Hey, this is Heather from the Renaissance English History Podcast, and this is your Tudor Minute for March 22.
Today in 1519 Katherine Willoughby was born. While she is most known for having married Charles Brandon after his first wife, Mary, Henry VIII’s sister had died (and Katherine had been Charles’ ward), she was also a leading Protestant. She had been the daughter of Catherine of Aragon’s lady in waiting Maria de Salinas, and she married Brandon when she was just thirteen to his fifty years.
In 1551 Katherine lost both her sons to the sweating sickness in the same day, and then during the reign of Mary I she had to flee to Europe, since she was a strong Protestant. She and her second husband fled to Poland, returning with her two new children by her second husband after Elizabeth became Queen. She lived a quiet life back in England until she died peacefully in 1580, aged 61.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com.
Links:
Book Recommendation – Henry VIII’s Last Love (Amazon Affiliate link)