Catherine Parr is now best remembered for being the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII. “Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded — survived.” Catherine was the fortunate wife who survived him, narrowly escaping divorce or execution. But did she really get away lightly in comparison with her six predecessors? And if so, could that mean she was the wife King Henry loved most?
Let us now step back into the heart of the Tudor Period, and focus for a moment on the last few years of King Henry’s reign. In this article, we will attempt to discover more about the fascinating life of Catherine Parr. We will evaluate her four marriages, question whether her love for King Henry was genuine, and consider the unpopular idea that King Henry preferred her company over his other wives and mistresses.
Catherine Parr: Wife Number Six
“Henry the eighth, to six wives he was wedded;
One died, one survived, two divorced, two beheaded.”
Catherine Parr. She is chiefly remembered as the sixth and final wife of King Henry VIII. Anyone with an interest in Tudor history will tell you that Catherine was the lucky one, that she was the only Queen who survived King Henry’s ill temper and paranoia. She avoided the same fates as her predecessors and actually outlived her husband, escaping his wrath with her head still attached, her marriage documents still relevant, and her reputation unstained.
So, what are the basic facts of King Henry and Catherine Parr’s relationship? Well, this Royal couple were married for just under four years. The wedding took place on the 12th of July in 1543, and the union was cut short by his death in January, 1547.
King Henry—noticeably aged and evidently suffering a decline in both looks and health at the time of their wedding—had happily rid himself of five wives over the last decade.
Catherine of Aragon, wife number one, had been divorced in 1533 and had died naturally in 1536. Jane Seymour, wife number three, had died in childbirth in 1537, after her efforts to produce her husband’s only male heir. Anne of Cleeves, wife number four, had been declared too unattractive for King Henry to even consider consummating the marriage. Most shockingly of all, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard—wives number two and five—had been executed for supposed infidelity, in 1536 and 1542 respectively.
To make matters worse, Catherine Parr was herself almost certainly already in love with a younger, fitter, and more attractive gentleman. Not exactly the perfect recipe for a blissful marriage.
However, against all odds, the relationship was successful in many ways. The Encyclopaedia Britannica tells us that “her tactfulness enabled her to exert a beneficial influence on the King during the last years of his reign,” and that she “developed close friendships with the three children Henry had by previous marriages, and devoted herself to their education.”
Just as he did with four of his previous wives, King Henry shared blood with Catherine Parr. The couple were cousins, various times removed, in various ways and through various routes across the family tree.
For example, King Henry’s mother (Elizabeth of York), and Catherine’s father (William Parr), were third cousins once removed. They shared the ancestors of Ralph Neville and Lady Joan Beaufort (the granddaughter of King Edward III). By King Henry’s father (King Henry VII), and Catherine Parr’s father, they were fourth cousins once removed. They shared the ancestors of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (a son of King Edward III), and his wife Katherine Swynford.
However, to truly understand the relationship between King Henry and Catherine Parr, we must first get to know the woman herself. What better way to do that than by venturing back to the beginning of her life?
The Early Life of Catherine Parr
Very little is known about the later life or even the Queenship of Catherine Parr, let alone about her birth and childhood. Much of her history is left blank, especially when the snippets of information we have are viewed in comparison with the vast amount of detail we have regarding his earlier wives such as Catherine of Aragon or Anne Boleyn. The historian Susan James argues that Catherine has been marginalized due to a lack of research into her life, as well as a lack of understanding of her role at King Henry’s Court.
One thing we do know about Catherine Parr is her parentage. Her father was Sir Thomas Parr, Lord of the Manor of Kendal in Westmorland. Her mother was his wife, Maud Green. Catherine Parr would have been familiar with the idea of Royalty from an early age. Her father was a close companion of King Henry VIII and was rewarded for his loyalty with various responsibilities and incomes. In addition to Lord of Kendal, he was also made Sheriff of Northamptonshire and Master of the Wards.
Catherine Parr’s mother was a close friend and attendant of Catherine of Aragon. It was after this Spanish Queen—the first of King Henry’s wives—that the baby Catherine Parr was named. When Catherine of Aragon gracefully accepted the position of Godmother to Catherine Parr, little did she know that the child would one day take not only her throne but her husband too.
Catherine Parr’s birth, naming, and Christening took place in 1512 when King Henry had been ruling England for around three years. During her pregnancy, Maud Green had remained at Court to attend to the Queen, and therefore we can assume that she gave birth to her first daughter at the family’s nearby townhouse in Blackfriars.
Here, Catherine Parr grew up alongside her two younger siblings. They were William Parr (who later became the first Marquess of Northampton), and Anne Parr (who later became Countess of Pembroke).
The two Parr daughters received an education similar to other well-born girls of the era. Both took pleasure in their lessons, but Catherine in particular developed a passion for learning which continued throughout her life. She had special skills in languages and theology. She was said to have been fluent from an early age in French, Latin, and Italian, and was proficient in Spanish.
One thing Catherine could not tolerate was sewing. As a young teenager, she rather prophetically remarked to her mother, “My hands are ordained to touch crowns and sceptres, not spindles and needles.”
Twice a Bride, Twice a Widow: The First Two Marriages of Catherine Parr
After 17 years of living with her parents and siblings, Catherine Parr’s hand in marriage was promised to a member of another notable family. Her first husband was Edward Burgh, the eldest grandson of Edward Burgh, the second Baron Burgh. He served as a feoffee, (a person to whom a grant of freehold property is made in feudal law), for Thomas Kiddell, Justice of the Peace.
We know very little about this union, and even less about how Catherine Parr felt about her new position. Would she have been excited to have been a young bride? Would she have developed genuine romantic feelings for her betrothed? Or would she have felt, like so many girls of the era, that her hand had been forced?
One thing we do know is that, at the time of his marriage to Catherine Parr, Edward Burgh was in his twenties and probably already in rather poor health.
The marriage lasted just four years; it was brought to an abrupt end by the death of Edward Burgh in 1533. He did not even survive to inherit his expected title of Baron Burgh.
Catherine Parr was made a widow, for the first of many times in her life, at the age of just 21.
It didn’t take long for her to meet her replacement. Just a year later, Catherine Parr married a cousin of her father’s. Her second husband’s name was John Neville, the third Baron Latimer. This was a prestigious prospect for Catherine; she was only the second woman in the Parr family to marry directly into the peerage.
John Neville had already taken two wives and had already seen both buried. From his first marriage to Dorothy de Vere, he had two children. Their names were John and Margaret. John Neville was at least twice Catherine Parr’s age; he was probably in his mid-40s at the time of their wedding.
By tying the knot with John Neville, Catherine Parr was acquiring not only a husband but also two step-children (whom she made her lifelong friends), a grand home of her own to run, a title, a position, and much power and influence in the North of England. Whether or not she genuinely cared for John, we can assume that she took advantage of the many privileges that came with becoming Lady Latimer.
It was in the winter of 1542 that John Neville’s health began to decline noticeably. Catherine Parr devotedly cared for him until his death in 1543. In his will, she was named as guardian of his daughter and was put in charge of her affairs until her majority. Catherine was also bequeathed the manor of Stowe in Northamptonshire and was provided with money for supporting his children.
In short, Catherine Parr’s second husband left her in a far better financial state than her first. Now, she was a rich and desirable widow.
After she had mourned her husband sufficiently, Catherine Parr chose to reside at the Royal Court of England. On the sixteenth of May, Catherine joined the household of the King’s eldest daughter, the Princess Mary. It was there, in the chambers of a Tudor Princess, that Catherine first caught the attention of the Tudor King.
Catherine Parr: Reasons to Believe She Could Have Been Favorite
Although the idea is controversial, and although the theory is not accepted by many historians, there are many reasons, drawn from reliable sources, for us to believe that Catherine Parr may have been the favorite wife of King Henry VIII. She had numerous qualities that made her worthy of being crowned as the wife King Henry loved most, five of which we may now explore.
The first reason for us to believe that Catherine Parr was King Henry’s favorite wife is that she was one of just two women to be selected as regent.
In July 1544, King Henry left England to pursue his final campaign in France. His absence from England left his throne vacant for three months, and it was Catherine Parr that he chose to fill it. Yes, Catherine Parr became the second of his wives—after Catherine of Aragon—to be left as regent.
Catherine Parr’s regency council was composed, at her request, of her favorite members of the court. These gentlemen included Thomas Cramner (the Archbishop of Canterbury), Lord Hertford (Edward Seymour, her future brother-in-law), and William Parr (her Uncle and particular favorite).
To say that Catherine excelled as regent would be an understatement. For three months she expertly handled provisions, finances, and musters for King Henry’s campaign in France. She also signed five Royal proclamations.
Very responsibly, she maintained constant contact with Lord Shrewsbury, her Lieutenant in the Northern Marches, to keep an eye on the situation in Scotland. In short, she exceeded her husband’s expectations. It is thought that her time as regent greatly influenced her stepdaughter, the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, who watched as her stepmother ruled over England with skill and grace.
The second reason for us to believe that Catherine Parr could have been King Henry’s favorite wife is that she was notably attractive. Anyone with an interest in history will know that King Henry adored beauty and that he was obsessed with good-looking women.
Yes, Catherine Parr was capable of running England, practically single-handedly. She was capable of effectively wielding the power she’d been given, but surprisingly she had a charming personality and a glowing appearance to match. King Henry is likely to have been captivated by this pleasant mixture of beauty and intelligence. The combination would have been reassuringly familiar to him: both Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn had possessed strikingly similar traits.
Many modern and trusted historians have expressed an admiration for Catherine Parr. She has been described as being not only strong-willed and outspoken but also as amusing and physically desirable.
So, what exactly did Catherine Parr look like? Well, very few accounts of her appearance have been passed down to us. However, she happens to be the most painted of King Henry’s wives. She appears twelve times in London’s National Gallery alone.
As far as we can tell from Catherine Parr’s depictions, her eyes were hazel or brown in color. A genuine lock of her hair tells us that her hair was of a dark blonde hue. She was around five foot, four inches in height; we can be sure of this by the measurements of her coffin.
Despite these fashionable features, it has been said that much of Catherine Parr’s attraction lay with her vivacious disposition. She was lively and fond of dancing, music, dining, and general merrymaking. Contrary to popular belief, she was not only concerned with her studies and the health of her husband but also took great pleasure in the finer things her new position could offer. She loved expensive clothes, and grand jewellery and was known to own a large collection of shoes.
When Catherine Parr became acquainted with her status as Queen, she had no trouble with showing off her prestige with her wardrobe choices. Her favorite colors to wear were the royal colors: crimson, black, violet, and gold. All these things combined would have rendered her the perfect match for a wealth-loving King.
The only critic of Catherine Parr appears to have been Anne of Cleeves, who complained after her divorce that Catherine Parr was less attractive than she was.
The third reason for us to believe that Catherine Parr could have been the wife King Henry loved most is that he left provisions for her, both financially and socially, before his death.
Shortly before his death in January of 1547, King Henry made provision for an allowance of seven thousand pounds per year for his soon-to-be-widow. He also ordered that, although only a dowager queen consort, Catherine should continue to receive the respect of a queen of England, as much so as if he were still alive.
The fourth reason for us to believe that Catherine Parr could have been King Henry’s favorite wife is that he knew his love was returned. King Henry loved nothing more than to be assured that he possessed love, loyalty, and devotion, whether it be from a wife, mistress, friend, or subject.
Catherine Parr provided this assurance more than adequately. She regularly confessed her love to King Henry. For example, in the late summer of 1544 when King Henry was away, Catherine composed for him a letter full of passion, longing, and a profound sense of duty.
“True love maketh me in all things to set apart mine own convenience and pleasure,” Catherine began. With these words, she was declaring that she preferred King Henry’s comfort and happiness to her own. She continued, “to embrace most fully and joyfully his will and pleasure with whom I love. God, the knower of secrets, can judge these words not to be written only with ink, but most truly impressed on the heart.”
One can only imagine that it was Thomas Seymour that Catherine Parr was thinking of when she formed these words. However, it is likely that King Henry would have believed and treasured the sentiments, whether or not they were genuine. Catherine was clever enough to tell her husband exactly what he wanted to hear, and this would have strengthened his feelings for her.
The final reason for us to believe that Catherine Parr could have been King Henry’s favorite wife is that, contrary to popular belief, she was not chosen solely for her ability to look after him, and was seen as a wife and queen rather than a nurse or caregiver.
Although the idea has become a popular myth, Catherine Parr did devote every second of her time as queen of England to her husband’s care and comfort. The theory that she had been selected purely for her ability to look after King Henry is unlikely to hold any truth whatsoever. The idea may stem partly from the work of a Victorian moralist and historian, Agnes Strickland.
David Starkey, a respected English historian, challenged this assumption in his book Six Wives. In this work, he very reasonably points out that such a scenario would have been particularly displeasing to the Tudors. King Henry possessed an enormous retinue, among them many physicians, all of whom were paid to wait on him hand and foot, 24-7.
This is not to say that Catherine would not have been required to show care and sympathy to King Henry whenever it was called for or desired. However, at the same time, she would have been expected to live up to the high standards of her predecessors and to maintain high expectations of queenly dignity.
Life After King Henry: What Did She Do Next?
Unfortunately, after the death of King Henry in January 1547, Catherine was a widow for the third time in her life. Fortunately, however, she was finally free to do pretty much as she pleased. Now, she would be the one to make the major decisions, at least where romance was concerned. Although it may have been frowned upon to jump into a new relationship quite so enthusiastically as she did, theoretically, there was nothing to stop her.
When it came to the selection of her fourth husband, it is safe to say that she probably already had a man in mind. Just weeks after the loss of King Henry, Catherine Parr wrote a significant letter to Thomas Seymour, “I would not have you think that this mine honest goodwill towards you to proceed of any sudden motion of passion for, as truly as God is God, my mind was fully bent, the other time I was at liberty, to marry you before any man I know.”
At one time, this revelation would have been extremely dangerous. Here, Catherine explicitly declared she would rather have married Thomas Seymour than King Henry.
The dates of the couple’s betrothal and wedding remain unknown. However, it was likely that they could have called each other husband and wife before the spring of 1547. We know that the couple married in great haste, for records reveal that “Thomas Seymour married the Queen so soon after the King’s death that if she had conceived straight after, it should have been a great doubt whether the child born should have been the King’s or Seymour’s.”
Marriage to Thomas Seymour changed Catherine Parr’s life completely. Yes, she was finally committed to a man she actually loved, but their union was frowned upon by important members of the English court. Many turned away from Catherine in the opinion that she married too quickly, and during her period of mourning for the King.
As a result of her marital decisions, Catherine failed to gain the respect she had been owed as Dowager Queen. Also, when she sought to take possession of her own jewels—some that had been left to her by her mother and some that she had owned as Queen of England—the Lord Protector Edward Seymour informed her that they were property of the Crown.
Whether Catherine Parr considered her marriage to Thomas Seymour to have been worth these sacrifices is left for us to decide. Of course, she would have been further vexed by the beginning of her husband’s flirtation with her teenage stepdaughter, Princess Elizabeth. Perhaps that is another story for another day.
The Death and Burial of Catherine Parr
At the age of 35, very probably for the first time in her life, Catherine Parr found herself to be pregnant. Her condition was unexpected; very likely a complete surprise to her and her immediate family. After all, she had already married three times, endured three wedding nights, and buried three husbands. Still, she had yet to produce a single heir. As far as we know, this was the first time she had conceived a child at all.
Catherine Parr gave birth to her first and only child, a baby girl, on the 30th of August in 1548. Her daughter was called Mary, perhaps in honor of her royal stepdaughter, Princess Mary Tudor.
Sadly, Catherine Parr died just a few days later, on the 5th of September that same year, having suffered since childbirth with what was then known as childbed fever. She was in good company. Two former Queens, Elizabeth of York and Jane Seymour, had both succumbed to the same illness within the last fifty years.
What became of her daughter is still a mystery to us; she is not mentioned in any reliable record. Mary Seymour may have died alongside her mother, but it is possible that she survived and lived in relative obscurity.
Catherine Parr’s funeral, which took place on the 7th of September, is extremely significant for one reason. It was the first Protestant funeral held in the English language.
Catherine Parr’s body was buried in Saint Mary’s Chapel on the grounds of Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Unfortunately, this resting place can no longer be visited. During the English Civil War, Sudeley Castle was visited by King Charles I. This made the residence an excellent target, and it was sacked by Parliamentarians in January of 1643. These raids led to the disturbance and probable destruction of Catherine Parr’s monument.
However, the body of Catherine Parr was not lost for long. Her presence at the castle was soon rediscovered by the antiquarian known as Rev Huggett during his research at the College of Arms. Hoping that he had stumbled upon something of interest, he naturally handed his findings to George Pitt, the owner of the castle in 1768.
It was George Lucas, a member of the local gentry who lived in the outer courts of the castle, who searched for the lost grave and discovered it among the ruins of the original chapel in 1782.
During excavations, Catherine Parr’s coffin was opened several times, including on notably recorded occasions in 1783, 1784, 1786, and 1792. Fragments of her dress and locks of her hair were collected, and many of these precious items are now on display at Sudeley Castle.
Catherine Parr’s coffin was later moved to its final location at the fully restored Chapel in Sudeley. It now lies beneath a canopied neo-Gothic tomb designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, with a marble figure by John Birnie Philip. It can still be visited by tourists today.
Despite Catherine Parr’s reputation as the wife who survived, it was actually Anne of Cleves who outlived King Henry by the longest. While Catherine Parr lived only a year after King Henry’s death, Anne of Cleves enjoyed a further decade of life and died on the 16th of July in 1557.
Catherine Parr: A Lasting Legacy
Catherine Parr should be remembered for many reasons and in many ways. There are four points in particular that make her time as Queen extremely significant.
Following King Henry’s adoption of the title king of Ireland, Catherine Parr was the first queen of England also to be queen of Ireland. She was the first woman to publish a book in English, under her own name, in England. She was even the first person, as forementioned, to receive a Protestant funeral in the English language.
Finally, she is still the most married woman ever to be queen of England.
These achievements and significant events make her worthy of being remembered as a successful woman in her own right, rather than simply as one of King Henry’s many wives.
Even in the 21st century, Catherine Parr is remembered frequently in popular culture. Just one of many examples of fictional works based on her life is The Taming of the Queen, written by Philippa Gregory.
Catherine Parr is featured as a protagonist in the final series of the television series The Tudors, in which she is portrayed by the actress Joley Richardson. In a new and upcoming film about her life and marriage to King Henry, it is Alicia Vikander and Jude Law who take on the roles of Royal husband and wife.
Catherine Parr: The Wife King Henry Loved Most?
The idea that Catherine Parr will ever be remembered as the love of King Henry’s life, or even as his favorite wife, seems extremely improbable. However, based on all the reliable evidence available to the 21st-century historian, it should be clear to us that he felt for Catherine a genuine affection, respect, trust, and admiration. These mutual feelings were the qualities their relationship was based on.
If not as the wife King Henry loved most, Catherine Parr should go down in history as a loyal and dutiful subject of the king of England; as a loving stepmother; as a devoted wife; as an excellent role model for the children she treated as her own; as a passionate theologian and writer; and finally, as the sixth, final and surviving wife of the most famous and notorious king in British history.
