Katherine Parr
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| Katherine Parr |
Katherine was the daughter of the Tudor knight Sir Thomas Parr and his wife Maud Green. She was the eldest surviving child of Thomas and Maud and she was born in the year of 1512, probably in August. Katherine had two little siblings- William and Anne. In 1517, her father died, more than likely due to the sweating sickness. With their mother in charge of the royal education, Katherine, William and Anne received an excellent education, as a noblewoman could expect. Maud was a favoured lady- in- waiting to Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first wife. Katherine was brought up in the household of her paternal uncle- Sir William Parr. After Thomas' sudden death, Maud took it upon herself as her duty to secure safe and beneficial marriage unions between the Parrs and other genteel families.
The first man that Katherine was married to was the son of a Lancashire lord- Edward Borough. But Edward had bad health and he died in 1532. At the time of her marriage, Katherine was seventeen. In 1531, Maud died. At the time of Edward's death, their marriage had been childless.
In the summer of 1534, Katherine wedded the Lord Latimer, who was twenty years older than his bride and already had two children from his previous marriage. Unfortunately, Latimer was arrested in 1536 because he had been forced to join Catholic rebels who opposed the new Church of England. After her husband's arrest, Katherine took John and Margaret (her stepchildren) and lived in hostage in Snape Castle. But her husband was then taken to the king and told to explain himself. He was set free without charge. Henry began courting Katherine after Latimer's death in 1543.
Admittedly, Katherine was not in love with the old, obese, dangerous king when he began to court her, Katherine's interests were in another man: Thomas Seymour. Thomas Seymour was the brother of Henry's third wife- Jane Seymour, as a result he was the uncle of England's heir Edward (later Edward VI). When Henry saw that the woman that he was in love with did not love him but loved his former brother- in- law, he honoured Seymour with the title and role of Lord Admiral, as a result, he was sent off to investigate the royal fleet of ships in Henry's navy! Meanwhile this allowed the king to marry Katherine! Henry was twenty- one years senior to his new wife! I think that Henry considered Katherine an innocent young woman, who was quite different to his previous wife, Catherine Howard! Marrying a widow was also a clever move from Henry because it meant that she more than likely was not a virgin, resulting in no long tests nor any scandals as he had experienced with Catherine Howard. After Catherine Howard and Henry VIII's marriage broke up, she was beheaded for treason and adultery, as were the men accused of the crimes with her e.g: Thomas Culpepper and Henry Manox. Henry and Katherine Parr were distant cousins because they shared the same ancestors in both the Nevilles and Beauforts.
Henry and Katherine Parr were married in a quiet ceremony at Hampton Court Palace, as an epidemic of a dangerous disease had attacked London. They were married on 12th July 1543. Shortly before their marriage, Henry had added the title of King of Ireland to his collection, therefore Katherine was the first queen to have the titles Queen of England and Ireland! The king must have trusted Katherine because she was appointed 'Regent' whilst he was away fighting. Now Henry was old and ill. His wife bathed and cleaned Henry's open ulcers on his leg (accumulated during a joust that occurred earlier in his rule). The ulcers were very painful and urged his anger.
Also Katherine brought together Henry and his children: Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. Henry had had strained relationships with Mary and Elizabeth as their mothers had been divorced and beheaded in the case of Elizabeth's mother Anne Boleyn. The new queen took the Elizabeth and Edward's education into her own hands, appointed excellent tutors such as Roger Ascham and influenced them with their views of catechism. Katherine was a firm believer in equal education rights for girls so she set up education systems for girls.
However Henry and Katherine had very different views and ideas on faith. Henry, despite having broke from the Roman Catholic church in order to marry Anne Boleyn and divorce Catherine of Aragon, was firm practising Catholic. On the other hand Katherine Parr was a devout Protestant, she even wrote a book called 'Lamentations of a Sinner'. Katherine was also very open to share her theological views and on some occasions she found herself in arguments and strong debates with her strong- willed husband. Normally the debates ended alright, occasionally they ended with the king having a rant but once the debate went to far. One of Katherine's ladies discovered an arrest warrant. Asa you can imagine she got very upset. She went and saw the king and they made up. The next day when head of the guards arrived to arrest the queen, Henry shouted insults at him and sent him away!
Sadly on 28th January 1547, Henry died. Yet before he died, he ensured that Katherine received an annual allowance of £7000 (a lot in those days). Henry also said that until his son Edward found a wife, then Katherine would be allowed to wear the queen's jewels.
Shortly after her third husband's death, Katherine married the love of her life Thomas Seymour. She went to live in Chelsea Palace. Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I) also went to live with her. And then Lady Jane Grey's father actually sold her to Seymour so Elizabeth's cousin was also residing with her.
On 5th September 1548 Katherine passed away as a result of puerperal fever (a.k.a: childbed fever) after giving birth to her only daughter Mary Seymour. Elizabeth, having been sent away from her beloved stepmother's house shortly before because she was discovered by Katherine kissing Seymour, was not present but Katherine's other stepdaughter Margaret (daughter of Lord Latimer) was. The head of the mourners for Katherine was Lady Jane Grey.
Today Katherine is remembered as the saintly nurse but she was also a devoted scholar and Christian.
Sources:
~ Wikipedia: Catherine Parr
~ English History: Katharine/ Catherine/ Katherine Parr
Please look at 'Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 6' for information.
Admittedly, Katherine was not in love with the old, obese, dangerous king when he began to court her, Katherine's interests were in another man: Thomas Seymour. Thomas Seymour was the brother of Henry's third wife- Jane Seymour, as a result he was the uncle of England's heir Edward (later Edward VI). When Henry saw that the woman that he was in love with did not love him but loved his former brother- in- law, he honoured Seymour with the title and role of Lord Admiral, as a result, he was sent off to investigate the royal fleet of ships in Henry's navy! Meanwhile this allowed the king to marry Katherine! Henry was twenty- one years senior to his new wife! I think that Henry considered Katherine an innocent young woman, who was quite different to his previous wife, Catherine Howard! Marrying a widow was also a clever move from Henry because it meant that she more than likely was not a virgin, resulting in no long tests nor any scandals as he had experienced with Catherine Howard. After Catherine Howard and Henry VIII's marriage broke up, she was beheaded for treason and adultery, as were the men accused of the crimes with her e.g: Thomas Culpepper and Henry Manox. Henry and Katherine Parr were distant cousins because they shared the same ancestors in both the Nevilles and Beauforts.
Henry and Katherine Parr were married in a quiet ceremony at Hampton Court Palace, as an epidemic of a dangerous disease had attacked London. They were married on 12th July 1543. Shortly before their marriage, Henry had added the title of King of Ireland to his collection, therefore Katherine was the first queen to have the titles Queen of England and Ireland! The king must have trusted Katherine because she was appointed 'Regent' whilst he was away fighting. Now Henry was old and ill. His wife bathed and cleaned Henry's open ulcers on his leg (accumulated during a joust that occurred earlier in his rule). The ulcers were very painful and urged his anger.
Also Katherine brought together Henry and his children: Mary, Elizabeth and Edward. Henry had had strained relationships with Mary and Elizabeth as their mothers had been divorced and beheaded in the case of Elizabeth's mother Anne Boleyn. The new queen took the Elizabeth and Edward's education into her own hands, appointed excellent tutors such as Roger Ascham and influenced them with their views of catechism. Katherine was a firm believer in equal education rights for girls so she set up education systems for girls.
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| Henry VIII |
Sadly on 28th January 1547, Henry died. Yet before he died, he ensured that Katherine received an annual allowance of £7000 (a lot in those days). Henry also said that until his son Edward found a wife, then Katherine would be allowed to wear the queen's jewels.
Shortly after her third husband's death, Katherine married the love of her life Thomas Seymour. She went to live in Chelsea Palace. Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I) also went to live with her. And then Lady Jane Grey's father actually sold her to Seymour so Elizabeth's cousin was also residing with her.
On 5th September 1548 Katherine passed away as a result of puerperal fever (a.k.a: childbed fever) after giving birth to her only daughter Mary Seymour. Elizabeth, having been sent away from her beloved stepmother's house shortly before because she was discovered by Katherine kissing Seymour, was not present but Katherine's other stepdaughter Margaret (daughter of Lord Latimer) was. The head of the mourners for Katherine was Lady Jane Grey.
Today Katherine is remembered as the saintly nurse but she was also a devoted scholar and Christian.
Sources:
~ Wikipedia: Catherine Parr
~ English History: Katharine/ Catherine/ Katherine Parr
Please look at 'Henry VIII's Marriages: Wife No 6' for information.
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