Quick Facts:
Quick Facts:
Born: 1523
Died: September 5th 1548
Reign: July 12th 1543 – January 28th 1547
Motto: To be useful in all that I do
Parents: Sir Thomas Parr and Maud Green
Siblings: William and Anne
MARRIAGES: Sir Edward Burgh, John Neville (Baron Latimer), Henry VIII, and Thomas Seymour
Appearance:
She was considered tall and vivacious. Said that she was possibly 5’10 (so fairly above average height at the time) She has reddish-gold hair, hazel eyes and “peaches and cream” complexion. She was considered to still be a very handsome women. Historians say that she wasn’t a great beauty but held a certain dignity.
Personality:
She was said to be a patient and loving wife to Henry VIII, she was also called the most intellectual of Henry’s wives. She had a passionate interest in theology, which got her into trouble. She was sensible and kind. She loved the amusements of the court and finery just as much as any other of his wives. She was not a frumpy old maid. She must have been patient because she took care of her husbands in their sickness and old age, and one being a pain and extremely powerful. She was an experienced step mother due to Latimer’s daughter before even marrying Henry, so she was maternal as well.
Katherine’s father Sir Thomas Parr was a popular courtier of Henry, they getting along well and stay on his good side. Her mother was a lady-in-waiting to Katherine of Aragon, (Katherine herself was named for the queen) Sadly Katherine’s father died from the plague in 1517. Maud still a young woman, and a “catch” but she refused to get re-married. Maud spent the entirety of the rest of her life being an independent woman raising her three children. Historians say that because of Maud’s independence, and amazing capability to manage her estates along with her children’s education. Katherine’s education was along the same lines as Sir Thomas More’s plan for his own children’s education. Because of this strong woman in Katherine’s life would indicate why Katherine was also a strong woman in her faith and personality when she was older. Katherine was a writer, and had two published works during her lifetime and they were really popular.
Marriages:
Sir Edward Burgh – Married in 1529, both were around the same age. But Edward was ill in health, usually in frail condition but was able to have duties and responsibilities as part of his inheritance. Regardless of her relationship with Edward, her father-in-law was a major jerk. He was a angry man, who demanded absolute obedience. He even threw out his other daughter in law out of the home, along with her children declaring them bastards. But her father-in-law would find out that Katherine had a strong backbone and a mother with a strong will. Because of her mother, Edward and Katherine were able to get out of the household and in their own place and Katherine took over the household immediately. But their happiness was short lived, Edward fell ill and died. Katherine had no children from their marriage and she had no ties to the family anymore and was sent back home.
John Neville, (3rd) Baron Latimer – Married in 1534, she was 22 and he was 41, and twice widowed. This husband was much different from her first, mostly due to his age and the fact that he had no angry father controlling his every move. By all accounts they had a relatively peaceful marriage, she was a good mother in law to his two young children, John (14) and Margaret (9). The only issue in their marriage was during the Lincolnshire Rising and Pilgrimage of Grace. During the first Catholic rebels appeared at their home and he was dragged away upon threats of violence. Katherine was left alone to manage everything and lived in fear of their return, then in January Katherine and her step children were held hostage, and their house ransacked, and told Latimer if he did not return from London, his family would be killed. He returned, was able to persuade them into releasing his family and leave. This whole ordeal put a great deal of stress on Latimer, who was in ill health. His reputation was tarnished and they spend the rest of their time in the south, in hope of rekindling the King’s faith in him. Due to their time in London, Katherine’s next two husbands had the opportunity to get to know her better.
Katherine was able to get a place in Mary’s household in 1543, and there she began a romantic friendship with Sir Thomas Seymour, and there she caught the eye of Henry VIII.
Henry VIII- Henry won the battle for Katherine, but then again who in their right mind would stand in his way, especially in this time of his life. They married in 1543, she was 31 and he was 52. He was large, in ill health, and had a temper. Two of three things she had to deal with before. Thankfully she did not have to prove her virginity to him, being married twice before. AND the previous marriages she did not have a child. So if the King was unable to sire an heir off of her. . .well that would be entirely her fault and not his. I think he was quite smart in choosing Katherine on those points. He trusted her entirely because when he went on his final campaign to France (July to September 1544) He left Katherine regent. She did well, and was in constant contact with Henry during this time. But alas, much like every other queen he married there was factions fighting to sway the king and used the queen to get the point across. She was thankfully able to reconcile with the king before anything drastic happened.
Thomas Seymour- (her choice finally) They married (to quick before they were supposed to) in 1547, she was 35 and he was 39. He was handsome, charming, uncle to the King. She and her husband would often have issues and fights with her brother/sister-in-law. Her husband believing that his brother was attacking his social standing and position. (their rivalry and hatred toward one another was well known) BAM! SURPRISE! Katherine was not barren at all! Katherine fell pregnant, and then the ick happened. She found out that Thomas was eyeing up her former step daughter Elizabeth (who happened to live with them at the time) But due to accounts, Katherine was said to assist her husband in the “horseplay” episodes with Elizabeth. But whatever that happened between the older man and the girl she considered her daughter. Katherine had the good sense to send Elizabeth away. Katherine also had Jane Grey in her household, to provide for her education. She gave birth to her daughter Mary, and sadly Katherine the smartest women in the court died from childbed fever.
What Happened to Mary Seymour?
Well she was born, her mother died. . her father executed less then a year later. So what happened? Well when her mother died all her wealth was left to her husband, and when he died his property and wealth was given to the crown. She was a poor orphan. She was left in the care of Katherine Willoughby, Duchess of Suffolk. Who did not like this at all. Agnes Strickland says that Mary survived past 2, and married a member of the household of Anne of Denmark. But most people agree that she passed around 2 since there are no more records of her.
There is so many books, articles, and documentaries regarding Katherine, go check them out!
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