Katherine Howard entered Henry VIII’s life—and thus the spotlight of history—when she was still a teenager. Completely unsuited by both education and personality for the path that lay before her, she was nevertheless used by her power-hungry family as an instrument—and made mistakes that would cost her her life.
Half-Orphan
The exact year of Katherine Howard’s birth is not recorded. It is assumed she was born around 1523, perhaps as late as 1525. She did indeed hail from one of England’s most powerful families, but at the start of her life, she had little benefit from it. Her father Edmund was the younger brother of Thomas Howard, the third Duke of Norfolk, and thus not entitled to inherit. His wife Joyce Culpepper brought five children into the marriage, and together they had another ten. Money was always tight, and the family usually depended on the generosity of wealthy relatives.
When Katherine’s mother died around 1531 and her father took a position in Calais, which belonged to England at the time, Katherine was placed in the care of her grandmother, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk. It was not uncommon then for noble offspring to be raised in other households. The Dowager Duchess, however, housed an unusually large number of young people: wards, ladies-in-waiting, chambermaids, pages, servants.
Men and women slept in separate dormitories. The responsibility for ensuring that everything proceeded with proper decorum was left by the frequently court-absent Duchess to a few older ladies. These women slackened the reins and regularly had their keys to the girls‘ dormitory stolen—one lively nighttime rendezvous after another took place in the ladies’ sleeping quarters.
What happened next can be interpreted in different ways. Katherine Howard was caught in a flirtation with her music teacher Henry Mannox when she was only about 13, perhaps just 11 years old. The couple was caught in flagrante, the musician was fired, and Katherine received a stern lecture. But did something happen here that she actually wanted? Or are we perhaps not dealing with a wayward girl here, but rather with a victim of abuse?
At that time, a girl was considered old enough for marital duties as early as age 12—see Margaret Beaufort. But this is not about marriage; it’s about a girl, perhaps still a child, who was inappropriately approached by a much older man, her teacher. It’s hard to say what really happened there, and what impact this event had on Katherine’s future behavior.
About two years later, Katherine became involved with the much older Francis Dereham, whom she not only let into her bed but allegedly even promised to marry.
Katherine Howard as Lady-in-Waiting
Family politics soon put an end to young love when Katherine had the opportunity in 1539/1540 to become a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves at court.
The lively and pretty young woman quickly adapted to court life, and soon caught the king’s eye. Henry was stuck in his loveless marriage with Anne of Cleves, and Katherine Howard, who was more than 30 years younger then him, was surely a delightful distraction.
The Howards quickly noticed the king’s interest in Katherine. Eager to erase the bad memories left by the last Howard girl, Anne Boleyn, Katherine was built up as the new royal favorite. Not only could the Howards thus offer Henry a desperately sought escape from his unwanted marriage, but they could also reclaim their influential position at court that they had held during Anne Boleyn’s time.
Katherine Howard differed in many ways from Henry’s previous wives. She could neither read nor discuss the works of the greatest thinkers of her time as Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn could, nor could she have written a book herself like Catherine Parr did. Katherine Howard could barely read and write. But ultimately Henry may well have had enough of intelligent women—and he certainly did not desire Katherine for her intellect. The inevitable happened: after just six months, Henry had his marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled and married Katherine Howard on July 28th, 1540.
The Child Queen
The king was infatuated with his young queen and showered her with gifts. He called her his „rose without thorns.“ The aging king, plagued by infirmities, found new vigor. However, he could not keep up with the young whirlwind: At their first New Year’s festival together, Henry had to retire early while Katherine danced merrily with her predecessor Anne of Cleves.
Overall enthusiasm for the carefree, superficial teenager remained limited. Katherine saw no reason why she should behave like a queen just because she enjoyed a queen’s privileges. Henry’s daughter Mary could not befriend her stepmother either, who was about seven years her junior.
Other factions at court had entirely different reasons to take notice of the new queen. As she so obviously rose to honor and wealth, numerous ghosts from her past appeared. Witnesses to her loose lifestyle in her grandmother Howard’s household realized the new queen likely would not want these stories to spread—and so several of her many old acquaintances received money or positions. Her old flame Francis Dereham even became her personal secretary.
But not everyone used their knowledge for personal gain. The Catholic Howards had longstanding enemies among the Protestant dignitaries and families at court. Reports about the queen’s improper behavior reached Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury and pioneer of England’s Protestant movement. He sensed an opportunity to deprive Catholics in England of their current figurehead. Cranmer began making inquiries.
Adulteress
Though Henry certainly tried: his failing health did not exactly enliven the royal couple’s sex life. Moreover, it can hardly be assumed that teenage Katherine desired the much older, overweight king plagued by festering abscesses. To Henry’s disappointment, no pregnancy ensued.
Before her marriage she had met young courtier Thomas Culpepper, a distant relative of her mother’s. The young people were attracted to each other, but before any steps toward marriage could be taken, Henry set his sights on Katherine. Nevertheless, Thomas remained one of Henry’s closest confidants and gentlemen-in-waiting—close to Katherine as well.
The inevitable happened: Katherine and Thomas began an affair. However, even here it’s questionable who led whom: Thomas Culpepper had already raped a woman and killed a man who tried to stop him—Henry had pardoned him, likely due to their personal closeness.
Katherine’s lady-in-waiting Jane Boleyn enabled secret trysts between the young couple. Jane was the widow of unfortunate George Boleyn, who died on the scaffold with his sister Anne. Back then Jane also played a role in accusing her husband. When now other ladies-in-waiting and even royal messengers increasingly found the queen’s chamber doors locked, rumors began circulating.
Thomas Cranmer now took the first step toward Katherine’s downfall and informed Henry that his thornless rose had anything but an immaculate past. Henry refused to believe the accusations but instructed Cranmer to investigate. Henry Mannox and Francis Dereham were arrested and confessed.
Katherine was placed under house arrest in Hampton Court Palace without initially being told why. She feared the worst—and in desperation committed an act that still fuels ghost stories at Hampton Court today. She escaped from her rooms and tried to reach Henry, who was praying in the royal chapel. The guards caught her at the chapel door and dragged the screaming Katherine back through the gallery to her rooms. On this corridor—still called „Haunted Gallery“—Katherine’s screams are said to be heard from time to time even today.
Doomed
Thomas Cranmer interrogated Katherine, who eventually admitted to premarital sex. This was scandalous but not a crime nor grounds for divorce unless there had been a promise of marriage—Katherine always denied promising marriage to Dereham.
For Cranmer’s purposes this was insufficient; he continued investigating until he uncovered the affair with Thomas Culpepper; under interrogation Jane Boleyn admitted to facilitating secret meetings. A clear letter from Katherine to Culpepper found among his belongings sealed her fate.
Henry raged and wanted to execute Katherine himself. Dereham and Culpepper were tried, found guilty and executed. Twelve days later so many members of the Howard family had been arrested that it was said that even the Tower was not large enough for all of them. The family quickly distanced itself from Katherine and blamed her for everything.
When Katherine was told she would die the next day, she requested that they bring her the execution block so she could practice laying her head on it. She had already gone through disbelief, denial and nervous breakdowns—and surely remembered her cousin Anne Boleyn’s fate and dignity at death.
On February 13th, 1542 it happened: Katherine was so weak she had to be helped up onto the scaffold steps. She addressed a few words to those present confessing her guilt; then she laid her head on the block as she had practiced. Then, Katherine Howard died, probably only 19 years old. Shortly after her ill-fated Jane Boleyn—by now driven mad—died on the same scaffold.
Stupid child? Victim? Calculating slut? Many labels have been attached to Katherine Howard. And even if it is hard to discern what really happened back then: I think we should be careful about how we judge her.