he first sees Catherine at Hampton Court, so these things were not widespread in England in 1662.

Most importantly for her legacy is the port of Bombay, India, which was included in her marriage treaty. Charles eventually leased the port to the English East India Company, and they used Bombay as the headquarters for their trade in India, and, of course, eventually took over and made it part of their empire. But the export of the many items listed above allowed them to enter into everyday English, as well as European life. I consider this her most important legacy, and it has not been emphasized enough.

JBW: Catherine's legacy of power and patronage is not limited only to Great Britain – it extends equally to Portugal. Why did Catherine return to Portugal after the death of Charles II, and what responsibilities did she undertake in her homeland?

SA: This is one of the most extraordinary events in Catherine's life. There are only a handful of instances of a foreign queen returning to her homeland, and very few who ended up ruling as regent. Following the death of Charles, Catherine remained in England for seven years. She got along well with the Catholic king James II and his queen, Mary Beatrice of Modena, who visited her regularly at Somerset House in London.

During James' reign, Catherine nearly departed for Portugal but fell ill and postponed her trip. Once William of Orange invaded England and dislodged James from the throne, Catherine's life became difficult. William and Mary were thoroughly Protestant and definitely anti-Catholic. Queen Mary II suspected Catherine of Jacobite sympathies because of her close relationship with James II and Mary of Modena.

This would be the most miserable time of Catherine's life. She begged her brother for permission to return to Portugal and had to rely on William to supply her with ships to transport herself, her staff, and her household goods. Eventually, she obtained everything she needed and sailed across the English Channel in 1692. Her voyage to Portugal took many months, but she was warmly welcomed by her brother King Pedro II.

Catherine's brother had been reluctant to enter into any alliances during the War of Spanish Succession, and at first, he favored France. Once Catherine arrived, and most likely due to her influence, she convinced him to join the allies, including England. Portugal would serve as the headquarters for the many foreign troops involved in the conflict. While King Pedro II was away fighting, he designated Catherine as regent in Portugal, and she fulfilled her duties with gusto, despite having to deal with a council of men who disliked working with a woman.

It is clear that the English were impressed with her performance in government. Pedro returned from war but then fell ill, and once again, Catherine served as regent, only to fall ill herself in late December 1705. She died unexpectedly and was given a magnificent funeral.

JBW: Finally, Susan, what are you working on now? Are there other royal women or historical periods you are eager to explore next?

SA: My second book, The Formidable Women Who Shaped Medieval Europe: Power and Patronage at the Burgundian Court was released in the UK in early November and will debut in the US at the end of December. This is a collection of 31 women who were related by blood, marriage, and politics to the Valois Dukes of Burgundy, rulers of the Low Countries, and parts of northern France and Germany from 1393 until their territories were absorbed into the Habsburg Empire in the early 16th century. I feel most people do not know about these dukes and how influential they were, and they couldn't have done it without their women.

I'm currently working on a biography of Catherine of Braganza's sister-in-law, Mary Beatrice d'Este of Modena, England's only Italian queen. Another project I'm currently researching is the amazing Mazarinettes, the nieces of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister to Kings Louis XIII and XIV.

JBW: Thanks for sharing your time and passion with us, Susan. We wish you many happy adventures in research.

SA: Many, thanks James.

Susan's passion for history dates back 50 years and led her to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is currently a member of the Rocky Mountain Medieval and Renaissance Association, the Historical Writers Association, the Society for Renaissance Studies, and the Historical Association. Her work has appeared on several historical websites and in magazines and includes guest appearances on historical podcasts. Her blog, The Freelance History Writer, has continuously published over 500 articles since 2012, with an emphasis on European, Tudor, medieval, Renaissance, early modern, and women's history. She is currently working on her third non-fiction book.