Common questions about Catherine Howard

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When was Catherine Howard born and who were her parents?

Catherine Howard was born around 1523 in Lambeth to Lord Edmund Howard and an unnamed mother who died in 1528. Her father was a spendthrift nobleman who frequently hid from debtors and begged for charity from powerful figures like Cardinal Wolsey.

When did Catherine Howard marry Henry VIII and where did the ceremony take place?

Catherine Howard married Henry VIII on the 28th of July 1540 at Oatlands Palace. The marriage occurred just 19 days after the annulment of Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves.

What were the specific dates of Catherine Howard's imprisonment and execution?

Catherine Howard was imprisoned in Syon Abbey on the 23rd of November 1541 and executed on the 13th of February 1542. Parliament passed the bill of attainder on the 7th of February 1542, and the Royal Assent was granted by commission.

Who were the men involved in Catherine Howard's alleged sexual affairs before and during her marriage?

Catherine Howard was involved with a music teacher named Henry Mannox when she was twelve or thirteen and later had a relationship with Francis Dereham. During her marriage to Henry VIII, she engaged in a secret affair with Thomas Culpeper arranged by Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford.

Where is Catherine Howard buried and how is she commemorated today?

Catherine Howard was buried in an unmarked grave in the Church of St Peter ad Vincula alongside her cousins Anne and George Boleyn and Lady Rochford. Her remains were not identified during the restorations of the chapel during Queen Victoria's reign, and she is now commemorated only on a plaque on the west wall dedicated to all those who died in the Tower.

Which portraits are traditionally attributed to Catherine Howard and what is the current scholarly consensus?

Two portrait miniatures by Hans Holbein the Younger in the Royal Collection and the Buccleuch Collection have traditionally been considered to be Catherine Howard. Recent scholarship challenges this identification, with some historians arguing the Royal Collection miniature depicts Anne of Cleves and others suggesting the portraits are misidentified or destroyed.