Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk

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Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (144321 May 1524) was an English soldier and statesman, and son of John Howard, 1st Duke of Norfolk by his first wife Catherine de Moleyns the daughter of William de Moylens and Margery Whalesborough.

Contents

[edit] Life

Howard went to Ipswich School in his youth. As the Earl of Surrey, Howard fought for King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, following which he was imprisoned for several years before having his titles and estates restored. He continued in the service of the Tudor dynasty. Beginning in 1497, Howard and the English repelled Scots assaults at Norham Castle, a stronghold of the Bishopric of Durham, among others. In 1502, a treaty was signed between Scotland and England ending hostilities for a time, and Howard was able to rest from his military career for a while. He was appointed Lieutenant General of the North.

In 1511, Lord Surrey was appointed Warden-General of the Northern Marches. In 1513, the Scots invaded England to meet their treaty obligations to France under the Auld Alliance. At the Battle of Flodden Field, the English, under Howard's command, successfully repelled the Scots. With victory, Lord Surrey was restored as Duke of Norfolk in 1514, which title had been forfeit since 1485 because of his father's support of Richard.

[edit] Burial location

He died in 1524 and was buried in Thetford Priory. The priory was abandoned at the Dissolution of the Monasteries and while some of the Howard family tombs were moved to the St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham it is not known whether his tomb was moved also. Fragments of what is thought to be from his tomb were found during excavations.

Where his body now lies is not known for certain. A monumental brass depicting him was formerly in the Church of St. Mary at Lambeth so his body could have been moved to the Howard family chapel where many members of his family (including Anne Boleyn's mother) were interred.

However it is known that there are also four coffins in the tomb of the 3rd Duke of Norfolk at St Michael the Archangel, Framlingham so possibly the 2nd Duke and the 1st Duke of Norfolk were buried in the tomb of their descendant.

[edit] Marriages and issue

1. Elizabeth Tilney, daughter of Sir Frederick Tilney of Ashwellthorpe and Elizabeth Cheney.

2. Agnes Tilney (1478-1545), daughter of Hugh Tilney of Boston and Eleanor Tailboys. His first wife's cousin, As Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, she was involved in her step-granddaughter's, Catherine Howard, downfall in 1542.

[edit] References

  • M.A. Tierney, The History and Antiquities of the Castle and Town of Arundel : Including the Biography of Its Earls, From the Conquest to the Present Time (1834) [Chart V, "Pedigree of Howard"]
Preceded by
The Lord Dynham
Lord High Treasurer
1501–1524
Succeeded by
The Duke of Norfolk
Preceded by
The Duke of York
Earl Marshal
1509–1524
Preceded by
John Howard
Duke of Norfolk
1514–1524
Succeeded by
Thomas Howard
Preceded by
New Creation
Earl of Surrey