Mary FitzAlan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lady Mary FitzAlan
|
|
|---|---|
| Duchess of Norfolk | |
Traditionally called Mary, Duchess of Norfolk, aged 16, 1556.
|
|
| Born | 1540 |
| Died | 23/25 August 1557 (aged 16-17) Arundel House, The Strand, Middlesex, England |
| Buried | first at St Clement Danes, London and then at Fitzalan Chapel, Arundel |
| Noble family | FitzAlan (by birth) Howard (by marriage) |
| Spouse(s) | Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk |
| Issue | Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel |
| Father | Henry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel |
| Mother | Lady Katherine Grey |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Mary FitzAlan, Duchess of Norfolk (born 1540 – died 1557) was an important English noblewoman. She was known for her intelligence and for translating texts. Mary was also the wife of Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.
Early Life and Education
Mary was born in 1540. She was the third and last child of Henry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel. Her mother was Katherine Grey. Mary had two older siblings: her sister Jane, born in 1537, and her brother Henry, Lord Maltravers, born in 1538.
Mary's family was very important. Her grandparents on her father's side were William FitzAlan, 11th Earl of Arundel and Anne Percy. Her grandparents on her mother's side were Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset and Margaret Wotton. Mary was also a niece of Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk. She was a first cousin to Lady Jane Grey, who was involved in a rebellion in 1554. This rebellion tried to stop Queen Mary I from marrying Philip II of Spain.
Both Mary and her sister Jane received an excellent education. They were taught many subjects. Mary even translated texts from Greek into Latin. Some of her translations are still around today.
In 1556, Mary's brother Henry died. This meant that Mary and Jane became co-heiresses to the Earldom of Arundel. This was a very important title.
Marriage and Family Life
In March 1555, Mary became engaged to Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. Mary was about 14 or 15 years old at the time. Thomas was 19. This marriage was planned by Thomas's grandfather, the 3rd Duke of Norfolk. He wanted to bring together two of England's most important Catholic families.
Mary became pregnant in late 1556. She gave birth to her only child on June 28, 1557, at Arundel House in London. Her son was named:
- Philip Howard. He became the Earl of Surrey in 1557. Philip remained loyal to Catholicism. Because of this, he was put in the Tower of London in April 1585. He stayed there until he died in October 1595. After his death, he was recognized as a Catholic martyr. He was made a saint in 1970. His tomb is in Arundel Cathedral.
Later Life and Legacy
Mary became very ill after Philip's birth. She likely had an infection after giving birth. She never got better and died at Arundel House in August 1557. This was only eight weeks after her son was born.
After her funeral, Mary was first buried in the Church of St Clement Danes in London. Many years later, her grandson, Thomas Howard, 14th Earl of Arundel, arranged for her remains to be moved. She was reburied in the Fitzalan Chapel in Arundel.
When Mary's father died in 1580, the title of Earl of Arundel passed to her son Philip. This happened because all of Mary's sister Jane's children had died before her. Jane herself had also died before their father.
