Katherine Parr

### Spouse

Sir Edward Burgh (m. 1529 - 1533)John Neville (m. 1534 - 1543)Henry VIII of England (m. 1543 - 1547)

## Positions

Coat of arms of Catherine Parr as Queen-Consort

**Katherine Parr** (18 August 1512 - Present) is Queen-Dowager of England and Ireland, and the last of the six wives of King Henry VIII from their marriage on 12 July 1543 until Henry's death on 28 January 1547.

Katherine enjoyed a deeply intimate relationship with Henry's three children, namely Mary, Elizabeth, and Edward. She took an active role in the education of both Elizabeth and Edward, becoming personally invested in their growth and development. Notably, her influence extended to Henry VIII's enactment of the Third Succession Act in 1543, a pivotal moment that reinstated his daughters Mary and Elizabeth within the line of succession to the throne.

In a demonstration of her remarkable stature, Catherine assumed the role of regent from July to September 1544 while Henry was away on a military campaign in France. This contingency plan was devised in case he did not return, and it stipulated that she would govern as regent until Edward came of age. Nevertheless, her husband's will did not grant her any official governmental authority. Following Henry's passing, she embraced the responsibility of being a guardian to her stepdaughter, Elizabeth.

Katherine's literary contributions were equally notable. On April 25, 1544, she unveiled her debut publication, Psalms or Prayers, albeit anonymously. Just over a year later, on June 2, 1545, she broke ground as the first English queen to publish a book under her own name with Prayers or Meditations. Her literary endeavors continued with the release of The Lamentation of a Sinner on November 5, 1547.

However, her Protestant leanings stirred opposition from anti-Protestant factions, triggering attempts to turn the king against her. A warrant for her arrest was even drafted, likely during the spring of 1546. Yet, in a testament to her resilience and the complexity of their relationship, Catherine and the king managed to reconcile their differences in due course.

## Early life

Catherine Parr, the eldest offspring of Sir Thomas Parr and Maud Green, holds her place in history. Sir Thomas Parr, hailing from the lordship of Kendal in Westmorland, married Maud Green, the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Green of Greens Norton in Northamptonshire, along with Joan Fogge. Interestingly, much like Anne Boleyn, Catherine's early upbringing was steeped in Catholicism; however, her spiritual path led her to embrace Protestantism at a later juncture.

Sir Thomas Parr's lineage could be traced back to King Edward III, cementing his place within the tapestry of English nobility. The Parrs, a prominent family of the North, boasted numerous knights among their ranks. Within this familial context, Catherine had a younger brother, William, whose eventual title would be the first Marquess of Northampton, and a younger sister, Anne, who would ascend to the position of Countess of Pembroke.

Sir Thomas Parr's close proximity to King Henry VIII bestowed upon him responsibilities and income streams befitting his loyalty. His roles as Sheriff of Northamptonshire, Master of the Wards, and Comptroller to the King, alongside his lordship over Kendal, underscored his significant influence. Notably, Catherine's mother shared a close bond with Catherine of Aragon, serving as a devoted friend and attendant. This relationship likely influenced the naming of Catherine Parr, with Queen Catherine herself serving as the godmother to the young Parr.

In her story, Catherine Parr emerges as a product of her intricate family lineage, her spiritual evolution, and the political dynamics of her time. Her journey traverses faith, nobility, and the connections that shaped her identity and role in the grand narrative of history.