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Entity shares the life of Catherine Howard.

In our ongoing series, #WomenThatDid, ENTITY profiles inspirational and famous women in history whose impact on our world can still be felt today. If you have a suggestion for a historical powerhouse you would like to see featured, tweet us with the hashtag #WomenThatDid. 

Name: Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII

Lifetime: 1523 – February 13, 1542

What She’s Known For: Catherine Howard is known as the fifth wife of Henry VIII. She was found guilty of adultery while married to him and was beheaded at just 19 or 20 years old.

Why We Love Her: Catherine was a very attractive young woman. She was also known for being a bit promiscuous and flirty, and it was because of this that she went from an uneducated nothing to becoming the queen of England very quickly.

She might not have been very intelligent, but her short-lived life is still one to admire. Catherine excelled in her music lessons although her music teacher Mannox tried to seduced her. Catherine instead pursued a relationship with Francis Derehem. Later, she was hired as a lady-in-waiting for Henry’s fourth wife Anne of Cleves.

Henry fell in love with Catherine, called her his “rose without a thorn” and married her shortly after getting an annulment from Anne. Catherine’s motto was “No other will but his,” and she spent most of her royal days distracting him from his duties. When Henry fell sick, Catherine had an affair with Thomas Culpeper, Gentleman of the King’s Privy. Catherine was successful at deceiving him and keeping him ignorant about her affairs, but when he inevitably found out, he had her beheaded. She was only part of the royal household for 18 months before being sentenced to death.

(Not So) Fun Fact: When the news of Catherine’s relationships with Culpeper and previous lover Francis Dereham was revealed to the king, both men were executed. Derehem was hung, drawn and quartered and Culpeper was beheaded. According to English History, “their heads were fixed on spears atop London Bridge and remained there as late as 1546.”

READ MORE: #WomenThatDid: Barbara Strozzi

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