Ethan Walker
The Dukes of Norfolk have historically been Catholic, a state of affairs known as recusancy in England. All past and present dukes have been descendants of Edward I. The Catholic faith of the Howard dynasty often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch, particularly during and after the reign of Henry VIII. For example, Thomas Howard, the third Duke, fell out of favour with Henry VIII and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He narrowly escaped execution and remained imprisoned until the death of Edward VI and the accession of the Catholic Queen Mary to the English throne in 1553, upon which his lands and titles were restored. The fourth Duke of Norfolk was beheaded in 1572 for treason after the accession of Elizabeth I. The Howard dukes of Norfolk have remained Catholic champions to the present day, with the current duke, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, being the 18th Duke of Norfolk.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Catholic |
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Recusant |
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Powerful |
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Wealthy |
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Influential |
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Loyal |
| The Dukes of Norfolk were | Quiet |
| The Dukes were | Descendants of Edward I |
| The Dukes were | Earls of Marshal |
| The Dukes were | Related to the Monarchy |
| The Dukes were | Related to other Aristocrats |
| The Dukes were | Related to other Catholics |
| The Dukes were | Related to Protestants |
| The Dukes were | Related to the Church |
| The Dukes were | Related to the Military |
| The Dukes were | Related to Industry |
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What You'll Learn
The Howard family's influence and wealth
The Howard family is a famous English family with a long history of wealth, influence, and power. The family's patriarch, William Howard, was a lawyer in the county of Norfolk who was summoned to Parliament in 1295. He was knighted in 1278 and appointed (Chief) Justice of the Common Pleas in 1297. The Howard family acquired the duchy of Norfolk through the marriage of Robert Howard and Margaret, the daughter of Thomas Mowbray, the 1st Duke of Norfolk.
The Howards played a significant role in English and later British history, with John Howard fighting for the House of York at the Battle of Bosworth Field and Catherine Howard becoming the fifth wife and Queen consort to King Henry VIII. The family also had close ties to the monarchy, with Thomas Howard, the 2nd Duke of Norfolk, serving as a councillor and military commander for Henry VII and Henry VIII. The Howards also held influential positions, such as Charles Howard, 1st Earl of Nottingham, serving as Lord High Admiral of the English fleet, which defeated the invading Spanish Armada.
The Howard family's influence extended beyond politics and royalty. They were major landowners, with Arundel Castle as their principal seat for over 400 years. They also had significant estates in the north of England, which the 7th Duke, Henry Howard, redeveloped. The family also played a role in the Industrial Revolution, developing Glossop as a major centre for woollen mills and cotton weaving. The Howards were known for their support of Catholicism, which often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch, particularly during and after the reign of Henry VIII.
The Howard family's wealth and influence were not without setbacks. The family lost the title of Duke of Norfolk in 1572 after the 4th Duke, Thomas Howard, was executed for treason. The title was restored in 1660 to the 4th Duke's great-great-grandson, but the family's prominence was discouraged due to their Roman Catholicism. Despite this, the Howards continued to hold power and influence, with the 8th Duke serving as Earl Marshal for the coronations of Queen Anne, George I, and George II. The current duke, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, is the 18th Duke of Norfolk and continues the family's Catholic tradition.
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Catholic support from other aristocrats
The Dukes of Norfolk, the Howard family, were the most wealthy and powerful aristocrats in Tudor England, and their Catholic faith often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch.
The Howards were keen to make Glossop a safe space for Catholic and other dissenting entrepreneurs. After Catholic Emancipation in 1829, they built a new Catholic church in Glossop, followed by other town improvements. The Howard family also built a Catholic church in Arundel, the seat of the Duke of Norfolk.
The 7th Duke of Norfolk, Henry, publicly conformed and did not support the Catholic James II in 1689, restoring his family's position at court. He was rewarded with a seat on the Privy Council by William and Mary.
The 8th Duke of Norfolk was Earl Marshal for the coronations of Queen Anne, George I, and George II. The function was carried out by his Protestant Howard cousins as deputies. In 1722, the Duke was briefly arrested under suspicion of supporting the Jacobites, but his wife was a chief supporter. The 8th Duke's brother, Edward, was an active participant in the 1715 Jacobite uprising in support of a Catholic Stuart restoration.
The 4th Duke of Norfolk, Thomas, was imprisoned for scheming to marry Elizabeth I's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. After his release, he participated in the Ridolfi plot to enthrone Mary and Catholicism in England, for which he was executed for treason in 1572.
The Catholic faith of the Dukes of Norfolk often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch, and they had to walk a fine line between loyal Catholicism and treason under the law. However, their wealth, power, and influence allowed them to retain their position and Catholic faith despite the challenges and dangers of the time.
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The family's public conformity
The Howard family, who have held the dukedom of Norfolk since the late 17th century, are considered to be the leading Catholic family in England. However, their Catholic faith often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch, particularly during and after the reign of Henry VIII.
The Dukes of Norfolk had to carefully navigate the line between loyal Catholicism and treason under the law, especially during the Tudor period. While some members of the family were able to remain Catholic in private, they publicly conformed to the Church of England to maintain their position and influence.
For example, the 7th Duke of Norfolk, Henry Howard, publicly conformed to the Church of England and did not support the Catholic James II in 1689. As a result, he was rewarded with a seat on the Privy Council by William and Mary, restoring his family's position at court.
The Howards also used their wealth and influence to create safe spaces for Catholics and other religious dissenters during the 18th century. They developed Glossop as a major centre of the Industrial Revolution and, after the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829, built a new Catholic church in the town.
In addition, some members of the family held the hereditary post of Earl Marshal, which allowed them to maintain their Catholic faith while serving the monarch. The 8th Duke, for instance, was Earl Marshal for the coronations of Queen Anne, George I, and George II, although the function was carried out by his Protestant cousins as deputies.
Overall, the Howard family's public conformity to the Church of England, combined with their wealth, power, and influence, allowed them to remain Catholic in private and maintain their position as Dukes of Norfolk despite periods of conflict with the reigning monarch.
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The family's support for the monarchy
The Dukes of Norfolk have historically been Catholic, a state of affairs known as recusancy in England. The Catholic faith of the Howard dynasty often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch, particularly during and after the reign of Henry VIII.
The Howard family is considered to be the leading Catholic family who have survived against the odds over the centuries. In Tudor England, the Howards were the most wealthy and powerful aristocrats, wielding extraordinary influence in royal circles.
The Duke of Norfolk is a hereditary position and the premier non-royal peer in the English peerage. The Dukedom has been in the hands of the descendants of John Howard since 1483, except for periods when it was temporarily forfeited. John Howard's support for Richard III's accession secured his creation as the first Duke of Norfolk.
The Dukes of Norfolk also hold the hereditary position of Earl Marshal, which has the duty of organizing state occasions such as the coronation of the monarch and the state opening of Parliament. The Earl Marshal is one of only two hereditary peers automatically admitted to the House of Lords without being elected by the general body of hereditary peers.
The 8th Duke was Earl Marshal for the coronations of Queen Anne, George I, and George II, although the function was carried out by his Protestant cousins as deputies. The 6th Duke, Henry Howard, restored his family's position at court by not supporting the Catholic James II in 1689 and was rewarded with a seat on the Privy Council by William and Mary.
The Howards were keen to make Glossop a safe space for Catholic and other dissenting entrepreneurs during the Industrial Revolution. After Catholic Emancipation in 1829, they built a new Catholic church in Glossop, followed by other town improvements including a town hall and a railway station.
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The family's support for the Catholic Church
The Dukes of Norfolk, the Howard family, have historically been Catholic, a state of affairs known as recusancy in England. The Catholic faith of the Howard dynasty often resulted in conflict with the reigning monarch, particularly during and after the reign of Henry VIII.
The first Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, was created in 1397 by King Richard II. When the Mowbray line became extinct, it passed to the Howard family. John Howard, the son of Thomas Mowbray's elder daughter Margaret, became the first Duke of Norfolk of the Howard line in 1483.
The Howards were the wealthiest and most powerful aristocrats in Tudor England, with extraordinary influence in royal circles. They were keen to maintain their position and so had to continually outwit and plot to remain at the top. This included supporting rebellions, such as the Northern Rebellion, and plots, such as the Ridolfi plot to enthrone Mary and Catholicism in England.
The Catholic faith of the Dukes of Norfolk often led them into conflict with the reigning monarch and the established Church of England. Thomas Howard, the third Duke, fell out of favour with Henry VIII and was attainted in 1546, stripped of his titles, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. He escaped execution due to Henry's death and was later released and restored to his lands and titles under the Catholic Queen Mary in 1553.
The fourth Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Howard, was imprisoned under Elizabeth I for scheming to marry her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. He was later executed for treason in 1572, and his lands and titles became forfeit.
The Howards continued to practise Catholicism, even when it was illegal to do so. Philip Howard, the son of the fourth Duke, was raised Catholic and tried to flee the country but was arrested and imprisoned in the Tower of London, where he died in 1595. He was later acclaimed as a Catholic martyr and canonised in 1970.
The family used their wealth and influence to create safe spaces for Catholics, such as in Glossop, where they built a Catholic church after the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829. They also offered a home at Norfolk House to Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his wife, which helped to promote a more liberal treatment of Catholics.
The Dukes of Norfolk have held the hereditary post of Earl Marshal since the late 17th century, and their Catholic faith has been a defining characteristic of the family throughout their history.
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Frequently asked questions
The Dukes of Norfolk, the Howard family, remained Catholic after the Reformation, despite facing conflict with reigning monarchs and accusations of treason. They managed to retain their wealth, power, and influence, and stayed quiet to avoid severe punishment. They also benefited from Catholic rulers like Queen Mary, who restored their lands and titles.
The Dukes of Norfolk often faced conflict with reigning monarchs, particularly during and after the reign of Henry VIII, due to their Catholic faith. For example, Thomas Howard, the third Duke, was imprisoned in the Tower of London and almost executed for treason.
The Dukes of Norfolk practiced their Catholic faith privately while publicly conforming to the state religion when necessary. They also created safe spaces for Catholics, such as in Glossop, where they built a Catholic church after the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829.
Yes, the Dukes of Norfolk did face punishment at times for their Catholic faith. For example, the fourth Duke was imprisoned and lost his titles for scheming to marry Elizabeth I's cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. He was later executed for treason in 1572.
The Dukes of Norfolk were prominent supporters of Catholicism in England. They held the hereditary post of Earl Marshal and offered refuge to other Catholics, such as Frederick, Prince of Wales, promoting more liberal treatment of Catholics. They also participated in plots, like the Ridolfi plot, to enthrone Catholic rulers in England.
