Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk, wife of Anne Boleyn's uncle Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk

            Elizabeth Howard (nee Stafford) (1494- 30 November1558) was the daughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and the wife of Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk.

Elizabeth was born in 1494, the eldest daughter of Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (3 September1478-1521 and Eleanor Percy. Her paternal grandparents were Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham and Catherine Woodville. Her maternal ancestors were Henry Percy, 4th Earl of Northumberland and Maud Herbert. Her grandfather, the Duke of Buckingham, was executed in 1483 by King Richard III for treason, and in 1521, her own father suffered the same fate when he was beheaded on Tower Hill for treason against his king, Henry VIII. Elizabeth had two sisters, Mary, Lady Bergavenny and Catherine, Countess Westmoreland, and a brother, Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford.

On 8 January1513, Elizabeth married Thomas Howard, earl of Surrey, who in 1524, would become the 3rd Duke of Norfolk. The marriage was his second. His first wife had been Anne of York, the daughter of Edward IV, but none of their children had lived beyond early infancy. Elizabeth bore her husband four surviving children but their marriage was unhappy and violent. He had taken as his mistress Bess Holland, who was her own laundress, and when Elizabeth protested, calling her "a churl's daughter who was but a washer in my nursery for eight years"[2] Howard savagely beat her. She later accused his mistress of striking her.[3] They separated in 1533, the year Howard's niece, Anne Boleyn, was crowned Queen of England. Elizabeth did not like Anne and was staunchly partisan in favour of Catherine of Aragon. In 1530, Elizabeth smuggled letters received from Italy to Catherine concealed in oranges.[4] Elizabeth also later told the Spanish Ambassador, Eustace Chapuys, that Howard had confided in her that "Anne would be the ruin of all her family".[5]. Anne, however, managed to win the favour of Elizabeth by arranging brilliant matches for the Howard children. Henry was married to the daughter of the Earl of Oxford, while Mary married the King's illegitimate son, Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Richmond and Somerset. Appeased, Elizabeth stopped plotting against Anne and returned to Court.[6]She died on 30 November 1558 in Lambeth, London at the age of sixty-four. Elizabeth was the Dowager Duchess of Norfolk at the time of her death, her estranged husband, the Duke, having died four years earlier. She was buried on 7 December 1558 in Lambeth.

Elizabeth was often at court and became close friends with Catherine of Aragon. She carried Princess Mary to the font at the princess's christening in 1516.

Taken on: July 14, 2009

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Elizabeth Stafford

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16th century

catherine of aragon

henry viii

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Sets appears in: • Tudor and Stuart-era People • Anne Boleyn, Queen of England, and her kin more » • Kathryn Howard, Queen of England • Portrait Miniatures « less

Groups appears in: • Tudors • Vintage Engravings, Etchings, Lithographs & Wood-block Prints more » • The 1500s (The 16th Century) « less

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