Around the same time, i.e., in 1563, Dudley was given Kenilworth Castle, and in the following year, was made Earl of Leicester and Baron Denbigh. A new TV documentary reveals evidence that could shatter one of the enduring myths about the British monarchy - that Elizabeth I had a secret love child with her courtier Robert Dudley: Unkempt. Ultimately, the marriage between Dudley and Mary did not materialize, in part because the latter was unwilling to marry the Scottish queen. Elizabeth refused and argued that she and Dudley had never done anything improper and were hardly given the opportunity to given that she was accompanied by her ladies at all times, including at night while she slept. Youre correct to assume the answer is no, since Elizabeth was, quite simply, never alone she had no privacy and if she had slept with Dudley, it would have been all over court in record time. When he wasnt actively pursuing her for himself, he was the major obstacle between the queen and any foreign match she might make exercising an unofficial power of veto over any potential suitor. But that was not the end of their relationship: queen and favourite remained close, even after Dudleys 1578 marriage to the dowager countess of Essex. His last letter moved her more than most other things and he had always held Elizabeth in his heart. Jane Dudley was perhaps even more skilled than her husband John at making connections at court, and counted Henry VIIIs final queen, Katherine Parr, as a close friend. I was also thinking of how lonely Elizabeth was too. Just four years into Elizabeth Is reign, in October 1562 the court found itself at the bedside of a monarch once again, unsure whether it would soon be another royal deathbed. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. As it became clear that Jane Greys Catholic competitor would put up a fight, John and his sons rode out to meet Mary in battle. Did Robert secretly send funds to Elizabeth in the years before her sisters death? Together they would create a new powerful generation of the Dudley family, having 13 children over the course of their marriage, with nine surviving into adulthood. But theirs was also an attraction of opposites: the queen was indecisive; Dudley impulsive. Ultimately, our greatest proof that Elizabeth was committed to the course of virginity is in that she didnt marry, not even when she had the chance of marrying the man everyone supposed was her lover. He was a suitor for the queen's hand for many years. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Dudley-earl-of-Leicester-Bar A Royal Love Affair: The Mystery of Amy Robsart Dudleys Death. Did this however mean that the Virgin Queen gave up her claim to virginity for him? Martin A S Hume (London, 1899), pp. William Cecil, believed marriages should be based on political and economic issues: "marriages of physical desire begin with happiness and end in grief". Like her future husband, who was almost exactly the same age, she grew up in an "evangelical" (or Protestant) family. Elizabeths name had been linked, to her detriment, with Thomas Seymour, and Dudley had found love with a gentry heiress, Amy Robsart. He is best known as being a favorite of Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. This was very useful for my history lesson thank you. Was the talk of their marriage just talk? Naturally, we cant say anything with certainty but we can at least consider their circumstances and whether they were likely to fall into bed with each other. The two were still friends but there was no hint of anything romantic between them. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Enigma of Cleopatra's Death: Was it Suicide or Murder? Thomas Seymour was clearly on the prowl, and, motivated by lust, they could have found ways to sneak around behind his wifes back. Robert Devereux was born on 10 November 1566, the son of Walter Devereux, first earl of Essex, and Lettice Knollys. Elizabeth was correct when she told Kat that a thousand eyes watched her day and night. For nearly three weeks the queen, her ladies-in-waiting and leading courtiers were housed at the castle and entertained by Dudley with diversions ranging from music, masques and dancing to tilting, hunting and bear-baiting. Did Johns hand guide the young king to change the succession? Elizabeth recovered; she and Robert never wed. After Henrys death in the spring, Edmund and his family were left vulnerable to the attacks of those he had never bothered to make his allies. The Scottish queen was one of Elizabeths most dangerous rivals at that time, and the marriage was perhaps also aimed at bringing Mary under control, since one of the conditions of the marriage was for Mary and Dudley to live at Elizabeths court. Borman, T., 2016. Your email address will not be published. Elizabeth I of England. But it was almost certainly a case of misadventure (the verdict of the contemporary coroners court) or suicide: there is no evidence of foul play and there is reason to believe Amy was suffering from breast cancer, depression, or both. This, however, was to be the last time she would see her husband. By all accounts, Elizabeth left Kenilworth earlier than expected perhaps because the weather took a turn for the worse, perhaps because Dudleys extravagant assertions of devotion struck the wrong note when, just the previous year, he had fathered a base son by the much younger Douglas Howard, Lady Sheffield. Alison Weir gives Dudley a birth date of 24th June 1533. obert Dudley was the son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, who was executed for treason after his attempt to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne and deny Mary I the throne. The issue of Elizabeths marriage was an immediate one, as it was generally accepted that a queen couldnt reign alone. The tomb of Robert and Lettice Dudley, erected by the Countess. I always find that in that church I am so humbled. On the 8th of September 1560, Amy Robsart, Dudley's first wife, was found dead with a broken neck at the bottom of a flight of stairs in her own home as depicted in this painting by William Frederick Yeames. Continue with Recommended Cookies. If youd like to join me for more fun and games in picking apart history, and other behind the scene tangents, you can support me via my Patreon. It is the human way of things. As a boy, John had been placed with the Guildford family, who had powerful court connections. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. I detest them both as they were those who planned and killed Amy Robsart. More immediately concerning to Edward was a search not just for a Protestant heir, but a male one. Life returned to normal at court. Shed surely have to marry and share the power with a man. The question of whether Elizabeth and Dudley had sex is tied up in all sorts of gender politics and courtly conventions of the time when what is clear is that the two shared a deep and passionate love that may not have been consummated but was no less fulfilling for it. Dudleys name was eventually linked with other women. He must have been an amazing man. This was one of the last recorded sightings of the pair together. It was also rumored that Elizabeth was waiting for Amy to die, so that she could marry Dudley. It was said to be a lovematch. New Evidence Ancient Chinese Explorers Landed in America Excites Experts, Jinn: Tales of Wish Masters Throughout Time, The Cult of Mithra: Sacred Temples, and Vedic Legends, and Ancient Armenian Understanding, Ivan Turbinca The Man Who Belonged in Neither Heaven Nor Hell, Smallpox Vaccine Sheds New Light on Mysterious Kaspar Hauser Legend, Numa Pompilius: The Legendary Second King of Rome. Robert Dudley - Earl of Leicester and a trusted adviser until he died in 1588. That said, I wouldnt exactly be surprised to learn that their relationship was entirely innocent. Amy, Lady Dudley ( ne Robsart; 7 June 1532 - 8 September 1560) was the first wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, favourite of Elizabeth I of England. It was reported that she shut herself in her chamber for days and refused to speak to anyone. He died on 4th September 1588 at his lodge at Cornbury, near Woodstock in Oxfordshire. Elaborate banquets at which guests consumed up to 40 barrels of beer and 16 barrels of wine per day were punctuated by fireworks displays and, on at least one occasion, the gyrations of an Italian acrobat. Personally, I think Elizabeth probably had some sort of sexual relations with both Thomas Seymour and Robert Dudley. Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of Essex, (born Nov. 10, 1567, Netherwood, Herefordshire, Eng.died Feb. 25, 1601, London), English soldier and courtier famous for his relationship with Queen Elizabeth I (reigned 1558-1603). They met in private frequently (as Elizabeth did with many of her counsellors) and she was known to slip out with her ladies to watch Dudley when he participated in sports. No one had been any the wiser. In 1568 he was involved with Lady Douglas Sheffield who bore him a son, also called Robert Dudley. In the years that followed, their close relationship continued, but any lingering possibility of a future marriage was cast aside. [Online]Available at: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/rise-john-dudley-duke-northumberland. Queer Kings & Queens: Was James I & VI gay? As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Described as Elizabeth I's great love, Robert Dudley came closer than any other suitor to making the queen his wife. In the end, Henry VIII made the decision that would define the relationship between the house of Tudor and house of Dudley for generations. Much ink has been spent in trying to work out precisely the relationship between Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I. The circumstances of her death could fill a book of their own so for our purposes, well just consider the most basic of implications. When a little more than a year later Amy was found with a broken neck at the foot of a staircase, Dudleys enemies were quick to accuse him of a murderous plot designed to pave the way for marriage to the queen and kingship in all-but-name. In time, Dudley was forgiven by the queen, though their friendship was affected by this incident. Between 1561, when the mourning for Amy ended, and 1578, when he married the (possibly pregnant) Lettice, Dowager Countess of Essex, Dudley actively wooed Elizabeth while doing his best to undermine the efforts of her foreign, royal suitors. 1550 Amy Robsart, daughter of a farmer. Beautiful atmosphere. As he faced his death, Edward changed the succession set out by his father, skipping over his two half-sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, and placing the crown on the head of his cousin, Lady Jane Grey. Rumors of their love affair have fueled the idea that Amy was murdered. When the king died, they would both suffer under his successor, Mary. She was left alone with Dudley in few and extremely rare circumstances that hardly lend themselves to longevity when conducting an affair. He is best known as being a favorite of Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. Robert Dudley received news of his wifes death a day after it happened, whilst he was with the queen at Windsor Castle. Nov 1, 2020 -- 1 Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester, was one of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite ladies-in-waiting. She was very much in love with Robert Dudley and would have married him. In the other set executed by the celebrated Italian painter Federico Zuccaro, who travelled to England at Dudleys behest in the spring of 1575 Dudley is depicted in armour; the queen surrounded by a column (representing constancy), a dog (fidelity), and an ermine (purity). If Elizabeth had sex with anyone it would surely have been him. At times they argued and their quarrels are as legendary as their relationship but theres no doubt that Elizabeth adored him and the feeling was mutual. In one set executed by an unidentified artist or artists Dudley is depicted wearing a red doublet (then, as now, a colour associated with love); Elizabeth a jewel-encrusted white doublet that had been a gift from Dudley at New Year 1575. Robert Dudley was an English courtier who lived during the 16th century. John had twice served on the battlefields of France, conducted raids on the northern border and defended England at sea as lord high admiral. Robert Dudley was imprisoned along with his father and brothers in the Tower of London and his . (Attributed to George Gower / Public domain ). Ostensibly, she fell down a staircase and broke her neck but rumours were rife that Dudley had killed her in order to prepare the way for marriage to the queen. Favourite and suitor.Robert Dudley was Elizabeths friend and close confidante from before she was crowned Queen. Handsome and immensely ambitious, he failed to win the Queen's hand in marriage but remained her close friend to the end of his life. Unfortunately, he never made it. In jest, of course. Brilliant info for me and the kids we had a great time reading these and reading about Elizabeth and her suitors. It is thought that these gifts were made to further Elizabeths future plans of marriage to Dudley. This was due in large part to his mothers quick marriage to the kings illegitimate uncle, Arthur Plantagenet. From Rycote in Oxfordshire, Dudley wrote his last letter to the queen. With the Dudleys away from London, the council betrayed them. It must have been incredibly difficult unless you had an enlightened father or husband. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Everything Wrong with The Other Boleyn Girl (2008), Henry VII & Elizabeth of York: A Faithful Love. There was scandal over the death of Dudleys wife, Amy Robsart, who fell down stairs people talked of murder but there was no evidence of this. Have Archaeologists Found Lyobaa, the Zapotec Land of the Dead? People talk of this so freely that they go so far as to say that his wife has a malady in one of her breasts and the Queen is only waiting for her to die to marry Lord RobertMatters have reached such a passthatit wouldbe well to approach Lord Robert on your Majestys [Philip IIs] behalfYour Majesty would do well to attract and confirm him in his friendship. Lord Robert was 'singular well-featured', almost six feet tall with long shapely legs. Elizabeth's coronation procession: Robert Dudley is on horseback on the far left, leading the palfrey of honour Despite near constant pressure for her to marry and give birth to an heir, Elizabeth steadfastly refused and she made it quite clear that Robert was her favorite. 'Simancas: September 1588, 11-20', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603, ed. Whatever the case, there was undoubtedly a strong and enduring emotional bond. Dudleys final letter from Rycote became Elizabeths most cherished treasure, which she kept in a locked casket by her bed till her own death in 1603. When he was nine his father died, and Robert inherited the title of earl.. This is certainly an interesting topic to explore further, but one that is beyond the scope of this article. Once, though, the Queen came awfully close to matrimony. As her ministers met and pondered the succession, Elizabeths lady, Mary Sidney, born Mary Dudley, wiped sweat from her brow. Joanne Paul reveals how the might of the Tudor dynasty was built on the blood and sweat of three generations of another family the Dudleys, Princely pleasures at Kenilworth: Robert Dudley's three-week marriage proposal to Elizabeth I, Mary I married the future Philip II of Spain, When Mary met Philip: a Tudor queen in love. When they were in their late teens/early 20's, they were locked in The Tower of London together by Elizabeth's sister Mary Tudor who was Queen at the time, and both faced pending death. She evaded giving him an answer and Dudley left the court in a sulk, but was brought back, and ordered not to leave the queen ever again. I hope in heaven they are together , They did have at least one child Sir Francis Bacon.. true author of the Shakespeare canon. Robert died in 1588, weeks after the speech at West Tilbury. Visited the tomb of the Dudleys in august, a beautiful memorial. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Everyone seemed to be holding their breath and waiting for Elizabeth and Dudley to announce their intent to marry. Members of the house of Dudley had been sacrificed to build up the house of Tudor. Her testimony in 1562 that they hadnt done anything improper can probably be taken at face value. None was waged. Or had the headstrong Edward declared his will, regardless of Johns intentions? Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. Dudley may not have won Elizabeths hand, but there can be little doubt that he won her heart. If Elizabeth had sex with anyone it would surely have been him. He was executed on 22 January 1552, leaving John as the most powerful man in the country lord president of a council with a 14-year-old for a king. Again, the answer is no. And yet she ordered that a 500 annual pension be given to the groom who slept in Roberts chamber, for what services the court could and did only guess. And a year earlier Catherine Grey herself had successfully snuck from the queens chambers into Roberts, to seek his protection when she informed the monarch of her secret (and scandalous) pregnancy. Beyond 1565, Dudleys prominence at court was an established fact and his position as favourite largely unassailable. Robert Dudley was the Earl of Leicester and was considered the favourite of Queen Elizabeth . With the power of his influence (and his loins) on the queen, Dudley all but ruled England for a time. Dudley commissioned more portraits of himself than any other courtier in Elizabethan England: at least 20 portraits over a period of 30 years. Incidentally, much has been made of Amys absence from court but it wasnt wholly uncommon for prominent courtiers to attend the queen without their wives. In Ferias letter of April 1559, he mentions that Amy was sick with a malady of the breast and likely to die soon. Mary and Elizabeth were both unmarried, and thus unlikely to bear a male successor any time soon. In the words of the French ambassador, nothing more magnificent had been seen in England for a long time. Almost immediately after Elizabeths accession, Dudley was made Master of the Horse, an important office in the royal household. It is unclear when exactly friendship blossomed into romance, though a turning point seems to have occurred between 1550 when Dudley married Amy Robsart and November 1558, when Elizabeth ascended the throne. The Spanish ambassador reported: Lord Robert has come so much into favour that he does whatever he likes with affairs and it is even said that her majesty visits him in his chamber day and night. After the 1575 Kenilworth festivities, Dudley seems to have abandoned any real hope of Elizabeth ever agreeing to marry him. The Rise of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Perhaps Elizebeth and her OO arefinally married in heaven. It was suggested at the time that it was a marriage of love. It would be his undoing. They had also learned from their father and grandfather, however; it was surviving the transition between monarchs that was essential, and the reign of Mary I would soon come to an end. As a contemporary chronicle recorded: He was so proud, it was easier to speak to the highest duke in the land than get an audience with Edmund Dudley. Edmund, however, gave little regard to such criticism.
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