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upon the death of her second husband. Duty interceded and when Henry asked for her hand she felt honor bound to accept. Henry and Katherine were married July 12, 1543.

Katherine's love of the reformed faith earned her some enemies at court. The conservatives plotted against her and eventually amassed enough evidence against her to have her arrested. Before she was taken to the Tower the warrant was dropped by accident. Katherine was made aware of her potential imprisonment and when Henry rushed to chastise her about it and how a Queen of England should hold her tongue she quickly pumped up his ego by telling him that she only talked to him that way because she sought his council. All was forgiven.

Katherine was extremely close with Henry's three children, and was chiefly in charge of their education and raising. She invited Mary, Elizabeth and Edward to court for Christmas in an attempt to bring Henry closer to his children. It worked. In his Third Act of Succession Henry put Mary and Elizabeth back into the line of succession. He would leave England to Edward and his heirs first, then Mary, then Elizabeth.

On January 28, 1547 Henry VIII died, leaving Katherine as his widow and his son Edward the newly crowned Edward VI. Katherine finally married Thomas Seymour in a secret ceremony and retained Princess Elizabeth as her ward. When Thomas appeared to be making advances toward the young princess Katherine had her sent to another household. On August 30, 1548 Katherine gave birth to her daughter Mary Seymour, but sadly died 6 days later.

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. The sad tale of the wives and lives of Henry VIII.

Learn more about this author, Danielle Friedl.
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