This genuinely boils my blood | The Tragic Story of Catherine Howard

Описание: Catherine Howard, the fifth wife of King Henry VIII, is often remembered for her "scandalous" past, but her life was much more complex than that label suggests. Born into the powerful Howard family, she became a lady-in-waiting to Anne of Cleves, Henry’s fourth wife, where she caught the eye of the king. At just 16, she married the much older King Henry in 1540.

However, before her royal marriage, Catherine had a history that would later be used against her. At around 14 years old, she began a relationship with Francis Dereham, her step-grandmother’s secretary. Dereham and Catherine reportedly viewed each other as unofficially engaged, a fact that would later fuel accusations of pre-marital indiscretions. Even earlier, at about 12 years old, Catherine became the object of attention from her music teacher, Henry Manox, who also pursued a relationship with her.

Catherine’s past relationships were unearthed during her time as queen, leading to her downfall. Accusations of infidelity with Dereham and another courtier, Thomas Culpeper, led to her arrest and eventual execution. Tragically, Catherine Howard was only 18 years old when she was beheaded at the Tower of London in 1542.