document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. He ordered those involved to be interrogated and so the whole story of Catherines past came out. Ancestry.com - Death Records He accused councillors of being "lying time-servers", and began to regret executing Cromwell. According to historian Anna Whitelock, relations between the two were initially fraught. "[54] Moyle was "struck by the sitter's uncanny likeness" to Holbein's 1539 miniature of Anne, now in the Victoria & Albert Museum. Little changed at court, other than the arrival of many Howards. He publicly acknowledged her as queen of England on August 8, 1540. We bring you the facts about Henry VIII's fifth wife and the truth about her adultery and death Catherine Howard is thought to have been born sometime between 1518 and 1524, but the exact date is unknown. Weir had much the same judgement, describing her as an "empty-headed wanton". Within months of her arrival at court, Henry bestowed gifts of land and expensive cloth upon Catherine. Catherine was the daughter of a poverty-stricken younger son of the 2nd duke of Norfolk. Several of these writers have been highly critical of Catherine's conduct, if sympathetic to her eventual fate. Lady Jane and the other deponents were simply telling the interrogators what they wanted to hear. The bodies and heads of Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford were then taken to the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula for burial. While at court Catherine Howard had a relationship with a Thomas Culpeper, a gentleman of the kings privy chamber, and rumours abounded that the pair were to be married. [33] The Royal Assent by Commission Act 1541 made it treason, and punishable by death, for a queen consort to fail to disclose her sexual history to the king within 20 While at court she got to know a cousin, Thomas Culpeper, a gentleman of the kings privy chamber. Catherine Parr (c. 1512Sept. In her 2010 book Mary Tudor: England's First Queen, Whitelock details how, on 5 December 1540, Eustace Chapuys [Spanish ambassador to Henry VIIIs court from 1529 to 1545] told the emperor Charles Vs sister that the young queen Catherine had tried to remove two of Marys attendants because she believed that the princess was showing less respect to her than to her predecessors.. "[66] Herbert Norris claimed that the sitter is wearing a sleeve that follows a style set by Anne of Cleves,[67] which would date the portrait to after 6 January 1540, when Anne's marriage to Henry VIII took place. Despite this, Catherine and Dereham may have parted with intentions to marry upon his return from Ireland, agreeing to a precontract of marriage. Her father's sister, Elizabeth Howard, was the mother of Anne Boleyn. She was born into a very well connected family. Incapacitated by an ulcerated jousting wound in his leg, Henrys girth had increased at an alarming rate, says historian Tracy Borman. Catherine remained in limbo until Parliament introduced on 29 January 1542 a bill of attainder, which was passed on 7 February 1542. Next was the turn of Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, wife of the late George Boleyn, and the woman who was accused of committing high treason by helping Catherine commit adultery. [36] Arrangements for the execution were supervised by Sir John Gage in his role as Constable of the Tower. The headsman struck off her head with a single stroke of the axe. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). In her book Elizabeth's Women, profiling the rise of Queen Elizabeth I (Catherine's stepdaughter), Tracy Borman wrote that Catherine was "as much a sexual predator as [Francis] Dereham" and blamed Catherine almost entirely for her own fate. As a young teen, Catherine was romantically involved with her music teacher and also with Francis Dereham, who called her his wife. Josephine Wilkinson is an academic historian who specialises in a wide range of periods, including 16th-century England, This article was first published in the April 2016 issue of BBC History Magazine, Enjoying HistoryExtra.com? [59][60][61] The portrait (below), dated circa 15351540, is exhibited at the Toledo Museum of Art as Portrait of a Lady, probably a Member of the Cromwell Family (1926.57). [5][6] Soon after the death of her mother (c. 1528), Catherine was sent with some of her siblings to live in the care of her father's stepmother, Agnes Howard, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. Visitors to the Chapel at the Tower of London can pay their respects to these two women at their memorial floor tiles, which lie underneath the altar table. Starkey goes on to say that Johnson recorded that Catherine said that she had offended God heinously from [her] youth upward, in breaking all his commandments, that she had offended against the Kings royal Majesty very dangerously, was justly condemned by the Laws of this realm and Parliament to die and that she required the people to take example at [her], for amendment of their ungodly lives and gladly to obey the King in all things. According to Johnson, Catherine then prayed heartily for [the Kings] preservation, and willed all people so to do. After then she commended her soul into Gods care and asked for His mercy. The daughter of a younger brother of the 3rd Duke of Norfolk, Catherine had few prospects. Henry VIII | Biography, Wives, Religion, Death, & Facts | Britannica She was sent to live with the dowager duchess of Norfolk, who had many young nobles in her care. Catherines parents Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper were part of the extended family of the Duke of Catherine was cousin to Anne Boleyn, Henrys second wife, and second cousin to his third wife, Jane Seymour. You can unsubscribe at any time. According to Jane Boleyns biographer, Julia Fox, she began by declaring her complete faith and trust in God. The King embarked on a lavish spending spree to celebrate his marriage, with extensive refurbishments and developments at the Palace of Whitehall. Evidence exists that Mannox was not yet married, and it would have been highly unusual for someone from his background at the time to not be married by his mid-thirties. Henry was quickly displeased with Anne but was thoroughly smitten with Catherine. Nevertheless, every night Sir Thomas Heneage, Groom of the Stool, came to her chamber to report on the King's well-being. Though it soon became obvious that his friendship with Catherine had not passed beyond words, his closing remark would seal the fate of them both: He intended and meant to do ill with the queen and that in like wise, the queen so minded to do with him. This brought them within the range of the 1534 Treason Act, under which anyone could be judged a traitor. Catherine Howard: The death of innocence | HistoryExtra "[69] The painting was in the possession of the Cromwell family for centuries. Lady Rochford was questioned about Catherines relationship with Culpeper. Catherine had been married to Henry for just 18 months. ||sitemap_index.xml [39], Francis I, when told by Sir William Paget how the queen had "wonderfully abused the king", laid his hand on his heart and announced by his faith as a gentleman that "She hath done wonderous naughtly". Catherine was the youngest of Henrys wives and her reign had been one of the shortest. Henrys grief that Catherine had not been pure when she came to him was made worse when he discovered that she might never really have been his wife. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Catherine Marie Howard Obituary Death, Cause of Death - TV I am justly condemned by the laws of this realm and by Parliament. [51] In it, she wears a pendant jewel that is similar to that shown in Holbein's portrait of Jane Seymour at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, and identical to that shown in the portrait of Henry VIII's third queen, in the Mauritshuis, The Hague. The best she could hope for was a good marriage with a minor nobleman and a life of domesticity and she was placed into the household of her step-grandmother, Agnes, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk to be educated with this end in view. Investigations into Catherines past quickly followed: Dereham, who was arrested and tortured, confessed and named Culpeper, who was also arrested and confessed under torture, says Philippa Gregory. He accused Anne of adultery, and she was convicted and beheaded on May 19, 1536; that she had not Both men took advantage of their position of authority in the household and Catherine had no means of defending herself. 154045, Workshop of Hans Holbein the Younger[71][72], Portrait of an Unknown Lady, c. 1535, Lucas Horenbout (1490/951544)[71], Most recently Susan James, Jamie Franco, and Conor Byrne have identified a Portrait of a Young Woman, attributed to the workshop of Hans Holbein, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as a portrait of the queen. Catherine knelt at the block and the executioner cut off her head with his axe. Who Was Queen Catherine Howard? - Study.com According to legend, Catherine's last words as she stood on the scaffold at the Tower of London on 13 February 1542 were: I die a queen, but I would rather die the wife of Thomas Culpeper.. Catherines parents Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper were part of the extended family of the Duke of Norfolk. Bradley James Howard and Jodi Marie Chewning Howard had Cat on October 28, 1995, in Lawrenceville, GA. She was a devout Christian and a fan of UGA football. After her short address, Lady Rochford knelt, laying her neck on the block, and her head was taken off with one blow of the axe. Born into an aristocratic family, Catherine Howard was the daughter of a younger brother of the 3rd Duke of Norfolk and was first cousin to Anne Boleyn. Historical novelist Philippa Queen Catherine Howard went to the scaffold because it was thought she had intended to commit adultery with Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper. Henry accused Catherine of having affairs before their marriage and of adultery, which led to charges of treason; she was executed on February 13, 1542. Mary, however, was unenthusiastic. Her uncle, the Duke of Norfolk, distanced himself from the scandal by retreating to Kenninghall to write a letter of apology, laying all the blame on his niece and stepmother. Dereham was hung, drawn and quartered, while Culpeper was beheaded. [60] Two copies are extant: a 16th-century version at Hever Castle is exhibited as Portrait of a Lady, thought to be Catherine Howard;[61][62] the National Portrait Gallery exhibits a similar painting, Unknown woman, formerly known as Catherine Howard (NPG 1119),[63] dating from the late 17th century. He believes Catherine was increasingly repulsed by Mannox's pressure to have sex with him and was angered by his gossiping with servants about the details of what had gone on between them. That winter the King's bad moods deepened and grew more furious, caused in part by the pain from his ulcerous legs. That she had become queen at all was remarkable. On the evening of Sunday 12 February 1542, Catherine Howard, queen of England, was told to prepare her soul, for she was to be put to death the following morning. Legacy Mary never returned to court, but her daughter, Catherine Carey, was summoned by the Even the staunch Cranmer found the teenaged Catherine's frantic, incoherent state pitiable, saying, "I found her in such lamentation and heaviness as I never saw no creature, so that it would have pitied any man's heart to have looked upon her. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Catherine-Howard, Spartacus Educational - Biography of Catherine Howard, Historic Royal Palaces - Catherine Howard, History Learning Site - Biography of Catherine Howard, Catherine Howard - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Catherine Howard - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Regardless of the cause of Cats death, her loved ones were left with a deep sense of loss. Her passing reminds us to cherish every moment with our loved ones and hold them close while we can. Her obituary did not mention a cause of death. Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle, as a princess not a queen, on January 7, 1536. Henry had only entertained the idea of a match with Anne because he desperately needed new allies, says Tracy Borman. Cranmer immediately took up the case to topple his rivals, the Roman Catholic Norfolk family. What were Catherine Howards childhood and upbringing like? When her ladies had removed her mantle and hood, she knelt in the straw and placed herself on the block that was now so familiar to her. [8], In the Dowager Duchess's household, Catherine became influenced by some older girls who allowed men into the sleeping areas at night. Catherine has been the subject of contention for modern biographies, A Tudor Tragedy by Lacey Baldwin Smith (1967), Katherine Howard: A Tudor Conspiracy by Joanna Denny (2006), Katherine Howard: Henry VIII's Slandered Queen by Conor Byrne (2019), and Young and Damned and Fair by Gareth Russell (2017). Anne Boleyn (c. 1501-1536): The Union That Sparked Reformation, Beheaded While it isnt possible to pinpoint Catherines exact age, the wills of two of her relatives place her year of birth between 1523 and 1527, suggesting that she was significantly younger than 21. Catherine Howard Death Death Other writers, especially those studying historical trends larger than Catherine's life, have been much more critical towards her. [57][58], An unidentified woman c.153243, Hans Holbein the Younger[57], Unknown woman engraved as Catherine Howard, 1797, Francesco Bartolozzi after Hans Holbein[57], A contemporary portrait of a lady in black, by Hans Holbein the Younger, was identified by art historian, Sir Lionel Cust, in 1909, as Catherine Howard. WebKatharine came to public attention at the same time that her sister was supposedly being considered as a new wife for King Henry VIII, and was arrested and briefly imprisoned on suspicion of having made treasonable utterances. Catholic Bishop Stephen Gardiner entertained the couple at Winchester Palace with "feastings". 10 Facts About Catherine Howard Catherine was beheaded at the Tower of London at 9am on Monday 13 February 1542 along with Lady Jane Rochford. The question on many peoples minds after Cats death was how she died. There are several spellings of "Katherine". He had his marriage to Anne annulled on July 9, and on July 28 Henry and Catherine were privately married. Corrections? It has been speculated that Henry, who was nearly 50 years old when he married Catherine, was impotent. Cranmer then interrogated Mary Lassels, who alleged that Catherine had had sexual relations while under the Duchess of Norfolk's care, before her relationship with the King. He had his marriage to Anne annulled on July 9, 1540, and some two weeks later he married Catherine. Katherine Parr Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Required fields are marked *. According to Nicholas Sander, the religiously conservative Howard family may have seen Catherine as a figurehead for their fight by expressed determination to restore Roman Catholicism to England. 1. Catherine had a longer, sexual relationship with a young noble, Francis Dereham, who was a secretary in her grandmothers household, between 1537 and 1539. [63] This would seem to indicate a sitter who was still a connection to be commemorated over a century later (unlike Catherine). Lucy Worsley also takes a kinder, modern view of the accusations against Catherine and their relation to the men who took advantage of her in her youth. In his book Tudor Queens of England, which profiles 14 consorts and sovereigns, David Loades described Catherine as a "stupid and oversexed adolescent" who "certainly behaved like a whore", and wrote that her denial of a precontract was "a measure of her stupidity"; however, he also said that she died when she was "just 20 years old, a mere child". Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com, Enjoying HistoryExtra.com? Knowing this, Cranmer detailed the allegations in a letter addressed to Henry. [7] While sending young children to be educated and trained in aristocratic households was common among European nobles at the time, supervision at both Chesworth House and Lambeth was apparently lax. Eustace Chapuys, the Imperial ambassador, wrote of how Catherine prepared herself for her execution:-On Sunday the 12th, towards evening, she was told to prepare for death, for she was to die next day. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Thomas Culpeper - Wikipedia [14] It is not true, as is sometimes stated, that this was because she began to spend more time at the Dowager Duchess's mansion in Lambeth, as Lambeth was Mannox's home parish and he also married here, perhaps in 1538 or 1539. Within a matter of weeks in what was a truly spectacular rise from obscurity to the seat of power Catherine Howard had become his fifth queen.". Chapuys says of Lady Rochfords execution:-, Then Lady Rochford was brought, who had shown symptoms of madness till they told her she must die. 5, 1548) was the sixth and last wife of Henry VIII, king of England. The Spanish Chronicle goes further, asserting that Catherine was born in 1525, which would have made her no more than 17 when she died.. ", King Henry and Catherine were married by Bishop Bonner of London at Oatlands Palace on 28 July 1540, the same day Cromwell was executed. An alliance with Cleves would provide a major boost to the Reformation in England, and it was for this reason that Henrys chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, championed it so enthusiastically., After the collapse of the relationship, Henry was adamant he would choose his next bride for himself. ", Meanwhile Claire Ridgway, creator of The Anne Boleyn Files website, says: "Contrary to legend and The Tudors, Catherine did not utter the words I die a Queen, but I would rather die the wife of Culpeper, although I so wish she had!". Catherines household was broken up, while she was removed as queen and exiled to Syon House with only a small staff to attend her. When the Lords of the Council came for her, she allegedly panicked and screamed as they manhandled her into the barge that would escort her to the Tower on Friday 10 February 1542, her flotilla passing under London Bridge where the heads of Culpeper and Dereham were impaled (and where they remained until 1546). Two portrait miniatures by Hans Holbein the Younger, one in the Royal Collection[49] and another in the Buccleuch Collection,[50] may be the only surviving depictions of Catherine painted from life (in the case of the Royal Collection version at Windsor). The Execution of Catherine Howard - The Anne Boleyn Files Her youth, prettiness and vivacity were captivating for the middle-aged sovereign, who claimed he had never known "the like to any woman". 10 Facts About Catherine Howard | History Hit On 7 November 1541, Archbishop Cranmer led a delegation of councillors to Winchester Palace in Southwark, to question her. The Lamentation of a Sinner was not published until after Henry's death in January 1547 and until then Katherine had to be very circumspect about her theology. Before this point could be debated, another factor emerged which superseded everything. She described her punishment as "worthy and just" and asked for mercy for her family and prayers for her soul. Thomas Culpeper She was forbidden to use the title on 23 November 1541. #portraittuesday The Hever Castle Rose portrait of Anne Boleyn, Anne Boleyn is a pivotal character in the novel, I am Henry, #fridayfun Anne Boleyns Early Life Quiz, #portraittuesday The NPG portrait of Anne Boleyn, Maundy Thursday Anne Boleyn, King Charles III and the Royal Maundy, 3 April 1538 Anne Boleyns mother, Elizabeth Boleyn, Countess of Wiltshire, dies, Replay of my livestream The Making of a King: Henry VIIIs Education and Upbringing, The Making of a King: Henry VIIIs Education and Upbringing Livestream on YouTube 18 March. The obituary for Cat appeared in local newspapers but did not disclose the cause of death, leaving many questions unanswered. Many of Catherine's roommates among the Dowager Duchess's maids of honour and attendants knew of the relationship, which apparently ended in 1539, when the Dowager Duchess found out. Holbein's portrait showed a young auburn-haired girl with a characteristically hooked Howard nose; Catherine was said to have a "gentle, earnest face. Enjoying HistoryExtra.com? He married sometime in the late 1530s, perhaps in 1539, and there is also some evidence that he was the same age as two other men serving in the household, including his cousin Edward Waldegrave, who was in his late teens or early twenties between 1536 and 1538. It was thought Catherine had intended to commit adultery with Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper so while she was innocent of any actual crime, the terms of the 1534 Treasons Act allowed Henry to condemn her for presumptive treason.. [63] Inscribed ETATIS SV 21, indicating that the lady was depicted at the age of twenty-one, the portrait has long been associated with Henry VIII's young queen, but she is now thought to be a member of the Cromwell family. Catherine Howard - Wikipedia days of their marriage, or to incite someone to commit adultery with her. The marriage was made public on 8 August, and prayers were said in the Chapel Royal at Hampton Court Palace. Catherine was the third of Henry VIII's wives to have been a member of the English nobility or gentry; Catherine of Aragon[3] and Anne of Cleves[4] were royalty from continental Europe.