Katherine Howard was born around 1523, the daughter of Lord Edmund Howard and Joyce Culpeper. She was a cousin to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife. Katherine's early life was marked by instability, as her father's financial troubles and her mother's early death led her to be raised by various relatives.
Katherine came to court in her teenage years and caught the eye of King Henry VIII, who was in his mid-forties at the time. They were married on July 28, 1540, just three weeks after Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves was annulled.
Katherine's youth and vivacity initially endeared her to Henry, but her lack of discretion and questionable behavior soon became apparent. Rumors of katherine's past relationships and indiscretions began to surface, and she became embroiled in a scandalous affair with Thomas Culpeper, a member of the king's household.
In 1541, Archbishop Thomas Cranmer received evidence of katherine's premarital affairs and brought it to the attention of the king. Katherine was arrested and interrogated, and she eventually confessed to adultery and treason. She was stripped of her title as queen and sentenced to death.
Katherine Howard was executed on February 13, 1542, at the age of 19 or 20. Her execution was carried out by beheading at the Tower of London. Katherine's brief and tragic life has been the subject of much speculation and fascination over the centuries, with historians debating her innocence, culpability, and the extent of her involvement in the affairs that led to her downfall.
