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Catherine Brandon |

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Catherine Brandon, Duchess of Suffolk (Willoughby d'Eresby) as played by Rebekah Wainwright

* called Catherine Brooke in the series but in history her maiden name was Willoughby

born March 22, 1519 - died September 19, 1580
Character's backstory: Only child of William Willoughby and Maria de Salinas, a lady-in-waiting who left Spain in 1507 to serve as a lady-in-waiting to then Princess Katherine of Aragon and became a life-long friend. After the death of her father, Catherine was placed in the care of the monarch, Henry VIII who in turn decided to pass her care onto his friend Charles Brandon on the condition that he would take care of her until she was of marriageable age. It was assumed that Catherine was to marry Charles son, Henry Brandon Earl of Lincoln, however Charles lost his wife Mary Tudor in 1533 and was in considerable financial debt. Charles decided to marry Catherine himself and his son Henry died the following year of sickness.

*The series depicts Catherine as a supporter of Katherine of Aragon's marriage to Henry VIII and opposed to the rise of Anne Boleyn and her family. In truth, whatever her opinion of the "Great Matter" Catherine was a devout Protestant and was renowned for her passion for learning. She also became a patron of Protestant publisher John Day (publisher of John Foxe's Acts and Monuments) and she took an active role in the 1550's onward of the establishment of "Stranger churches" for English Protestant exiles in continental Europe. After the accession of Queen Mary I in 1553, Catherine and her Protestant husband Richard Bertie fled with other English exiles to the continent to escape the Marian Persecutions. Catherine and her family returned to England once Elizabeth accessed the throne in 1558.

Gentility: inherited the Barony of Willoughby de Eresby at age seven after her father Lord Willoughby died which gave her an annual income of 15,000 ducats a year

Position: 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby by inheritance, Duchess of Suffolk by first marriage

Personality type: intelligent, high-spirited, historically she was a staunch Protestant.
"a lady of a sharp wit and sure hand to thrust it home and make it pierce where she pleased, as well as a sarcastic tongue and a tendency to "frowardness" she possessed a good brain and a lively enquiring intellect, eagerly receptive of new ideas. "

Signature look:

Endearing trait(s): a good stepmother to her husband's children and maintained a lasting friendship with his daughters Frances and Eleanor (not shown in the series)

Annoying trait(s):

Henry's Seventh Wife?

Catherine Brandon's friendship with Queen Catherine Parr had a great impact on her religious beliefs but Parr's friendship was also important after the death of Catherine's husband the Duke in 1545 and subsequently the death of her two sons from sweating sickness. But Catherine's closeness to the Queen also attracted notice of someone else. When Parr's religion became too controversial for the King, there was talk that Henry planned to replace Parr with a new wife - the widow of his late friend Charles Brandon.

In February 1547, Van der Delft wrote: 'I hesitate to report there are rumours of a new queen. Some attribute it to the sterility of the present Queen, while others say that there will be no change during the present war. Madame Suffolk is much talked about and is in great favour; but the King shows no alteration in his behaviour to the Queen, although she is said to be annoyed by the rumour'

Despite the rumours, Catherine Parr was able to once again find herself in the King's good graces and outlived him. Parr and Brandon's friendship continued until Parr's death in 1548 and left her daughter, Mary Seymour, in Brandon's custody.

CHARACTER CONNECTIONS

Family members:
Mother: Maria de Salinas (d. 1539)
Father: Lord William Willoughby d'Eresby
Aunt: Ines de Salinas (one of the original ladies in waiting to Princess Katherine who journeyed to England in 1501)

Romance(s):

Historically, after Catherine was placed into the wardship of the Duke of Suffolk she was betrothed to his son Henry Brandon, but Charles decided to marry her himself

First Husband: Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk (1534 - 1545)
Son: Henry Brandon, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (1535 - 1545)
Son: Charles Brandon, 3rd Duke of Suffolk (1537 - 1545)

Second Husband: Richard Bertie (1553 - 1580)
*Son: Peregrine Bertie (1555 - 1596?) Ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales
Daughter: Susan Bertie (1555 - 1601)

Friends:
Catherine Parr
Frances Brandon
Thomas Seymour
Hugh Latimer (employed as her chaplain for a while)
Bess of Hardwick
Princess Elizabeth (during her exile in Europe, Catherine wrote to Elizabeth with news from the continent)
Sir William Cecil

Enemies:
Anne Boleyn
The Boleyn faction
Stephen Gardiner

UNFORGETTABLE CHARACTER QUOTES

" So keep your head. It's a pretty head, in any case, and I don't want to lose it either. But store up your knowledge and your anger. Don't act impulsively; it's always a mistake. But one day with others so disposed, use them both and if you can, bring her down and destroy her [Anne Boleyn]." Catherine to Charles, episode 2.3

DEFINING EPISODES | MEMORABLE SCENES

PHOTOS

	Sketch of Catherine by Hans Holbein
The Duke and Duchess of Suffolk at the royal visit to Calais in 1532
Catherine's advice to Charles: Keep your head.
With Jane Boleyn

source: youtube JuzTudor70AD
	Catherine's tomb with her second husband Richard Bertie in Silsby, England

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