Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham

Who was Katherine Villiers, Duchess of Buckingham?

Katherine Manners, Duchess of Buckingham, Marchioness of Antrim, 19th Baroness de Ros of Helmsley, also known as Catherine, was the daughter and heir of Francis Manners, 6th Earl of Rutland. She was known as the richest woman in Britain, apart from royalty. She married George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, the favourite, and possibly lover, of King James I of England; and secondly, she married the Irish peer Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim and was briefly engaged with the Irish Catholic rebels.