Catherine Parr, Queen Catherine of England.

Catherine Parr (1512 - 1548) was the last of the six wives of Henry VIII of England.During her third marriage, was queen consort of England and first queen consort of Ireland and then was widowed queen of England.

Catherine Parr was born in Kendal Castle in Westmorland, where his ancestors hadlived since the fourteenth century. He was the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Parr ofHorton House, a descendant of King Edward III and Matilda Green, daughter of SirThomas Green. She had a younger brother, William Parr, later first Marquis ofNorthampton, and a younger sister, Anne, Countess of Pembroke later. Sir Thomas wasSheriff of Northamptonshire, Master of the Wards and Comptroller of King Henry VIII. His mother, Lady Parr, was a member of the entourage of Catherine of Aragon.

At 17, Catherine married Edward Borough, but died 3 years later.

In 1534 Catherine was espoused by John Neville, third Baron Latymer. In 1536 during the pilgrimage of Grace, Catherine was taken hostage by the rebels in the north with hisstepson John Neville Junior, fourth Baron Latymer. Her husband John Neville Seniordied 10 years later.

It was in the house of the daughter of Henry and Catherine of Aragon, Princess Mary,where Catherine Parr caught the attention of the king. After the death of the second husband of Catherine, the rich widow began a relationship with Thomas Seymour, brother of the late Queen Jane Seymour, but King Henry became infatuated with Catherine from the moment he met her. When Catherine went to ask for mercy for her brother's wife accused of adultery, was forced to marry the king.

The marriage between Catherine and Henry were held on July 12, 1543 at Hampton Court Palace. It was the first Queen of England and Ireland after Henry accepted the title of King of Ireland. As queen, Catherine was responsible for the reconciliation of Henry's daughters gotten in his first two marriages, Princess Mary (daughter of Catherine ofAragon) and Princess Elizabeth (daughter of Anne Boleyn). She also maintained a good relationship with Edward, Prince of Wales and future King Edward VI. When she became Queen, her uncle, William Parr became his Lord Chamberlain.

After the death of King Henry VIII (January 28, 1547) saw Catalina secured its positionwith an annual pension of 7,000 pounds. The king ordered that after his death, but waswidowed queen, were given the respect of a Queen of England, as if he were still alive.Catherine was finally able to marry her former lover Thomas Seymour, celebrated their wedding on April 7 of that year. As they were married within 6 months after the death of the former king, the lovers had to get permission from the King Edward VI for marriage.When their marriage was publicly known, caused a minor scandal, Catherine, who had no children in any of his previous marriage, became pregnant at age 35.

At this time there developed a rivalry between Catherine and the wife of her brother-in law, Anne Stanhope, Duchess of Somerset. Anne was married to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, which proved to be particularly acute on the matter of the jewels of Catherine. The Duchess argued that the jewels belonged to the Queen of England, and as a widowed queen, Catherine should not possess. In behold it was up to her as the wife of Lord Protector, showing them off. She invoked the Law of Succession which clearly stated that Catherine had precedence over all ladies of the kingdom, in fact, with regard to precedence, the Duchess ofSomerset was behind the princesses Mary and Elizabeth, and Anne of Cleves, known as the Sister of the King. In the end, the Duchess won the dispute, which left herpermanently damaged relationship with Catherine, the relationship between the two brothers Seymour also worsened as a result, since Lord Seymour saw the dispute as a personal attack on his brother by his social position.

The last marriage of Catherine also went through tense moments. Sex during pregnancy is disapproved in the sixteenth century and Thomas began to develop some interest in the Princess Elizabeth (Anne Boleyn's teenage daughter, and future Elizabeth I, who lived in his mansion).

Catherine gave birth to her only child, a girl named Mary, in memory of his stepdaughter.Catherine died on September 5, 1548, just six days after birth, her death probably was caused by puerperal fever or sepsis. It's only daughter, Mary, did not survive many years. Catherine's husband, Thomas Seymour was beheaded for treason a year later.The girl was given to the Duchess of Suffolk, Catherine Willoughby,  a close friend of Catherine. It is believed that Mary died at age 2.