Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk
Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk (1473 – 25 August 1554), was a prominent Tudor politician.
He was the son of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk, and Elizabeth Tilney. Until 1524 he was styled Earl of Surrey. Norfolk first married Anne of York, daughter of Edward IV of England and Elizabeth Woodville. Following her death in 1511, he married Elizabeth Stafford, daughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Alianore Percy. However this marriage was miserably unhappy, since the duke showed off about his betrayal with his wife's maid, Bess Holland, and savagely beat her when she protested. Their eldest son was the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.
He was appointed his younger brother Edward's successor as Lord High Admiral in 1513. On his father's death in 1524 he inherited the Dukedom of Norfolk and was named Lord High Treasurer and Earl Marshal, making Howard one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom. He distinguished himself many times in battle, and was an able general.
His power increased somewhat after his niece, Anne Boleyn, became Henry VIII's fiancee, sometime around 1527. However, their relationship was fraught with difficulty since Anne found her uncle to be selfish and untrustworthy. Although they were political allies throughout the late 1520s, Norfolk once complained that Anne used words to him "that one would not use to a dog." She was crowned queen in 1533, and was probably influential in securing the marriage of Norfolk's daughter Mary to the king's illegitimate son, Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond.
Queen Anne's religious and political vision was more radical than Norfolk's, and their relationship deteriorated throughout 1535 and 1536. Norfolk was perhaps behind the King's affair with Anne's cousin, Margaret Shelton, another of the duke's numerous nieces. Putting his own security before family loyalties, he presided over Queen Anne's trial in 1536, giving a death sentence despite her probable innocence. The next day, he condemned his nephew, Anne's brother George Boleyn to death also.
But the experience did not teach him a lesson. He used another of his nieces, Catherine Howard to strengthen his power at court through her affair with the king. He used Henry's marriage to Catherine as an opportunity to depose of his long-term enemy, Thomas Cromwell who was beheaded in 1540. Queen Catherine's reign was a short one, however, since Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, discovered that she had indulged in several affairs before her marriage and (perhaps) one after it. Catherine was beheaded in February 1542, and numerous other Howards were imprisoned in the Tower - including the duke's step-mother, brother, two sisters-in-law and numerous servants.
Queen Catherine Howard's execution was the point at which he fell out of favour with King Henry VIII, despite Norfolk's desperate efforts to heal the rift. There were even rumours that Norfolk was to be beheaded in 1547, although Henry died before the warrant could be signed. Norfolk's eldest son, Henry Howard, earl of Surrey, was not so lucky, for he had been beheaded on the king's orders in 1546.
Following the accession of Henry's son, Edward VI of England, Norfolk was imprisoned on suspicion of treason and his dukedom forfeit, but he was released by Mary I in 1553, the Howards being an important Catholic family, and the dukedom was restored. The Duke showed his gratitude by leading the forces sent to put down the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt, who had protested against the Queen's forthcoming marriage to a Spanish prince, Philip II and had planned to put Anne Boleyn's daughter, the future Elizabeth I on the throne in Mary's place. The result of Norfolk's suppression of the Wyatt Rebellion was Princess Elizabeth's imprisonment in the Tower (although there was not enough evidence to convict her on treason, since she clearly had not been party to the rebels' precise intentions) and the execution of the Queen's cousin Lady Jane Grey. Norfolk, himself, died not long after the Wyatt Rebellion. He was succeeded by his grandson, Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk. The 4th Duke, also a Catholic, was executed on Elizabeth's orders for illegally plotting to marry Mary Queen of Scots.
Thomas Howard's tomb is situated in Framlingham Church, Suffolk. It is possibly the best preserved example of ornate stonework in Europe.
Fictional Portrayals
Due to his prominence at the court of Henry VIII, Norfolk has been portrayed several times in film. In the 1970 BBC miniseries The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Norfolk was portrayed by Patrick Troughton. In 1967's A Man for All Seasons, he was played by Nigel Davenport. In 1969's Anne of the Thousand Days, Peter Jeffrey took the role.
| Preceded by: Sir Edward Howard |
Lord High Admiral 1513–1525 |
Succeeded by: The Duke of Richmond |
| Preceded by: The Duke of Norfolk |
Lord High Treasurer 1524–1546 |
Succeeded by: The Duke of Somerset |
| Earl Marshal 1524–1547 |
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| Preceded by: The Duke of Northumberland |
Earl Marshal 1553–1554 |
Succeeded by: The Duke of Norfolk |
| Preceded by: Thomas Howard |
Duke of Norfolk 1524–1547 1553–1554 |
Succeeded by: Thomas Howard |
