Katherine Willoughby: A Tudor Survivor and Protestant Champion

Katherine Willoughby was one of the most fascinating and influential women of the Tudor period, yet she’s often overlooked in mainstream history. A noblewoman, reformer, and close friend of Queen Katherine Parr, Katherine Willoughby lived through some of the most turbulent decades in English history. Her life was marked by political intrigue, personal tragedy, and unwavering faith. From navigating the dangerous courts of Henry VIII and Mary I to going into exile for her Protestant beliefs, Katherine Willoughby’s story is one of resilience, intelligence, and courage.

Let’s explore her remarkable life, her legacy, and why her story still resonates today.

Transcript of Katherine Willoughby: A Tudor Survivor and Protestant Champion

Today we’re going to talk about a woman who—I don’t know why—hasn’t come up more on my podcast, why I haven’t done more with her: Katherine Willoughby. She makes these kinds of ancillary appearances with Katherine Parr and Charles Brandon, but I don’t think I’ve ever done a full video or a full episode on her. That’s really quite negligent on my part.

Katherine Willoughby was a remarkable woman of the Tudor period. She’s remembered for her resilience, her intelligence, and her influence. The Tudor court in the 1540s was no joke—it was super dangerous. She was a Protestant, a very strong Protestant, and somehow she managed to survive and thrive. She even managed to survive under the court of Mary I—though, of course, she had to leave. We’ll talk about that. But she lived a remarkably long life.

Her friendship with Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, is something that’s still remembered. They were kind of besties—often remembered together. There were also actually rumors that she might have been someone Henry wanted to marry if things hadn’t worked out with Katherine Parr. So, she was a remarkable, remarkable woman.

Let’s go back to her beginnings, though. She was born in 1519 to William Willoughby—he was the 11th Baron Willoughby de Eresby—and Maria de Salinas. You may have heard Maria de Salinas’s name; she was a lady-in-waiting who came to England with Katherine of Aragon, married William and had Katherine Willoughby.

Katherine was their only child, and her father’s substantial estate made her one of the wealthiest heiresses in England. William had estates in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. Katherine’s mother, Maria, had traveled—like I said—to England as part of Katherine of Aragon’s entourage, so there were very deep ties to the royal household there as well.

Maria de Salinas remained loyal to Katherine of Aragon, even as Katherine was being put aside—basically sent into exile—when Henry was getting involved with Anne Boleyn. Maria stayed close to her, even defying Henry VIII’s orders to stay away. She continued visiting Katherine and stood by her, which shows she was also a very strong woman who wasn’t going to be told what to do. That strength was clearly reflected in her daughter.

Katherine’s father died tragically in 1526, when she was only seven. This was her first major challenge. She became the subject of an inheritance dispute with her uncle, Sir Christopher Willoughby, who contested her right to inherit her father’s estates—because she was a girl.

Her mother, Maria, fought vigorously to secure Katherine’s inheritance, engaging in lawsuits in both the Court of Chancery and the Star Chamber. This battle really highlights how precarious a position women—especially wealthy aristocratic women—in Tudor England held. Being rich gave you a lot of power and privilege, but that could be taken away. People could—and did—challenge it. You needed strong guardians to protect your rights, especially if you were a minor, and even more so if you were female.

Katherine’s wardship was eventually purchased by Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk—Henry VIII’s bestie. At the time, Charles Brandon was married to Henry VII’s sister, Mary Tudor. Initially, he intended for Katherine to marry his son, Henry, Earl of Lincoln. But then Mary Tudor died, and Charles Brandon saw an opportunity. He decided to marry Katherine himself to secure her fortune. So, originally, Katherine was meant to be betrothed to Brandon’s son. But after Mary Tudor’s death, Brandon stepped in and said, “Well, I’ll just marry her myself and get that money.”

So, Katherine was just 14 years old when they got married. Charles Brandon was nearly 50 at this point. But the marriage wasn’t necessarily all bad for Katherine Willoughby. It was a significant step up for her in terms of rank. It was also going to protect her inheritance, and it was a strategic alliance for Brandon, who secured her considerable wealth.

Despite the very significant age gap and the potential for scandal, the marriage actually proved to be a very interesting and successful partnership—both personally and politically. Katherine’s marriage to Charles Brandon brought her to the heart of the Tudor court. She was now the wife of the king’s close friend and ally, and she was frequently in the presence of Henry VIII and his inner circle.

Katherine quickly adapted to the complexities of court life, navigating all the politics, alliances, and rivalries with remarkable skill. She was initially raised, of course, as the daughter of Maria de Salinas—a very devout Catholic. But her religious views began to shift toward Protestantism. This transformation was influenced by the growing reformist ideas at court and her own personal experiences. The Reformation was gaining momentum, and Katherine found herself increasingly aligned with the new religious thinking.

Her marriage to Charles Brandon was reportedly a very happy one. They had two sons—Henry and Charles—born in 1535 and 1537, respectively. As the Duchess of Suffolk, she held a significant role at court. She attended major events and was a regular at royal celebrations and ceremonies. Her beauty, intelligence, and wit made her a prominent and admired figure.

Despite the age difference between her and Brandon. Like I said, her marriage to Charles Brandon was characterized by mutual respect. They really seemed to have a partnership—something Brandon hadn’t necessarily enjoyed with Mary Tudor or the other women he had been engaged to or involved with earlier in his life. Charles Brandon had a lot of really iffy involvements.

I think—someone will correct me in the comments if I’m wrong—I’m pretty sure there was a woman Charles Brandon was going to marry, and then he decided not to, in order to marry that woman’s mother, who had more money. Or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, he had some very, very iffy, sketchy romantic dealings in the early part of the 16th century.

There were also rumors about him at the court of Margaret of Austria, which have made their way into several historical fiction books as well—that they had a little fling going on when Anne Boleyn was there as a young child. So Charles Brandon had a very, kind of—shall we say—tumultuous relationship history.

But he seemed—maybe because of his older age—he seemed to settle in with Katherine, and they really seemed to have an interesting partnership and mutual respect for each other. Given the age difference—which feels gross to us now and even for the time was unusual—it wasn’t unheard of in that period. So we need to remember that as context.

Together, they actually managed to maintain their favor with Henry VIII. Charles Brandon was the only person who could really talk to Henry VIII honestly and still keep his head, right? That’s how we remember him today. And Katherine Willoughby was similar—she maintained her favor with Henry VIII despite some challenges, especially once she became close friends with Katherine Parr.

Katherine Parr became Henry VIII’s sixth wife in 1543. Both women shared a strong commitment to the Protestant faith and quickly became allies in the religious reform sweeping through England. Their bond was strengthened by shared experiences and mutual support. Katherine Parr had been a widow by that point a widow and as she entered her marriage with Henry, she and Katherine Willoughby found support in one another.

Now, Katherine Parr’s influence on the king was instrumental in protecting many reformers from persecution. This was the period after Thomas Cromwell had been executed, and in this seesaw of religious control, Stephen Gardiner and the Catholic faction were on the rise again, gaining more power without Cromwell or the Protestant faction there to check them.

Katherine Parr really provided a moderating influence on Henry, helping to protect some of the reformers at court from persecution. The two women created a network of like-minded people at court, advocating for religious reform and supporting one another. Their friendship was not just a personal connection—it was a strategic alliance that helped them navigate the dangerous waters of Henry VIII’s court.

So Henry’s temper and political maneuvers often posed threats to the safety of those around him, including Katherine Parr. As we know, she was almost arrested and possibly persecuted as a heretic. The two Katherines stood by each other, looking out for one another. Katherine Willoughby was one of the people who warned Katherine Parr that she was in danger.

Their shared commitment to their faith and to one another provided a source of strength and stability in a highly volatile environment. That alliance was critical during the final turbulent years of Henry’s reign. As the king’s health declined, he was in a terrible mood, and all the political factions were vying for power.

Charles Brandon died in 1545, and Katherine became a prominent widow at court. Now free of her husband’s influence, she used her status and considerable wealth to support the Protestant cause. Her home became a sanctuary for reformers and scholars—a hub of intellectual and religious activity.

Her patronage extended to many of the leading figures of the Reformation. She provided financial support, shelter, and a platform to those advocating for religious change. People like John Foxe, in his Acts and Monuments, celebrated her contributions to the reformed faith. Foxe’s work, of course, chronicled the sufferings of Protestant martyrs, and he highlighted Katherine’s pivotal role in the Protestant movement in England.

At this point, Katherine was no longer just the wife of a powerful man—she was a formidable figure in her own right. Her advocacy for religious reform and her support for the Protestant cause helped shape the religious landscape of England.

There were setbacks and struggles as well. For example, when Anne Askew was put to death, the entire plot around her was seen by many as a possible attempt to bring down Queen Katherine Parr. Anne Askew and Katherine Parr moved in the same Protestant circles, and it was believed that if the authorities could get to Anne, they might be able to implicate Katherine Parr. Katherine Willoughby would also have been in danger at that point, but Anne Askew never gave up their names, and both women came through the episode unscathed.

Under Edward VI, Katherine Willoughby would’ve been safe—Edward was a strong Protestant and continued the Reformation, even pushing it to a whole new level. But then he died, and we got Mary I, who was of course a committed Catholic. That shift put Katherine’s life in immediate danger in 1553. She was famous for her outspoken Protestant beliefs and her influential position at court.

Oh—and I forgot to mention this earlier when we were talking about Stephen Gardiner in the 1540s. Katherine Willoughby actually had a dog that she named “Gardiner” after Stephen Gardiner, and she reportedly loved giving it orders—saying she was bossing Gardiner around. That’s the kind of sharp wit and humor she had!

So yes, she was very well known as a committed Protestant, and she knew that she and her family were in real danger. As a result, they fled England. By this point, she had remarried—and this time, she married for love. Her second husband was Richard Bertie, who had been a member of her household staff. It’s a story somewhat reminiscent of Owen Tudor marrying Katherine of Valois—one of those rare Tudor love matches.

He had been part of her staff—apparently she trusted him deeply because he had been her gentleman usher. That was his role, and over time, they fell in love and married for love. It was a true love match. So, they went into exile. They fled to Poland. Katherine and her husband Richard found refuge under the protection of King Sigismund II, who offered them safety and support during their time away from England.

One of the things that might have made it easier for Katherine to leave was the devastating loss of her sons during the outbreak of sweating sickness in 1551. Both boys had been students at Cambridge. When the outbreak began, Katherine initially arranged for her sons and their cousin to go to Kingston, several miles from St. John’s College, where they were studying.

But after their cousin George Stanley died, she had her sons moved to Buckden, a little farther away. Tragically, on the same day—July 14, 1551—both Henry and Charles Brandon died of the sweating sickness within half an hour of each other. It’s incredibly sad. One of their tutors wrote:

“They both together were in one house, lodged in two separate chambers, and almost at one time both sickened and both departed. They both died Dukes, both well learned, both wise, and both right godly.”

It was a profound loss. And it may have made it easier for Katherine to go into exile—knowing she wasn’t leaving her children behind. I mean, truly, how do you even keep going after that? It’s like—what’s the whole point of life then, right? So… all right. Off to Poland. Whatever. That was the greatest tragedy of her life.

Life in exile, of course, was incredibly difficult. We can’t even begin to imagine what it would have been like to just leave everything behind and go to a foreign country. But Katherine was resilient. She remained steadfast in her Protestant faith. She continued to support and inspire the reformist cause from abroad. She and Richard ended up living in various parts of Europe, but they maintained their religious practices and stayed closely connected to the broader Protestant network at the time.

So then Mary I dies at the end of their exile, and Elizabeth I becomes queen. She’s a Protestant, and Katherine and her family are able to return to England. Once she came back, she resumed her support for Protestant causes.

She was actually quite disappointed that the Elizabethan Settlement—I’ve talked before about how it was kind of the perfect compromise because neither side was particularly happy with it—didn’t go far enough in its Protestantism. She had hoped it would lean more toward the Puritan side, but it did not. Still, she remained a respected figure, continuing to advocate for further religious reform.

She died in 1580, leaving behind a legacy of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to her beliefs. Her story is a powerful example of how one woman navigated the treacherous waters of Tudor politics and religion, standing firm in her convictions and making a lasting impact on history.

What you thought about Katherine Willoughby. What do you think of her? Is she inspiring? Does she make you want to get up and follow your own dreams and beliefs even more?

Heather Teysko is the creator, writer, and producer of The Renaissance English History Podcast, the original Tudor history podcast, started in 2009. She's been writing about history online for over 25 years, since her first site on Colonial American history became number one in history on Yahoo in 1998. In 2019 she created Tudorcon, which is now a yearly event, in addition to writing books, and running TudorFair.com - a whimsical Tudor Merch shop.

She has been passionate about Tudor England since she first read Alison Weir's The Six Wives of Henry VIII 30 years ago, and subsequently moved to London after college to spend her time immersed in Tudor history (how exciting when she got to interview Alison for the first time!). In addition to history, she is passionate about travel, and has lived in 3 countries and 4 states (not counting her perpetual state of confusion), and her family (who help her host her YouTube channel occasionally).

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