It is thought that Catherines maid Jane Boleyn, Lady Rochford, (who had previously testified against her husband, George Boleyn, and her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn) helped Catherine to meet Culpeper in secret while the king was away from court. Received opinion inspired by the guesswork of the French ambassador Charles de Marillac has it that [Catherine] was born in 1521, and so was 21 when she went to the block, says Josephine Wilkinson. The heads of both men were displayed on pikes on London Bridge. When Henry VIII's fifth wife, Catherine Howard, went to the block at a pitifully young age, she did so not because of her own crimes, argues Josephine Wilkinson, but the failings of older men. I pray for his preservation and beseech you all to do the same. Updated on July 19, 2019. In 1536, Catherine received music lessons, which were intended to polish her in readiness to join Queen Annes court. WebCatherine was beheaded with a single stroke of the executioner's axe. Preparations were in place for any signs of a royal pregnancy, reported by Marillac on 15 April as "if it be found true, to have her crowned at Whitsuntide. She was sent to live with the dowager duchess of Norfolk, who had many young nobles in her care. As a child, she enjoyed playing softball and basketball at the beach. Catherine knelt at the block and the executioner cut off her head with his axe. days of their marriage, or to incite someone to commit adultery with her. WebCatherine Howard Date of Birth c. 1523 Nationality English Date of Death February 13, 1542 (19 years old) Cause of Death Beheading Musical Portrayed by Koko Basigara (West End) Zoe Jensen (Broadway) Theme color Pink Solo All You Wanna Do Katherine Howard (or Catherine Howard) was the fifth wife of Henry VIII and one of the six queens in SIX. Catherine Parr (c. 1512Sept. [54] The miniature has been linked to Catherine because it dates from 1540, the year in which she married the king, and because the sitter is "adorned with jewels that are comparable to items in her inventory. 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). Before this point could be debated, another factor emerged which superseded everything. 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. According to Jane Boleyns biographer, Julia Fox, she began by declaring her complete faith and trust in God. The Dowager Duchess managed large households at Chesworth House in Horsham, Sussex, and at Norfolk House in Lambeth where dozens of attendants, along with her many wards usually the children of aristocratic but poor relatives resided. 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. Omissions? 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. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. At first Henry was incredulous, but he was obliged to investigate the claims. Meet Alex Sgambati Brother Family And Net Worth. The shocked Lascelles had no choice but to reveal what he had learned not to do so would leave him open to charges of misprision of treason, which meant imprisonment and forfeiture of his property. 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. [36] No formal trial was held. There is no authenticated contemporary likeness of Catherine Howard,[47] and there is no documentary evidence that she ever had her portrait painted. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. 1. ", 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!". If indeed they exchanged vows before having sexual intercourse, they would have been considered married in the eyes of the Church.[12]. Catherine Howards execution What happened? She was born into a very well connected family. Catherine had been married to Henry for just 18 months when she was executed at the Tower of London on 13 February 1542, and in that time did not bear Henry any children. Thomas Howard was a prominent politician at Henry's court, and he secured her a place in the household of Henry's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, where she caught the King's interest. Catherine, who was at least two and possibly even seven years younger than Henrys elder daughter, Mary, found the role of stepmother difficult. After he was given evidence that she had had affairs before their marriage and that she was having an affair with her cousin, Thomas Culpepper, Henry had her imprisoned and then beheaded for treason. You can find out more about the falls of Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford in the following articles:-, Categories: Jane Boleyn, Six Wives, The Boleyns, The Tudors, Tudor Characters, Tudor EventsTags: Catherine Howard, Jane Boleyn, Katherine Howard, Lady Rochford, Copyright 2023 The Anne Boleyn Files It has been speculated that Henry, who was nearly 50 years old when he married Catherine, was impotent. "[48] Debate continues about the identity of the sitter(s) for potential portraits. 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.. Files Welcome Pack of 5 goodies. [28] She was obliged by a Privy Councillor to return the ring previously owned by Anne of Cleves, which the King had given her; it was a symbol of removal of her regal and lawful rights. Every day she dressed with new clothes in the French fashion bedecked with precious jewels, decorated in gold around her sleeves. Enjoying HistoryExtra.com? Lady Rochford was questioned about Catherines relationship with Culpeper. Also read: Who Is Matt Sgambati? Her obituary did not disclose the cause of death, leaving many questions unanswered. The age requirement for the position of maiden was at least 12 years but, if she was born in 1525, Catherine would only have been eight in 1533. He told Archbishop Cranmer, who set down the facts in a letter. Her downfall came when Henry learned of her premarital affairs. Both men took advantage of their position of authority in the household and Catherine had no means of defending herself. Catherine was not as well educated as some of Henry's other wives, although, on its own, her ability to read and write was impressive enough at the time. He was nearly twice his young brides age and had become increasingly immobile in recent years. 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). She was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper, a cousin to Anne Boleyn (the second wife of Henry VIII), and the niece of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Catherines parents Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper were part of the extended family of the Duke of Norfolk. On this day in history, the 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard was executed at the Tower of London. Also read: Laci Peterson Husband: Where Is Scott Lee Peterson? Establishing the existence of a precontract between Catherine and Dereham would have had the effect of terminating Catherine's marriage to Henry, but it would also have allowed Henry to annul their marriage and banish her from court to live in poverty and disgrace instead of executing her, although there is no indication that Henry would have chosen that alternative. Catherine was one of 10 children of Lord Edmund Howard (died 1539), a poverty-stricken younger son of Thomas Howard, 2nd duke of Norfolk. [68] The original Holbein is dated to 15351540,[60] but the National Portrait Gallery dates their copy to the late 1600s. Why not try 6 issues of BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed for 9.99 delivered straight to your door. After Catherine's mother died in 1528, her father married two more times. 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. Catherine was stripped of her title as queen in November 1541 and beheaded three months later on the grounds of treason for committing adultery with her distant cousin, Thomas Culpeper. Therefore, on 10 February, she was brought to the Tower of London and, three days later, beheaded and buried in the chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula. She described her punishment as "worthy and just" and asked for mercy for her family and prayers for her soul. Received opinion inspired by the guesswork of the French ambassador Charles de Marillac has it that she was born in 1521, and so was 21 when she went to the block. I have, she said, committed many sins against God from my youth upwards and have offended the kings royal Majesty very dangerously, so my punishment is just and deserved. Her one surviving signature spells it "Katheryn". 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. But it was Henry who secured Catherines hand: having fallen in love with Catherine and sent her gifts and love letters, on 28 July 1540 just three weeks after the kings marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled he married Catherine at Oatlands Palace in Surrey, making her his fifth queen. [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. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. "[69] The painting was in the possession of the Cromwell family for centuries. Anne Boleyn (c. 1501-1536): The Union That Sparked Reformation, Beheaded [18] Henry "indulged her every whim" thanks to her "caprice". Henry had only entertained the idea of a match with Anne because he desperately needed new allies, says Tracy Borman. WebThe real cause of death of Catherine Howard The obvious answer to the question, what killed Catherine Howard is that she lost her head in a meeting with the executioners axe. News of Catherines indiscretions eventually reached Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury and close friend of Henry VIII. That she had become queen at all was remarkable. [42] Other cousins were also in the crowd, including the Earl of Surrey. Why not try 6 issues of BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed for 9.99 delivered straight to your door, The men who changed Henry VIIIs underpants. According to historian Anna Whitelock, relations between the two were initially fraught. WebCatherine Howards Early Life. She was known for her infectious smile and kind heart. On All Saints' Day, 1 November 1541, the King arranged to be found praying in the Chapel Royal. Why not try 6 issues of BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed for 9.99 delivered straight to your door + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com, Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com. Omissions? But it is at least equally possible that he was impotent. Queen Catherine Howard went to the scaffold because it was thought she had intended to commit adultery with Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper. [34][35] This measure retroactively solved the matter of Catherine's supposed pre-contract and made her unequivocally guilty. Writing for BBC History Magazine in 2016, the academic historian Josephine Wilkinson claimed that Catherine Howards relationships with Mannock and Dereham had been non-consensual. The general trend has been more fair to Catherine, particularly in the works of Antonia Fraser, Karen Lindsey, Joanna Denny, Conor Byrne, Josephine Wilkinson, and Gareth Russell. When did she marry Henry VIII? Your email address will not be published. [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. He accused Anne of adultery, and she was convicted and beheaded on May 19, 1536; that she had not given birth to a male heir was, however, Henrys primary motive for having her executed. Here, we bring you the facts Catherine Howard was the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Catherine, meanwhile, would not face trial, but instead would be condemned to death by an Act of Attainder, signed by her own husbands hand, says Wilkinson. Catherine met Henry through his wife, Anne of Cleves. The King embarked on a lavish spending spree to celebrate his marriage, with extensive refurbishments and developments at the Palace of Whitehall. Catherine's body was not one of those identified during restorations of the chapel during Queen Victoria's reign. [10] Other biographers, like Gareth Russell, believe that Mannox's interactions with Catherine took place over a much shorter time, that Mannox was roughly the same age as her, but that "their relationship was nonetheless inappropriate, on several levels." No plans were made for a coronation, yet she still travelled downriver in the royal barge into the City of London to a gun salute and some acclamation. 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. ||Wordpress installation and design by http://www.MadeGlobal.com, FREE Anne Boleyn In her BBC miniseries Six Wives she states that today, instead of the "good-time girl" some historians accuse her of having been, we would call her an "abused child."[45]. It is a myth that Lady Rochford confessed to giving false testimony against her husband and her sister-in-law, Anne Boleyn, she did nothing of the sort. [24], During the investigation a love letter written in the Queen's distinctive handwriting was found in Culpeper's chambers. To find out more about Henry VIII and his six wives, click here. Whose souls be with God, for they made the most godly and Christian end [Catherine] uttered [her] lively faith in the blood of Christ only [she] desired all Christian people to take regard unto [her] worthy and just punishment.. Cause of death. 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. Catherine Parr She was just Catherine was cousin to Anne Boleyn, Henrys second wife, and second cousin to his third wife, Jane Seymour. According to custom, their heads were placed on spikes on London Bridge. On this day in history, the 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard was executed at the Tower of London. 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. [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 Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. What was Catherine of Howard's childhood like? Lady Rochford was interrogated and as she feared that she would be tortured, she agreed to talk. "[T]here is a good chance that any image of Catherine would have been destroyed" after her execution, or "ignored, until their identity became a subject of debate to later generations. Neither she nor the Queen spoke much on the scaffold; they only confessed their guilt and prayed for the Kings welfare.4, The lady of Rochefort said as much in a long discourse of several faults which she had committed in her life.5. I am justly condemned by the laws of this realm and by Parliament. This was typical of the speeches given by people executed during that period, most likely in an effort to protect their families, since the condemned's last words would be relayed to the King.
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