# Duke of Norfolk — The Fifth Queen character guide

> Duke of Norfolk in The Fifth Queen by Ford Madox Ford.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Norfolk, The Duke

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-the-coming

## Snapshot

The Earl Marshal and head of the Catholic reaction, a lean, yellow-faced old captain who hates Cromwell with a black malignancy he has never dared to proclaim openly.

## Who they are

Norfolk won Flodden Field and now stalks the yew walks with his furs fluttering like a crow's wings, digging his golden staff into the ground while Cromwell stands bare-headed and smiling beside the King. He is the greatest captain of his day and the leader of all who long for the old England before New Learning came in, yet in his long duel with Privy Seal he has been driven from post to post, cursing himself for not urging Cromwell's arrest when the King was angry. His feud with Cromwell gives the early court its central fault line, and his kinship to Katharine Howard makes her arrival a move in a game far larger than she knows.

## Relationships

### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/thomas_cromwell)

_rivalry_

The Duke of Norfolk is a powerful nobleman who bitterly opposes Cromwell's rise and his leveling policies against the old aristocracy.

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_family_

The Duke of Norfolk is Katharine's uncle and a political patron, though his support is conditional and driven by family ambition.

### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/thomas_cromwell)

_rivalry_

The Duke of Norfolk is a powerful nobleman who bitterly opposes Cromwell's rise and his leveling policies against the old aristocracy.

### [Katharine Howard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/katharine_howard)

_family_

The Duke of Norfolk is Katharine's uncle and a political patron, though his support is conditional and driven by family ambition.

### [Thomas Cromwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/thomas_cromwell)

_rivalry_

The Duke of Norfolk is a powerful nobleman who bitterly opposes Cromwell's rise and his leveling policies against the old aristocracy.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as having placed Cranmer's lodgings far from the King's rooms to inconvenience him.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/iii)

His soldiers guard the postern gate; his niece Katharine seeks him in the palace.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/iv)

Earl Marshal, humiliated by the King for the riot, he is a Catholic reactionary locked in a long duel with Cromwell.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/v)

Furious at Katharine and Culpepper's disheveled appearance, but intervenes to protect his kin.

### [Part II: The House of Eyes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/part-ii-the-house-of-eyes)

The Duke of Norfolk, a powerful nobleman and uncle to Katharine, who is involved in court politics and schemes against Cromwell.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/i)

Jaundiced against Katharine due to Culpepper's actions, but sends his astrologer and signs an order for a girl to attend her.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ii)

Katharine's uncle, plunged in silent and malignant gloom at the revels.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/vi)

Mentioned as an ill-wisher sent to put down the North; used by Cromwell to curry favor with the King.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/viii)

Katharine's uncle, seen as a coward who left her to fend for herself.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ix)

Referenced as Katharine's uncle, whom she can easily approach with Throckmorton's message.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/chapters/ii)

Katharine's uncle, questions her about court affairs and the French threat.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters/duke_of_norfolk
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_fifth_queen_se/characters