Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Grace The Duke of Norfolk KG PC
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk by Hans Holbein the Younger, Royal Collection.
Lord High Treasurer
In office 4 December 1522 – 12 December 1546
Monarch	Henry VIII
Preceded by	Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk
Succeeded by	Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset
Personal details
Born	1473
Died	25 August 1554 (aged 80–81) Kenninghall, Norfolk
Resting place	Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham, Suffolk
Spouses	Anne of York (m. 1495; died 1511) Elizabeth Stafford (m. 1513)
Children	Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey Thomas Howard, 1st Viscount Howard of Bindon Mary FitzRoy, Duchess of Richmond and Somerset Katherine Stanley, Countess of Derby
Parents	Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (father) Elizabeth Tilney (mother)
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Arms of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk: Quarterly of 4: 1: Gules, on a bend between six cross-crosslets fitchy argent an escutcheon or charged with a demi-lion rampant pierced through the mouth by an arrow within a double tressure flory counterflory of the first (Howard, with augmentation of honour); 2: Gules, three lions passant guardant in pale or armed and langued azure a label of three points argent (Plantagenet, arms of Thomas of Brotherton, 1st Earl of Norfolk); 3: Chequy or and azure (de Warenne, Earl of Surrey); 4: Gules, a lion rampant argent (Mowbray)

Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473 – 25 August 1554) was a very important English nobleman and politician during the time of the Tudor kings and queens. He was the uncle of two of King Henry VIII's wives, Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. Both of these queens were later executed. Thomas Howard played a big part in the events surrounding these royal marriages.

In 1546, he lost the King's favor and was sent to the Tower of London. He avoided execution when King Henry VIII died in January 1547. He was set free when the Catholic Queen Mary I became queen. He helped her secure the throne. This created problems between his Catholic family and the Protestant royal family, which continued with Mary's half-sister, Elizabeth I.

Early Life and Family History

Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk and Elizabeth Tilney, Thomas' parents

Thomas Howard was the son of Sir Thomas Howard, who later became the 2nd Duke of Norfolk. His mother was Elizabeth Tilney. His family, the Howards, were very loyal to King Richard III. Because of this, his father and grandfather were given important titles in 1483.

In 1485, the Howards fought for Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. Richard III lost the battle and his life. The Howards also lost their titles and most of their land. However, they slowly regained their status. In 1489, Thomas's father got back his title as Earl of Surrey.

Thomas was a skilled soldier. In 1497, he fought against the Scots and was knighted. After Henry VIII became king, Thomas was made a Knight of the Garter. He became a close friend of the King.

His first wife, Anne of York, died in 1511. In 1513, he married Elizabeth Stafford.

The Battle of Flodden

In 1513, Thomas was appointed Lord Admiral. He and his brother, Edmund, joined their father to lead the English army against King James IV of Scotland. James IV had invaded England.

The English army, even though they had fewer soldiers, won a big victory at the Battle of Flodden. Thousands of Scottish soldiers died, including King James IV.

Howard augmentation of honour, given to Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk after the Battle of Flodden (1513).

Howard's Coat of arms with the "Flodden augmentation"

This victory made the Howards very famous and powerful. Their family coat of arms was even changed to show their victory. It included a Scottish lion with an arrow through its mouth. This was a clear sign of their triumph over Scotland.

In 1514, Thomas's father became the Duke of Norfolk. Thomas was made the Earl of Surrey. They were given lands to support their new titles. However, King Henry VIII was careful not to give them too much land in one area.

Over the next few years, Thomas Howard served King Henry VIII in many ways. He helped escort the King's sister, Mary, to France for her marriage. In 1517, he helped stop a riot in London.

Rising to Power

In 1520, Howard was sent to Ireland to help keep order. It was a difficult job, and he often asked for more money and soldiers.

In 1521, he was called back to lead the English navy against France. His ships attacked the French coast, causing damage. In 1522, his forces burned Morlaix and attacked areas around Boulogne.

In 1522, Howard became Lord Treasurer. In 1524, he became the Duke of Norfolk after his father passed away. He often disagreed with Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who preferred talking things out rather than fighting.

Howard's power grew again when his niece, Anne Boleyn, caught King Henry VIII's attention. He became involved in the King's efforts to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. By 1529, Howard, along with his brother-in-law Thomas Boleyn, became very influential. They pushed King Henry VIII to remove Cardinal Wolsey from power.

In 1530, Wolsey was arrested and later died. Howard benefited from Wolsey's downfall. He became the King's most important advisor. He worked hard to help the King end his first marriage.

Later Career and Challenges

Howard received many rewards for helping the King end his first marriage. He gained lands, went on diplomatic missions, and was made Earl Marshal of England in 1533. In the same year, his daughter Mary married the King's illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy. This marriage was good for Howard's political standing. Many saw Henry FitzRoy as a possible heir to the throne since King Henry VIII did not have a male heir. Sadly, FitzRoy died in 1536.

In 1536, Howard's niece, Anne Boleyn, and her brother were arrested. Howard presided over their trial. Both were sentenced to death. After Anne Boleyn's execution, Howard's influence at court lessened for a while.

The Pilgrimage of Grace

In 1536, a large rebellion called the Pilgrimage of Grace broke out in northern England. People were upset about the King closing monasteries. Howard and his son, the Earl of Surrey, led the King's forces.

They negotiated with the rebels, promising a pardon and that Parliament would meet. However, the King did not keep these promises. When another rebellion started in 1537, Howard led forces that brutally put it down, even though he was Catholic himself.

In 1539, Howard, who was a traditional Catholic, challenged the King's chief minister, Thomas Cromwell, who favored religious changes. Howard presented six conservative religious articles to Parliament. These articles became law, forcing people to follow strict religious rules.

Howard tried to save Thetford Priory from being closed. He asked King Henry VIII to make it a church because his first wife and the King's son were buried there. The King refused, but he did allow people to move the remains of their relatives. Howard moved his family's remains to the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham.

Cromwell's Downfall

Howard and Cromwell became open enemies. Cromwell made a mistake by arranging the King's marriage to Anne of Cleves. The King did not like Anne's appearance and wanted to end the marriage. This gave Howard a chance to bring down Cromwell.

In 1540, Cromwell was arrested for treason. Howard took the special collar of the Order of the Garter from Cromwell, saying, "A traitor must not wear it." Cromwell was executed on the same day that King Henry VIII married Catherine Howard, another of Howard's nieces. This marriage brought Howard back into favor and gave him more power.

However, this marriage also ended badly. In 1541, Queen Catherine's past behavior was revealed to the King. The King was furious and blamed the Howard family. Queen Catherine was executed in 1542. Many members of Howard's family were punished. Howard tried to distance himself from the scandal.

Howard continued to serve the King in military campaigns against Scotland and France. He led a siege of Montreuil in 1544 but eventually had to give up due to lack of supplies.

Imprisonment and Release

In the last years of King Henry VIII's reign, the Seymour family, who supported the Reformation, gained more power. Howard, a Catholic, became politically isolated.

Howard tried to make an alliance with the Seymours by marrying his daughter, Mary, to Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley. But his son, the Earl of Surrey, behaved provocatively. He was accused of using royal symbols in his own coat of arms.

On 12 December 1546, both Howard and his son were arrested and sent to the Tower of London. Howard admitted that he had hidden his son's actions. His son was found guilty of treason and executed in January 1547. Howard was also found guilty, and it was rumored he would be executed the next day.

However, King Henry VIII died on 28 January 1547. The King's Council decided not to start the new reign with an execution. So, Howard remained a prisoner in the Tower of London.

Howard stayed in the Tower throughout the reign of King Edward VI. He was finally released and pardoned in July 1553, when the Catholic Queen Mary I became queen. He was given back his titles and became an important advisor to Queen Mary. He also presided over the trial of the Duke of Northumberland.

After his release, Howard took care of his five grandchildren, his son's children. He arranged for his grandson and heir, Thomas, to be educated by Catholic priests.

In 1553, Howard arranged a marriage between his grandson Thomas and Mary FitzAlan. This was to unite two important Catholic families in England. In 1554, the elderly Howard led forces that put down Wyatt's Rebellion, a group of Protestants who opposed Queen Mary's marriage to Philip II of Spain.

Death and Burial

Tomb of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk and Anne of York in the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham

Thomas Howard died at his home in Kenninghall on 25 August 1554. He had been ill for several weeks. He was buried next to his first wife, Anne of York, in the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham, Suffolk. His tomb is very grand and decorated with religious images of apostles and saints.

Some parts of his tomb are believed to have come from his father's tomb, which was destroyed when a monastery was closed. He was succeeded as Duke by his grandson, Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk.

Marriage and Children

Thomas Howard was married twice:

Henry, Mary and Thomas, children of Norfolk and Elizabeth Stafford

• First, he married Anne of York (1475–1511). She was the daughter of King Edward IV of England and the sister-in-law of King Henry VII. Anne and Thomas were distantly related. Their marriage was arranged when they were children. They married in 1495 at Westminster Abbey. They had four children, but none of them lived to be adults. Anne died in 1511 and was later buried at the Church of St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham.

• Second, in 1513, he married Lady Elizabeth Stafford. She was the daughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. Elizabeth was a cousin of Howard's first wife. They had five children:
  • Henry Howard (1516/7–1547), who became Earl of Surrey. He married Lady Frances de Vere. They had two sons and three daughters.
  • Mary Howard (1519–1557). She married King Henry VIII's illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy. They had no children.
  • Thomas Howard, 1st Viscount Howard of Bindon (1520–1582). He married four times.
  • Muriel Howard (died young)
  • Katherine Howard. She married Edward Stanley, 3rd Earl of Derby.

Elizabeth, his second wife, died in 1558.

Fictional Portrayals

Thomas Howard has been a character in many books and films:

Books

• The Other Boleyn Girl and The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory.
• The Man on a Donkey by H.F.M. Prescott.
• The Fifth Queen by Ford Madox Ford.
• Wolf Hall, Bring Up the Bodies, and The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel.

Films

• In The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) he was played by Frederick Culley.
• In The Prince and the Pauper (1937) he was played by Henry Stephenson.
• In A Man for All Seasons (1966), he was played by Nigel Davenport.
• In Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), Peter Jeffrey took the role.
• In the 1970 BBC TV series The Six Wives of Henry VIII, the role was played by Patrick Troughton.
• In the 1973 film The Six Wives of Henry VIII, he was played by Michael Gough.
• Sir Rex Harrison portrayed him in the 1977 film The Prince and the Pauper.
• Mark Strong portrayed Norfolk in the 2003 ITV feature Henry VIII.
• In the 2003 BBC adaptation of The Other Boleyn Girl, he was played by John Woodvine.
• In the Showtime series The Tudors (2007), he was played by Henry Czerny.
• David Morrissey played the Duke in the 2008 film The Other Boleyn Girl.
• Bernard Hill played the Duke in the 2015 BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall.

Family tree