Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
The Duke of Norfolk | |
|---|---|
Thomas Howard painted by an unknown artist, c. 1565. | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 March 1536 or 1538 |
| Died | 2 June 1572 (aged 34 or 36) Tower Hill, London, England |
| Resting place | Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London |
| Spouse(s) | Mary FitzAlan Margaret Audley Elizabeth Leyburne |
| Children | Philip Howard, 13th Earl of Arundel Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Suffolk Lord William Howard Lady Elizabeth Howard Lady Margaret Howard |
| Parent(s) | Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey Frances de Vere |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Signature | |
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, KG (10 March 1536 or 1538 – 2 June 1572), was an English Roman Catholic nobleman and politician. He was a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth I and held many high offices during the earlier part of her reign.
Norfolk was the son of the poet, soldier and politician Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, who was executed for treason in January 1547, at the end of the reign of Henry VIII. Although he was raised in an environment of Protestant influences, his tutor being John Foxe, the famous martyrologist, and "conformed" outwardly as a Protestant in the early years of Elizabeth I's reign, mainly for political reasons, he was Catholic and his personal religious beliefs and political ambitions became evident when he participated in several intrigues and plots against Elizabeth (the Rising of the North of 1569 and mainly the Ridolfi plot in 1571) to overthrow her, replace her with his Scottish cousin and pretender to the English throne, Mary I Stewart, and after marrying her, restore Catholicism in England. All this led to the Duke's fall from grace and his execution in June 1572. Just before his execution, Howard denied being Catholic, which many historians see as Norfolk's last attempt to save his family from the consequences of his conviction and execution.