Catherine Howard

Hans Holbein the Younger - Portrait of a Lady, perhaps Katherine Howard (Royal Collection)

Agnes-Howard-ne-Tilney-Duchess-of-Norfolk

Coat of Arms of Catherine Howard

CatherineHowardLetter

Tomb of Queen Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard (c. 1523 – 13 February 1542) was the fifth wife of Henry VIII of England. Her marriage to Henry VIII was short-lived, and she is best known for her tragic end: she was executed for treason, one of two of Henry's wives to be beheaded, the other being Anne Boleyn, her first cousin.

Early Life

Catherine Howard was born into the noble Howard family, a prominent English noble family. She was the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper. The Howard family was very influential; her uncle, Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, was a powerful figure in the English court. Catherine's exact birth date is not known, but it is believed to be around 1523.

Marriage to Henry VIII

Catherine caught the eye of Henry VIII while she was a lady-in-waiting to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves. Henry annulled his marriage to Anne of Cleves and married Catherine Howard on 28 July 1540. At the time of their marriage, Henry was 49 years old, and Catherine was likely in her late teens.

Downfall and Execution

Catherine's downfall began when allegations of her premarital affairs and an affair with Thomas Culpeper, a courtier, emerged. In November 1541, she was stripped of her title as queen and imprisoned. After a series of investigations, it was discovered that Catherine had engaged in relationships before her marriage, which she had not disclosed to Henry. This was considered a breach of the Treason Act 1534, which made it treasonous for a queen consort to hide her sexual history from the king.

Catherine Howard was executed on 13 February 1542 at the Tower of London. Her execution marked a tragic end to her brief tenure as queen consort. She was buried in an unmarked grave in the Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula, where Anne Boleyn was also buried.

Legacy

Catherine Howard's life and death have been the subject of historical and literary interest. She is often portrayed as a young, naive woman caught up in the political and sexual intrigues of the Tudor court. Her story is a cautionary tale of the dangers of the Tudor court and the severe consequences of falling out of favor with Henry VIII.

In Popular Culture

Catherine Howard's life has been depicted in various books, films, and television series, often focusing on her youth, her relationships, and her tragic end. She remains a figure of fascination and sympathy, a young woman who paid the ultimate price for her and others' actions in a ruthless political environment.