Catherine Howard

Catherine Howard was the fifth wife of King Henry VIII of England. 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.

Catherine was the daughter of a poverty-stricken younger son of the 2nd duke of Norfolk. She was sent to live with the dowager duchess of Norfolk, who had many young nobles in her care. As a young teen, Catherine was romantically involved with her music teacher and also with Francis Dereham, who called her his wife.

Catherine was brought to court as a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves, who was Henry VIII’s fourth wife. Henry was quickly displeased with Anne but was thoroughly smitten with Catherine. He had his marriage to Anne annulled on July 9, 1540, and some two weeks later he married Catherine. He publicly acknowledged her as queen of England on August 8, 1540.

Catherine Howard was beheaded on February 13, 1542, in the Tower of London. Her execution followed the discovery by her husband, Henry VIII, of claimed affairs before their marriage and of alleged adultery afterward. In February 1542, Parliament passed a bill of attainder declaring it treason for an unchaste woman to marry the king, and she was imprisoned and killed soon after.