Catherine's sexual past, including relationships with Henry Mannix and Francis Dearham, was not disclosed to Henry VIII before their marriage. At the time, a woman's virginity was considered her most valuable asset, and Henry believed Catherine was a virgin. When her past was revealed, it shattered the image of her purity, which was crucial for her legitimacy as queen.
After her marriage to Henry VIII, Catherine became involved with Thomas Culpepper, one of Henry's closest gentlemen. Their secret meetings, aided by Lady Rochford, were discovered, leading to accusations of infidelity. This scandal, combined with her earlier relationships, sealed her fate as it violated the strict moral expectations of a queen.
Henry VIII was physically attracted to Catherine, who was young and beautiful. He also needed a wife who could bear him more male heirs, and Catherine seemed like an ideal candidate due to her youth and physical appeal. Her marriage was arranged quickly after the annulment of his marriage to Anne of Cleves.
As her execution approached, Catherine composed herself and prepared for her death. She asked for the block to be brought to her rooms so she could practice and make a
Henry VIII was heartbroken and devastated. He had genuinely loved Catherine and believed she was his
Lady Rochford aided Catherine in her secret meetings with Thomas Culpepper by arranging private encounters. Her involvement in facilitating these liaisons led to her execution alongside Catherine, as she was seen as complicit in the queen's infidelity.
Many modern historians argue that Catherine Howard was a victim of her circumstances. She was young, naive, and thrust into a position she never expected. Her lack of guidance and the pressure to conform to Tudor court expectations led to her downfall. Her execution is often seen as unjust, given her youth and the lack of a fair trial.
Henry VIII called her his 'rose without a thorn', but the teenage Catherine Howard was to fall out of favour less than 18 months after becoming Queen of England.
Out of all of Henry's wives it could be argued that the young queen, who was a cousin of Anne Boleyn, is most deserving of our sympathy.
How did her past come back to haunt her? What would it have been like for this young woman to be with Henry VIII - an older man with a stinky leg ulcer? And what was the truth behind the scandal of her downfall?
In the fifth and penultimate episode of our limited series, Secret Wives of the Six Wives, Kate is joined by Tudor export Nicola Tallis, to help us find out more about the young woman who had to deal with so much drama and tragedy in her short life.
This episode was edited and produced by Stuart Beckwith. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.
All music from Epidemic Sounds/All3 Media.
Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe).
You can take part in our listener survey__ here__).
Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.