Catherine Howard was presumably born in Lambeth around 1524. Soon after her mother's death, Catherine and some of her siblings were sent away to live with their step-grandmother, Agnes Howard, the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, who managed several large households where aristocratic but poor young relatives resided. Sending aristocratic children to be educated elsewhere from home (a bit like boarding school) was fairly common amongst the noble families of Europe; however, the Dowager Duchess's household was not very good when it came to supervision. Agnes was a prominent member of Henry VIII's court, so she was often away, and it doesn't seem that she had much direct involvement in her ward's upbringing. Catherine was easily influenced by some older girls in the household, who allowed men into their sleeping areas at night and stole food and wine from the kitchens. Catherine was by no means as intelligent or well-educated as her predecessors, like Catherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn (her older cousin) but competent in reading and writing for her time, and while not scholarly or learned, she was giggly, vivacious and said to be quite sweet. Catherine loved dance lessons, but often got distracted and told jokes. She was also fond of animals, mainly dogs.
Around 1536, Catherine began music lessons with Henry Mannox. The pair began a relationship and started sleeping together. Henry Mannox was between 23 and 36 when he started grooming Catherine, who was most likely 13 (or maybe even as young as 9). It's debated whether Catherine was groomed or if the relationship was consensual, though seeing as she was only around 13, she legally wouldn't be old enough to consent if it was happening today. It's believed that Henry Mannox was handsome and Catherine was likely attracted to him, though how she felt about her sexual contact with him is unknown. It's believed that she didn't like Mannox gossiping about his relationship with her. Eventually the relationship ended, likely in 1538.
Shortly after this, Catherine became acquainted with her step-grandmother's new secretary, Francis Dereham. Catherine helped him with his work, and the pair soon fell in love. She also managed his financial affairs when he was away, with the couple addressing each other as "husband" and "wife". Most of Catherine's roommates likely knew about Catherine and Francis. The relationship came to an end in 1539 when Catherine's step-grandmother became aware of the relationship, since an anonymous note (left by a jealous Henry Mannox) was given to the Dowager Duchess, suggesting that she check Catherine's bedroom "half an hour after" the girls went to bed. The note said that "you shall see that which shall displease you", which naturally intrigued the Duchess to check on her pretty step-granddaughter. Agnes thus caught Catherine and Dereham having sex and sent Dereham far away, then telling her step-granddaughter off, saying that these sexual practices would "hurt her beauty", which some historians believe suggests the Dowager Duchess cared more about her step-granddaughter's good looks than her morals. Francis Dereham went away to Ireland (possibly becoming a pirate), leaving £100 for Catherine to look after. He told her that if he didn't return, she could keep the money and spend it for herself. This relationship was considered pre-marital.
At around 16 years old, Catherine became a Lady-In-Waiting to Anne of Cleves, King Henry's fourth wife. Henry VIII and Anne's marriage didn't go well — Anne was repulsed by his appearance and had unintentionally insulted him when they first met, unaware that he was her future husband. After this humiliating incident, Henry claimed it was tall, slim, blonde, 25-year-old Anne who was the ugly one and that he could not sleep with her. During his marriage to Anne, morbidly obese, 49-year-old Henry began visiting Catherine's bedchamber frequently. After Henry and Anne annulled their marriage, Henry decided he wanted an English woman who he had seen before it was too late to turn back. Catherine was perfect in his eyes: beautiful, vivacious, pure and chaste (so he thought). They quickly married and Henry began spoiling Catherine with presents: endless amounts of clothes, shoes, jewellery, anything she wanted. While most likely repulsed by her overweight, old husband, Catherine probably did enjoy the perks of being Queen of England.
Not much changed at court, other than the fact many of Catherine's relatives became frequent members. Plague came to London in August 1540, but Catherine escaped with Henry and they enjoyed a honeymoon. It's believed that Henry genuinely loved his young bride. Soon, Christmas came and Catherine had a brilliant time. The King became very moody in winter, and in March he was depressed and furious due to his ulcerous leg. However, he became cheery again when it was believed his teenage wife was pregnant. However, soon it was confirmed she was not. Catherine was close with her stepdaughter Elizabeth Tudor and stepson Edward Tudor; however she had a feuding relationship with her eldest stepdaughter, Mary Tudor, who considered Catherine to be vain, spoiled and stupid.
It's almost certain that during her marriage to Henry, Catherine was involved with Thomas Culpeper, a handsome knight who was good friends with the King. Catherine considered marrying Thomas before she married Henry. It's unknown if Thomas really loved Catherine, but he did address her as "my dear, sweet fool" in a love letter. Catherine's chief lady-in-waiting, Jane Boleyn, helped her with this affair. Catherine employed her old friend Joan Bulmer (Francis Dereham's former lover before Catherine) as a lady-in-waiting who knew of her sexual past, and later made Francis Dereham himself her Secretary, which has led some to believe Catherine was sleeping with Francis Dereham again. Catherine was also being blackmailed by men who knew she wasn't a virgin when she married Henry.
Eventually, Catherine was arrested for adultery and treason. During her testimony, many were questioned and tortured to find out information about Catherine. Joan Bulmer was one of the women questioned. Catherine spoke about Henry Mannox, admitting they'd had sexual contact but denied full sex. Catherine is quoted for saying, "At the flattering and fair persuasions of Mannox, being but a young girl, I suffered him at sundry times to handle and touch the secret parts of my body, which neither became me with honesty to permit nor him to require." Unlike Anne Boleyn, the accusations against her were almost certainly true, but strangely Henry seemed to have been more upset over her pre-marital relationship with Francis Dereham than her adultery with Thomas Culpeper.note
What was to be done with Catherine was at first unsure of. Establishing the existence of a pre-contract between Catherine and Dereham would have had the effect of terminating Catherine's marriage to Henry, but it would also have allowed Henry to annul their marriage and banish her from court to live in poverty and disgrace instead of executing her, although there is no indication that Henry would have chosen the alternative option.
Catherine Howard was screaming and crying when she was arrested. Legend has it that she ran down a staircase and banged on the doors of King Henry, who was in prayer. She screamed and sobbed and begged for him to help her, but he blankly ignored her. The whole court heard this breakdown. Catherine was dragged kicking and screaming to a barge to be taken to the Tower Hill through Traitors' Gate. It was even said that all objects from her rooms had to be removed as it was feared she might commit suicide. Catherine's former lovers, Henry Mannox, Francis Dereham, and Thomas Culpeper, were also arrested. Henry Mannox (who had molested Catherine before she was even 14) was let off with a slap on the wrist. Thomas Culpeper (who had been the young Queen's most active lover) was simply beheaded due to being a close friend of the King. Francis Dereham (who had a short-lived relationship with Catherine but also had a pre-marital contract with her) was brutally hanged, drawn and quartered. Catherine got no trial, being found guilty instantly. When told that she would be executed, she was panicking and sobbing, but asked for a chopping block to practise lying her head on. Catherine was beheaded on the 13th February 1542. She was nervous and crying; but asked for forgiveness to her family and prayers for her soul. It is unknown what her last words were, though the popular telling claims that it was "I die a Queen, but I would rather die the wife of Culpeper."note
Jane Boleyn (who was the sister-in-law of Anne Boleyn, the first beheaded Queen) was also brutally beheaded. When Anne Boleyn was executed, Henry tried erasing her from history — which is ironic, seeing as Anne Boleyn is the most famous of his wives. As such, there are no portraits of Anne Boleyn. This is the same for Catherine Howard. There are no confirmed portraits of Catherine today. Throughout history, Catherine has often been portrayed as The Ditz who has no idea what she's doing and is a promiscuous Attention Whore. But the real Catherine Howard, though known for being ditzy, was actually known for being quite sweet even towards prisoners. It was known she was a great beauty, that she loved attention and was indeed a spoiled brat during her marriage to the King. But one thing many unsympathetic portrayals tend to leave out is the fact that she was sexually abused as a child. Being aged 13 or below, she was not old enough to consent (of course, there was no concept of consent in Tudor times) and as such it's arguably unfair to judge her. Even her thought-to-be loving relationship with Francis Dereham had her as a girl of around 15 years old. Thus, in more recent years, Catherine Howard has become seen as more of a tragic martyr of romance rather than a vain, cruel sexual diva, as older works may depict her as.
Tropes associated with Catherine Howard as portrayed in fiction:
- The Baby of the Bunch: Catherine was the youngest of the six wives, being around 18 or 19 when she was beheaded, meaning that she can be portrayed as sweet and maybe even a tad childish in some works.
- Broken Bird: As confident and vain as someone might have found her, threats against her life and possible sexual abuse probably didn't do too well for poor Catherine.
- The Ditz: Often portrayed as this. Though the real Catherine Howard was not known for her intelligence, her ditziness often comes off as shallow, sexual and ridiculous and is very over-the-top.
- May–December Romance: Though romance might be a stretch, as beautiful, vivacious 16-year-old Catherine probably wasn't interested in her old, overweight 49-year-old husband.
- Nice Girl: Despite how she's usually portrayed, Catherine Howard was said to be quite sweet, even towards prisoners.
- Tomboy and Girly Girl: Would have been considered the sweet and pretty Girly Girl to intelligent, mature, and independent Tomboys Anne of Cleves and Catherine Parr, the preceding and succeeding queens.
Portrayals of Catherine Howard in fiction:
- Catherine (spelled Katherine here) Howard, along with Henry VIII's other wives, are reimagined as pop stars in Six: The Musical. Her song, "All You Wanna Do", is styled after Ariana Grande and Britney Spears.
- Briefly mentioned in Handmaid, in which Katherine Parr decides to allow Katherine "Kitty" Howard into Anne Boleyn's household (when it expands due to Anne becoming Princess Consort), despite Kitty's age, as Katherine had heard unpleasant rumors about how life at Lambeth was like. Thanks to this, Kitty avoided the sexual abuse at the hands of Mannox and Dereham, never becomes Henry's fifth wife, marries Thomas Culpeper, and eventually moves to Spain to become a lady in waiting to Henry and Anne's oldest daughter, Cecily, who married Phillip II of Spain.
