Charles Brandon, 3rd Duke of Suffolk facts for kids
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Charles Brandon, 3rd Duke of Suffolk (born October 12, 1537 – died July 14, 1551) was a young English nobleman. He was also known as Lord Charles Brandon for most of his life. Charles was the son of Charles Brandon, the 1st Duke of Suffolk, and his mother was Catherine Willoughby. His mother was a baroness in her own right, meaning she inherited her title.
Charles's father had been married before to Mary Tudor. She was the sister of the famous King Henry VIII. After Mary Tudor passed away, his father married Catherine Willoughby. Interestingly, Catherine was first planned to marry Charles's older half-brother, Henry.
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A Short Life
Charles Brandon lived a very short life. He became the 3rd Duke of Suffolk just one hour before he died. This happened because his older brother, Henry, who was the 2nd Duke, died from the same illness.
The Sweating Sickness
Both Charles and his brother Henry died from a terrible illness called the sweating sickness. This was a mysterious and often deadly disease that spread quickly in England during the 15th and 16th centuries.
They had gone to the Bishop of Lincoln's Palace, Buckden in a village called Buckden. This was near Huntingdon. They hoped to escape the sickness there, but sadly, they did not.
A Brief Title
Because Charles died so soon after his brother, he holds a record. He had the shortest time as a British Duke in history. He died without having any children. This meant that his title as Duke of Suffolk ended with him.
Remembered in Art and Books
Even though Charles lived a short life, he was remembered in a few ways.
Holbein's Portrait
In 1541, when Charles was just a young boy, a famous artist painted his picture. This artist was Hans Holbein the Younger. Holbein was known for painting many important people of that time. He also painted a miniature portrait of Charles's older brother, Henry.
Funeral and Tributes
A special ceremony was held for both brothers on September 22, 1551. It was called a 'Month's Mind'. This was a traditional service held about a month after someone's death. For the two Dukes, all the funeral items were duplicated.
Two important writers of the time, Thomas Wilson and Walter Haddon, wrote about the lives of Charles and his brother. They were known as humanist intellectuals. This means they were scholars who studied classical texts and focused on human values.
