Editing Thomas Seymour, 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley (section)

==Regency Council and marriage to Catherine Parr==
[[File:Queen Catherine Parr.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[Melton Constable Hall|Melton Constable]] or [[Baron Hastings#1290 creation|Hastings]] portrait of Queen [[Catherine Parr]]]]
Seymour returned to court just before Henry VIII died in January 1547, leaving Catherine one of the wealthiest women in England. According to the King's will, a [[regency council]] was constituted to rule on behalf of the nine-year-old orphaned [[Edward VI|King Edward]]. Thomas Seymour became 1st Baron Seymour of Sudeley, and his older brother Edward became [[Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset|Duke of Somerset]], and is often, therefore, referred to as "Somerset". In addition, Thomas Seymour saw his brother rise, amid the contentious and dangerous politics of the [[English Reformation]], to the position of chief councillor with an approved title of "Protector" regent, referred to unofficially as Lord Protector of England, in effect, ruler of the realm as regent for his nephew, the king.{{sfn|Skidmore|2007|pp=45–50}} Thomas began to resent his brother and the relationship between them began to dissolve. Although Thomas was named [[List of Lords High Admiral|Lord High Admiral]] as a concession, he was consumed by jealousy of his brother's power and influence and worked to unseat and replace his brother as Lord Protector.{{sfn|Skidmore|2007|pp=71–87}}

Thomas Seymour sought to overturn his brother's position on the regency council by his personal influence over the young king, and also possibly by making a royal marriage.{{sfn|Erickson|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Rpie-v9knGkC&pg=232 232]}} Although his name had been linked to [[Mary Howard, Duchess of Richmond]], he was still unmarried at the time of Henry VIII's death. He had previously shown some interest in marrying either of Henry's daughters, Elizabeth or Mary; however, within weeks of Henry's death, Thomas Seymour had rekindled the affair with Catherine Parr, and they were secretly married in April or May 1547, too soon after the king's death to suit many.{{sfn|Erickson|1983|pp=65–79}} [[Anne Seymour, Duchess of Somerset|Anne Stanhope]], Somerset's proud wife, disliked Catherine and Thomas and began to turn many people in court against them.