QUEENS WHO RULE

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about

Katherine Parr (1512 – 1548)

Parr was married first at the age of 17, and twice-widowed by 31. Intelligent, religious and pragmatic, when Henry VIII proposed (as an old, overweight man looking for lucky number six) she waited a few days before accepting the inevitable. The wedding was a quiet affair, taking place in the Queen’s Privy Closet at Hampton Court Palace. The marriage advanced Parr’s position and her family’s, but this decision was also a great sacrifice. Katherine was in love with a courtier, Thomas Seymour, and choosing to marry the King was like placing her career before her man (but more obligatory).

Parr saw her influential position as Queen as an opportunity to act for good, alleviate the suffering of those who were dying at the hands of religious prejudice, witch-hunts and plots, as well as advance the reformist faith – indeed Katherine’s influence was pivotal in pushing forward the creation of a Protestant Church in England. Katherine also took an astute role in politics, meeting with officials and advising the King. Henry’s confidence in her was such that he appointed her Regent when he left the country for campaigns in France, as well as Regent should he die before his son came of age.

However, her strong opinions would also become a source of trouble. There were some that saw her as too influential and her religious beliefs as a threat. A plot was conceived to bring her down whereby a reformist, Anne Askew, was arrested and tortured, and asked to name those at court who shared her beliefs. Parr was warned of the plan, and went straight to the King to ask for mercy – the years of support and nursing she had spent on him paid off and he pardoned her.  

Parr had received a good education herself and had a passion for learning. She was the first English queen to write and publish her own books, first prayers and reflections, then a personal testimony of her faith. Katherine believed in the education of women, and took personal interest in the education of all three of Henry’s children, particularly Elizabeth. She chose young Elizabeth’s tutors herself, electing a Cambridge scholar to be her new schoolmaster. Crucially, Parr also reunited Henry with his bastardised daughters. On the King’s deathbed he reinstated both Mary and Elizabeth’s right to succession.  

Finally, Katherine was free to marry whom she chose – her old flame Thomas Seymour. Sadly, Thomas turned out to be complete reprobate. Many believe he only married Parr through selfish ambition to be close to Princess Elizabeth (whom Katherine had taken in under her guardian). Indeed, not long after their marriage, her husband’s suspicious creepy behaviour towards young Elizabeth became severe enough that Katherine had no choice but to send the girl away. Nonetheless, the foundations laid by Katherine in the upbringing and education of her step-daughters likely influenced the next half-century of history. 

and as always have a chilled day from the Viking