Katherine Willoughby, Dowager Duchess of Suffolk

## Katherine Willoughby

### Tenure

1533 or 1534 - 1545 (as Duchess of Suffolk)1545 - died 1547 (as Dowager Duchess of Suffolk)

### Secondary Titles

12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby (suo jure)

Coat of Arms of Katherine Willoughby as the Baroness Willoughby de Eresby

**Katherine Maria Elizabeth Willoughby** (born 22 March 1519) was an English noblewoman who lived at court with her family at Westminster. She was commonly just called the **Duchess of Suffolk** and in legal settings as well as in official proclamations and such, she was known as the **Dowager Duchess of Suffolk**.

Katherine was born in Suffolk, in England, to her parents, William Willoughby and Maria de Salinas. In 1526, William died, leaving her the Barony of Willoughby de Eresby, making her the 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby.

In 1533 or 1534, she married Charles Brandon, the former brother-in-law to Henry VIII though his marriage to Mary Tudor, the Queen of France.

Through this marriage she had two children, Henry and Charles Brandon, the first who is currently the 2nd Duke of Suffolk following the death of Charles Brandon in 1545.

In 1547, Henry Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, got betrothed to Margery Ughtred, the betrothal being a product of an arranged marriage formed by the high-ranking English aristocracy, although mostly formed by the Duke of Norfolk.

## Biography and family

### Early life

Willoughby was born in 1519, in Suffolk, England, at the aristocratic Moat Hall. She was born in the presence of her father, William Willoughby, and her mother, Maria de Salinas, the latter being from Spain.

William Willoughby was briefly married to Mary Hussey, but then secondly married Maria de Salinas, which, on this occasion, Henry VIII granted him Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire.

In 1526, William Willoughby died, leaving his estate and his title to Katherine Willoughby. With this property, came an illustrious amount of cattle and farmland which was used for profit. All of the money made would be stored in a central bank until Willoughby found a husband, to which all land ownership and finances would be transferred to the husband-in-question. Grimsthorpe was the main residence of Willoughby, and due to her role as a mere baroness, she wasn't always expected to make a show in court.

## Marriage to Charles Brandon

After a few years of courtship, and even having Henry VIII's interest, she found the newly-widowed Charles Brandon, who was married to the sister of Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, who had been briefly Queen of France and died in 1533.

Charles Brandon and Willoughby got betrothed and shortly became wedded in either 1533 or 1534. These dates are unclear because there is a lack of record. Together they had two children, Henry Brandon and Charles Brandon, and Willoughby, through this marriage, also had an array of step-children, which include the Baroness Grey of Powys; the Baroness Monteagle; Lady Frances Brandon; and the Countess of Cumberland, some of which were ladies-in-waiting to the various wives of Henry VIII.

Through these step-children, of which she has no jurisdiction and maternal rights to, Willoughby has permission to receive apartments in an array of lesser-estates owned by the families of the spouses of her step-children.

Since they got married, Charles Brandon was given ownership of Grimsthorpe. Once he died, Grimsthorpe was passed to Henry Brandon, without permission from Katherine, because Henry was the most senior-living male, making him lawfully entitled to own it.

### Children

In 1535, Henry Brandon of Suffolk was born in court. Whilst Willoughby was pregnant, she had a strong feeling that labour was about to ensue. She was rushed to the Duchess of Norfolk's bedchamber, who thankfully allowed her in, and had Henry in the presence of Charles Brandon, and the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk. Henry of Suffolk had a regular childhood upbringing and was schooled by a governess thrice a week, bathed, and received new clothes monthly.

In 1537, just two years later, at Grimsthorpe, Willoughby went into labour once more. This time, she'd been prepared. A mid-wife was motioned in, a doctor, a local bishop, and even some courtiers to watch the birth of Charles of Suffolk. Charles had been born regularly, had a good health, and almost the same type of upbringing as Henry, yet had a smaller bedroom than Henry, because he wasn't the heir to the dukedom.

## Court life

### Death of Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk

In 1545, when Henry was just 10 and Charles 8, Charles Brandon died. His approximate death cause is unknown, but it was probably a mix of a fever and the stress of having to commandeer military units. This left Henry Brandon the Duke of Suffolk.

### Betrothal and marriage of Henry Brandon, Duke of Suffolk and Lady Margery Ughtred

In 1547, Henry Brandon, 2nd Duke of Suffolk, just 12 years old, got betrothed to the Lady Ughtred, daughter of the Baroness Cromwell. Katherine is making efforts to restore the title of Viscount Lisle to Henry Brandon as titular due to his father's past with the role. The title had gone completely extinct and reverted to the Crown after the death of Charles Brandon.

Katherine petitioned to the King to bestow the titles Viscount Lisle to Henry. Viscount Lisle was a title that was surrendered, and given to another noble. Her efforts were unsuccessful.

In 1549, the couple were finally wed at Grimsthorpe Chapel in Lincolnshire, England.

### Confidants within the court

One of the main confidants and close friends of Willoughby was Katherine Parr, who was the Queen-Dowager. Willoughby occasionally called Katherine "Kathy", which the Queen-Dowager was not quite a fan of. Another person is the Duchess of Norfolk. The Duchess of Norfolk had always been a close friend of Willoughby, being one of her friends throughout her early years at court and until her death.

## Death and burial

The Dowager Duchess of Suffolk died tragically of a mix of illnesses, including vomiting, diarrhea, and constant fatigue.

She drew up her will on the final day of her life, just before passing away.

The will of Katherine Willoughby has been released to the public, showing how her personal finances shall be spread.

Katherine was buried at Grimsthorpe Castle, just outside of the estate's chapel, just 3 days after her death. In attendance was her family and close friends.