Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk
(1536-1572), Potential suitor to Mary, Queen of ScotsSitter associated with 17 portraits
As one of the most powerful noblemen in Elizabethan England, Thomas Howard played a critical role in English history. A direct rival of the Earl of Leicester, he was appointed as a Privy Councillor and served as Earl Marshall of England, supervising the funeral rites of Mary I and the coronation of Elizabeth I. However, his ambition and pro-Catholic interests meant he became the focus of plots and religious dissent, which ultimately led to his downfall. His secret plan to marry Mary Queen of Scots and the central part he played in the plot to ensure her succession to the throne, led to his dramatic fall from grace in 1571. He was executed for treason in 1572.
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.