Before this point could be debated, another factor emerged which superseded everything. The young and reportedly beautiful Catherine Howard was maid of honour to Henrys new queen, Anne of Cleves. Celebrities and Famous People Who Passed Away Today in History. Catherine persistently denied it had ever existed because, as she explained, all that Dereham did unto her, was importunate [persistent] forcement, and, in a manner, violence, rather than of her free consent and will. [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". In the summer of 1541, as Henrys court embarked upon a royal progress to the north country, rumours of Catherines previous indiscretions continued to haunt her and she was forced to give favours and positions in return for silence, says Philippa Gregory. She concluded that Catherine was light both in living and conditions. Corrections? 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. 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. The King embarked on a lavish spending spree to celebrate his marriage, with extensive refurbishments and developments at the Palace of Whitehall. Required fields are marked *. While living with the duchess [of Norfolk], Catherine was sexually exploited by two men of the household, she said. 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. 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. [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. Yet this new position was to prove a poisoned chalice, for, while living with the duchess, Catherine was sexually exploited by two men of the household. Omissions? Catherine was beheaded at the Tower of London at 9am on Monday 13 February 1542 along with Lady Jane Rochford. Can AI give us the answer? Charles de Marillac, the French ambassador, reported to his master, Francis I, that the Queen was executed at around 9am, followed by Lady Rochford. The heads of both men were displayed on pikes on London Bridge. Kids And Family. Despite this, Catherine and Dereham may have parted with intentions to marry upon his return from Ireland, agreeing to a precontract of marriage. Catherine Howards biggest mistake, many have argued, was continuing her affair with Thomas Culpeper after she had married Henry VIII. [47], Art historian Franny Moyle, in The King's Painter: The Life and Times of Hans Holbein (2021), argues that the Royal Collection miniature is not a likeness of Catherine Howard, but instead depicts Henry VIII's fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, whom the king married in the same year. Catherine died at Kimbolton Castle, as a princess not a queen, on January 7, 1536. 28 July 1540, Why was she executed? She asked for the block to be brought to her room, saying that she wanted to know how she was to place her head on it. The bodies and heads of Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford were then taken to the Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula for burial. Catherines mother died when she was young, and Catherine was brought up by her fathers stepmother, Agnes Tilney, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk at Catherine 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.". [64], Historians Antonia Fraser and Derek Wilson believe that the portrait is likely to depict Elizabeth Seymour. For female sitters, duplicate versions of miniatures only exist for queens at this period. Catherine Marie Howard Obituary Death, Cause of Death - TV [40] Upon hearing news of Catherine's execution, King Francis wrote a letter to Henry regretting the "lewd and naughty [evil] behaviour of the Queen" and advising him that "the lightness of women cannot bend the honour of men". Cats parents, brother, sister, niece, close friends, and extended family survived her. On this day in history, the 13th February 1542, Catherine Howard was executed at the Tower of London. 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. WebOf his six wives, Henry VIII had two killed: Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. WebKatheryn Howard Tenure 28 July 1540 23 November 1541 Dates 1523 13 February 1542 (aged 18-19) Cause of Death Execution by beheading Family Edmund Howard (father) Joyce Culpeper (mother) Henry Howard (brother) Charles Howard (brother) George Howard (brother) Margaret Howard (sister) Mary Howard (sister) John Leigh (maternal half-brother) 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. Why not try 6 issues of BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed for 9.99 delivered straight to your door. WebQueen Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford were both executed on 13 February 1542, and were buried in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula, within the Tower of London. She had once worked for Duchess Agnes, and Lascelles suggested she apply for a place on Catherines staff. 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? Lady Rochford was executed immediately thereafter on Tower Green. The words the chronicler attributes to the queen, then, have to be viewed with great skepticism. Catherine Howard Death 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. 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? Who Were the Six Wives of Henry VIII? - History But relations between the two women eventually began to settle down, and they treated one another cordially. Corrections? Catherine Parr (c. 1512Sept. The Spanish Chronicle goes further, asserting that Catherine was born in 1525, which would have made her no more than 17 when she died. WebCatherine Howards Early Life. There are several spellings of "Katherine". 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. Examining Henrys marriage to his previous wife, Anne of Cleves, Tracy Borman writes: Henrys inability to consummate the marriage to Anne of Cleves has been traditionally assigned to his revulsion at his new bride. While they were away a courtier, John Lascelles, took the opportunity of some free time to visit his sister Mary. The Spanish Chronicle goes further, asserting that Catherine was born in 1525, which would have made her no more than 17 when she died.. Her family received guests at the funeral home on September 29, 2020, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm, and on September 30, 2020, from noon until the service. The king, initially incredulous, became incensed with these revelations. The most popular theory, first put forward in 2004 by Retha M. Warnicke, was that the relationship between them was abusive, with Mannox grooming and preying on Catherine in 153638, and this is expanded upon in detail by Conor Byrne. Queen Catherine Howard went to the scaffold because it was thought she had intended to commit adultery with Francis Dereham and Thomas Culpeper. Their meetings were allegedly arranged by one of Catherine's older ladies-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford (Lady Rochford), the widow of Catherine's executed cousin, George Boleyn, Anne Boleyn's brother.[21]. After an extended honeymoon they settled into married life and Catherine showed every sign of becoming a good queen.. Her character has often been described as vivacious, giggly and brisk, but never scholarly or devout. Her maternal grandfather and step-grandmother, Parks and Ann Chewning, and maternal grandmother, Marlene Chewning, preceded her in death. Files Welcome Pack of 5 goodies. This was followed by more expensive gifts for Christmas at Hampton Court Palace.[20]. It was still dark when Catherine arose the following morning. Her youth, prettiness and vivacity were captivating for the middle-aged sovereign, who claimed he had never known "the like to any woman". The obituary for Cat appeared in local newspapers, and her funeral arrangements were shared with the public. Lady Jane and the other deponents were simply telling the interrogators what they wanted to hear. He publicly acknowledged her as queen of England on August 8, 1540. According to popular folklore her last words were, "I die a Queen, but I would rather have died the wife of Culpeper", but no eyewitness accounts support this, instead reporting that she stuck to traditional final words, asking for forgiveness for her sins and acknowledging that she deserved to die "a thousand deaths" for betraying the king, who had always treated her so graciously. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. 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. Little is known about Catherines early life, but historian David Starkey describes it as a scrabbled childhood, with a dominant, providing mother, and a weak debt-ridden and hen-pecked father. Lady Rochford was interrogated and as she feared that she would be tortured, she agreed to talk. How did Catherine Howard become queen of England? [65] He stated that a "dated parallel for costume, notably the distinctive cut of the sleeves, is Holbein's Christina of Denmark of 1538. Cause of death. 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. For the next 14 months Henry appeared to be much enamoured of his bride. Catherine Howard was beheaded on February 13, 1542, in the Tower of London. Katherine Parr After Catherine's mother died in 1528, her father married two more times. She also had a nurturing side for animals, particularly dogs.[9]. Also read: Who Is Matt Sgambati? Catherine was probably born in Lambeth in about 1524; the exact date of her birth is unknown. [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 Henry was quickly displeased with Anne but was thoroughly smitten with Catherine. Dereham also entrusted Catherine with various wifely duties, such as keeping his money when he was away on business. 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. According to historian Anna Whitelock, relations between the two were initially fraught. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [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. Catherine Howard | Biography & Facts | Britannica Fifth wife of Henry VIII of England (c. 15241542), For other people named Catherine Howard, see, Spouses of debatable or disputed rulers are in. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. There was a time in the summer of 1546 when Katherine came within a Catherines household was broken up, while she was removed as queen and exiled to Syon House with only a small staff to attend her. 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]. Biographer, Agnes Howard, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, "Katherine [Catalina, Catherine, Katherine of Aragon]", "Anne [Anne of Cleves] (15151557), queen of England, fourth consort of Henry VIII", "The Marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine Howard", "Letter of Queen Catherine Howard to Master Thomas Culpeper, Spring 1541", "How Holbein Left Clever Clue in Portrait to Identify Henry VIII's Queen", "New Research Raises Questions About the Subject of a Celebrated Hans Holbein Miniature Portrait", "Wishful Thinking: Reading the Portraits of Henry VIII's Queens", "All that Glitters: Hans Holbein's Lady of the Cromwell Family", "Howard, Sir George (by 151980), of London and Kidbrooke, Kent", "Letters and Papers, Henry VIII (15091547)", "February 13th, 1542: The Execution of Catherine Howard and Jane Boleyn", Letter from Catherine Howard to Thomas Culpeper, Original images of the Act concerning the Attainder of the late Queen Katharine and her Complices, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catherine_Howard&oldid=1152494779, Burials at the Church of St Peter ad Vincula, People convicted under a bill of attainder, People executed by Tudor England by decapitation, People executed under the Tudors for treason against England, People from the London Borough of Lambeth, Converts to Anglicanism from Roman Catholicism, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the ODNB, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages using multiple image with auto scaled images, Articles with unsourced statements from January 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 30 April 2023, at 15:49. WebCatherine Howard Death. 1. WebQueen Catherine Howard and Lady Rochford were both executed on 13 February 1542, and were buried in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula, within the Tower of London. Her obituary mentioned her birth and family. 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? Both men took advantage of their position of authority in the household and Catherine had no means of defending herself., The historian Lucy Worsley echoed Wilkinsons claims. He was 49, and she was between 15 and 21 years old. 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. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Kids And Family. The disease weakens muscles, causes dementia-like cognitive impairment and typically sets in between the ages of 30 and 40. Catherine had a longer, sexual relationship with a young noble, Francis Dereham, who was a secretary in her grandmothers household, between 1537 and 1539. Thomas Culpeper - Wikipedia But it is at least equally possible that he was impotent. It has been speculated that Henry, who was nearly 50 years old when he married Catherine, was impotent. Thomas Culpeper For Catherine it was a truly spectacular rise from obscurity to the seat of power, says Josephine Wilkinson. [54][55] She also discovered that Holbein, who was noted for his subtle symbolism, mounted the miniature on a playing card depicting the four of diamonds and speculated that this could refer to Anne as Henry's fourth queen. Catherine Parr | Facts, Children & Death | Study.com Catherine was the youngest of Henrys wives and her reign had been one of the shortest. She confirmed that they had met several times, adding that she thought Culpeper hath known the queen carnally considering all things that this deponent hath heard and seen between them. Catherine Howard (c.1524 13 February 1542), also spelt Katheryn Howard,[b] was Queen of England from 1540 until 1541 as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Catherine was accused of adultery and 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. Her ladies helped her to dress in a black velvet gown, a French hood, gloves and a furred mantle it was almost as though this were just any other day. I am justly condemned by the laws of this realm and by Parliament. 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.