Wives of Henry VIII – Catherine Howard
The Life of the Fifth Wife of Henry VIII 1521-1542
Oct 5, 2009
The daughter of impoverished but aristocratic parents, Catherine's youthful indiscretions had disastrous consequences.
Birth and Early Life of Catherine Howard
Differing opinions exist as to the year Catherine Howard was born, with suggestions ranging from 1521 to 1524. As a result her parents‘ poverty, Catherine was raised by her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk.
The Dowager Duchess took little notice of Catherine and spent most of her time at court.
In around 1536, Catherine began a relationship with her teacher, Henry Manox. Later, both parties denied actual intercourse took place. The relationship ended when Catherine met Francis Dereham (the secretary of her grandmother's household).
This relationship was much more serious, with the two referring to each other as "husband" and "wife".
In 1539, having moved from her grandmother's residence, Catherine met Thomas Culpeper, a cousin of her mother and a powerful courtier to the King.
Lady in Waiting
In late 1539, Catherine arrived at court to become lady in waiting to the new Queen Anne of Cleves.
It seems that Henry VIII quickly fell in love with Catherine, granting her extensive lands. It is possible that Catherine and Henry became intimate as early as April 1540, and rumours that she was pregnant started to circulate.
Marriage to Henry VIII
On 28th July 1540, a little over two weeks after his annulment from Anne of Cleves had been granted, Henry VIII married Catherine Howard in a somewhat subdued ceremony. Catherine was never crowned for financial reasons and because Henry was waiting for Catherine to fulfil her most important duty as Queen, provide him with another son.
Despite the King's unappealing physicality (he was obese and had an abscess on his thigh which required draining daily) the couple were very affectionate to each other in public and Henry continued to shower his young wife with gifts.
During this time, Catherine was the victim of much blackmail. Those with whom she had spent her formative years threatened to reveal her previous relationships unless they were granted positions in her household. In an attempt to keep her past hidden, Catherine even appointed Manox and Dereham to her staff.
The Downfall and Execution of Catherine Howard
In early 1541, Catherine embarked upon a affair with Thomas Culpeper, being assisted by Lady Jane Rochford (the widow of George Boleyn, the King's former brother in law). During the summer, the Royal couple toured the north of England, with a pregnancy anxiously awaited.
Upon their return in November 1541, the King was given a letter detailing his Queen’s indiscretions. Initially, Henry could not believe the accusations and ordered an investigation.
Both Dereham and Culpeper were arrested and tortured, leading them to confess to adultery with Catherine. Dereham claimed the two had been betrothed and as such had not broken the law (sex between betrothed couples was accepted at the time). However, Catherine held fast to her claim that there was no betrothal, had she confessed, her marriage to the King could have been declared void and it may have saved her life.
In January 1542, it was made an act of treason for the Queen not to disclose her sexual history to her husband within twenty days of marriage and to incite another to commit adultery with her.
Catherine was arrested and stripped of her title. During her imprisonment, Catherine was hysterical. The night before her execution, she asked to have the chopping block brought to her so that she could practice laying her head down.
Catherine Howard was beheaded on 13th February 1542, her was body interred not far from that of her cousin Anne Boleyn.
Sources:
The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Antonia Fraser, (Phoenix; New Ed edition, Aug 2002)
Six Wives: The Wives of Henry VIII, David Starkey, (Vintage; New edition edition, Mar 2004)
 |
