Mary Percy, Countess of Northumberland facts for kids
Lady Mary Percy (born Talbot) was an important noblewoman who lived during the time of King Henry VIII of England in England. She was the daughter of a powerful man, George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury. Mary was married to Henry Percy, 6th Earl of Northumberland. However, Henry Percy had wanted to marry Anne Boleyn instead of Mary.
Mary's Family Background
Mary Talbot was one of eleven children. Her parents were George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, and his first wife, Anne Hastings. Her grandparents on her father's side were John Talbot, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury, and Catherine Stafford. Her grandparents on her mother's side were William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings, and Katherine Neville. Katherine Neville was a younger sister of the famous Richard Neville, 16th Earl of Warwick.
Her Marriage to Henry Percy
In January 1524, Lady Mary was married to Henry Percy. He was the future Earl of Northumberland. Henry Percy had been deeply in love with Anne Boleyn. At that time, Anne was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine of Aragon. Henry Percy did not want to marry Mary.
It was Cardinal Thomas Wolsey who stopped the relationship between Henry Percy and Anne Boleyn. Wolsey reminded Henry about an earlier promise he had made to marry Mary Talbot. This promise was called a "precontract." Henry and Mary had been promised to each other since 1516.
After this, Henry's father, the 5th Earl of Northumberland, was called to the English court. He learned about the situation. He then took Henry Percy home to Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. The exact date of Mary and Henry's wedding is not fully clear. It was likely between 1523 and 1526. Their marriage was unhappy from the very beginning.
Life as Countess of Northumberland
Henry became the 6th Earl of Northumberland on 19 May 1527. From then on, Mary was known as the Countess of Northumberland. The marriage remained unhappy, and they did not have any children.
In June 1532, Mary tried to end her marriage. She said that her husband had a previous promise to marry Anne Boleyn. King Henry VIII questioned Percy about this. However, the request to end the marriage was denied by Parliament. So, the Percys remained married.
Mary died on 16 April 1572. Her husband, Henry Percy, had died many years earlier, on 30 June 1537. Later in her life, Mary received land from the Dissolution of the Monasteries. She was suspected of holding certain religious beliefs. She was also thought to support Mary, Queen of Scots. Lady Mary Percy was buried in Sheffield church.
