When considering the question of Elizabeth I's virginity, one name comes to mind immediately and before all others: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. She also edited John Nicholss The Progresses and Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth I (Oxford University Press, 2014) and is currently working on a new book on the life and art of Nicholas Hilliard, This article was first published on HistoryExtra in April 2016, LAST CHANCE to claim your book of choice + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com when you subscribe to BBC History Magazine or BBC History Revealed. He was executed in August 1553 and six months later, Guildford and Lady Jane Grey also met their ends on the block. As a not altogether unrelated aside, if the two of them had been having sex at the start of her reign, they might have been able to restrain themselves in public and saved it for the bedroom, thus putting an end to the rumours anyway. Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley: The Real Story But the two went from friends to enemies over an incident in 1578 that was so. Robert Dudley was imprisoned along with his father and brothers in the Tower of London and his . He wore expensive black robes with hints of crimson, silver and gold, and doublets of purple, velvet and tinselled satin. If Elizabeth had sex with anyone it would surely have been him. No, there is no evidence that Elizabeth I ever had an intimate relationship with Robert Dudley, the First Earl of Leicester. Leicester was buried in the Beauchamp Chapel of the Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick, the same place as his son (by Lettice) Robert Dudley, Lord Denbigh, who died in 1584 aged three. We know for certain, on the other hand, that Amy Robsart was born on 7 June 1532 in Norfolk. Upon receiving a letter from him thanking her for some medicine, sent just before his death, the queen endorsed it his last letter and kept it in a box by her bedside until her own death 15 years later. Robert Devereux was born on 10 November 1566, the son of Walter Devereux, first earl of Essex, and Lettice Knollys. John Dudley was about six when his father was executed by Henry VIII. The circumstances of her death could fill a book of their own so for our purposes, well just consider the most basic of implications. This was very useful for my history lesson thank you. It took only until April 1559 for Dudleys name to be linked with Elizabeths in a manner beyond that of courtly relations. Today is the anniversary of the death of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Source: Public domain, Beer, B., 1965. In the words of the French ambassador, nothing more magnificent had been seen in England for a long time. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. The rooms of the family home in Candlewick were filled with silver plate, gilded candlesticks and cups, bearing the Dudley arms. When he was nine his father died, and Robert inherited the title of earl.. Her most recent book is Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, and the World of Elizabethan Art (Yale University Press, 2014). Once, though, the Queen came awfully close to matrimony. A last-minute conversion to Catholicism, perhaps on the promise it would save him or his family, only made his unpopularity universal; Catholics and Protestants could unite under Mary in their condemnation of the detested duke. 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. These plans changed drastically in 1558, when Mary died in November. She knew any marriage had to be a political alliance, for all that her sisters Council moaned about the alliance with Spain, Mary could only make a powerful alliance to be taken seriously and Elizabeth would need to do the same. 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. I wonder the same thing. Robert Dudley's father was John Dudley, who was executed in 1553 for attempting to oppose Mary I's succession. The queen had contracted smallpox, and there was every chance she would not recover. Amy Dudley died, leaving Dudley a widower and free to marry. Robert Dudley was an English courtier who lived during the 16th century. Elizabeth called him Bonny Sweet Robin and her eyes. The Dudleys had, in turn, climbed high on the favour of their Tudor monarchs, at times almost supplanting them. Children: 1574 Illegitimate son Robert Dudley by Lady Douglas Sheffield, 1581 Son, Robert Dudley, by Lettice Knollys, who only lived until 1584. this helped with my project and gave me a real insight of Robert Dudleys life and relationship with Queen Elizabeth I. Oh my! Dudley may not have won Elizabeths hand, but there can be little doubt that he won her heart. Don't miss out on the chace to claim your copy of Tracy Borman's latest book when you subscribe today. The Rise of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland. Elizabeth and Dudley had clearly been in love but had they been lovers? 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. Shortly after the celebrations, Dudley took his leave of the queen, as he was weakened by his illness. Dudley and Elizabeth remained so close that in November of that year, her beloved companion Kat Ashley, argued with her over his presence. This was precisely what the architect of that moment, Sir Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, had in mind when he had written to his queen less than two weeks before, asking her to visit the troops at Tilbury: "Thus shall you comfort, not only these thousands, but many more that shall hear of it." Elizabeths pet name for Dudley was eyes, and he seems to have been the only one of her many suitors that she seriously contemplated marrying. It is possible, even likely, that the marriage of Amy and Robert was a love match. They had come into the circles of power largely through the patronage of Anne Boleyn and Thomas Cromwell, adapting readily to the evangelicalism of the Reformation. Instead, Elizabeth was offering her would-be husband to her cousin. I too believe Elizabeth loved Robert Dudley and if he wasnt a married man she may have risked marriage with him, once she was Queen. He was also a great patron of the arts and helped support many artists and musicians during his time. A real man is the one who stand with his wife not becomes a male mistress to another woman !!! The two shared many interests, including riding and hunting. Visited the tomb of the Dudleys in august, a beautiful memorial. Rumours abounded that Dudley sought to marry the queen, and their relationship may well have gone beyond that of monarch and minister. She was one step ahead, however, and had already fled to gather forces. Robert Dudley 3.. When he came of age, he married the girl he had grown up with, Jane Guildford. In 1568 he was involved with Lady Douglas Sheffield who bore him a son, also called Robert Dudley. The fact that in 1562, when she was gravely ill, Elizabeth wanted to appoint Dudley as Lord . Part II: Robert Dudley. On the other hand, it also exposed Dudleys military and political incompetence, which resulted in his recall to England in 1587. These revels also constituted Dudleys last-ditch attempt after nearly 15 years of trying to win the queens hand in marriage. These 15 luckless men had been summoned by the Berkshire coroner to investigate the suspicious death of Lady Amy Dudley, ne Robsart, the wife of Robert Dudley, the childhood friend, purported soulmate, and undisputed court favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. I'm Marissa And I'm Elizabeth Marissa: And we are your historians for this episode of Dig. When considering the question of Elizabeth Is virginity, one name comes to mind immediately and before all others: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Robert Dudley received news of his wifes death a day after it happened, whilst he was with the queen at Windsor Castle. In the autumn of 1562, Elizabeth fell ill with smallpox and her prognosis was not good. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Were they childhood friends? Manage Settings The court was baffled by this turn of events and if those who knew her couldnt figure it out, its no surprise that five hundred years later were still in the dark as to why she made such an offer. He is best known as being a favorite of Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. In the same breath in which Elizabeth named Robert protector of the realm, she also insisted that nothing improper had ever occurred between them. Before we start looking at Dudley and Elizabeths relationship its important to note that even though their obvious love for each other would last until his death (and indeed, for her part beyond it), the idea that they were lovers was only really widespread in the early years of her reign. From your old lodging at Rycote, this Thursday morning, ready to take on my Journey, by your Majestys most faithful and obedient servant, PS Even as I had writ thus much, I received Your Majestys token by Young Tracey.. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. The epitaph, which Knollys had commissioned, reads, best and dearest of husbands.. But Elizabeth was on her deathbed and its highly unlikely that she would have ended her life on a lie to protect a reputation she hadnt seemed too bent on protecting in life. 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. [Online]Available at: https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp02686/robert-dudley-1 New World Encyclopedia, 2017. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I dont believe Elizabeth dismissed marriage completely in her early years but she did decide this after several failed alliance attempts. Often as at Kenilworth in the summer of 1575 Dudleys feelings for the queen found expression in the plays and paintings he commissioned for her pleasure. Elizabeth I was devastated by his death and locked herself away for days, only coming out when her door was broken down by Lord Burghley. Who would you pick for the best military leaders of all time? For years after the death of his first wife in 1560 Robert refused to marry, telling his mistress that he was desperate to leav[e] some children behind me, being now the last of our house, but this hope was second to the need to retain the queens good favour, which he risked by marrying. The new king entered the Tower of London to prepare for his coronation in June 1509; Edmund had also entered the Tower, but to await a sadder fate hoping that this new king would value the work he had done to gild his reign. Elizabeth Goldring is an award-winning historian based at the University of Warwick. Queen Elizabeth I was resplendent, the crimson red of her wig offset by flowing white and the flash of steel, as she spoke to the troops assembled at West Tilbury on 19 August 1588. On Edward VIs accession John Dudley was made Earl of Warwick, a position that recalled the powerful earls of the previous century, including Warwick the Kingmaker, who had determined so much of the dynastic conflict of the Wars of the Roses. Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com, The Dudley dynasty: the family behind the Tudors, John Dudley became the most powerful man in the country, lord president of a council with a 14-year-old for a king. When Mary I married the future Philip II of Spain, bringing a flood of Spanish nobles into the court, Jane set to work ingratiating herself. Janes new husband was none other than John Dudleys son, Guildford Dudley. The illegitimate son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, he inherited the bulk of the Earl's estate in accordance with his father's will, including Kenilworth Castle. A notoriously handsome man, Robert Dudley was Elizabeth I's "special" court favorite and, some say, the Virgin Queen's one true love. He may have proposed again but she didnt accept. It left England without a direct heir and it left her open to ambitious men trying to win her over and every family with old blue blood (in the minds of her spies) posed a threat to her throne. Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","affed9d1fa832b25462799a2adacb50a");document.getElementById("hb2f00e44f").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The same can be said of an affair. 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. Through the reign of Henry VIII and his many queens, John and Jane served dutifully. Courtly love was common enough among monarchs but Dudley and Elizabeth took the tradition of flirting beyond what was allowed by convention. When encouraged to marry a foreign power, Elizabeth flattered, diverted, and dissembled. Thomas Seymour was clearly on the prowl, and, motivated by lust, they could have found ways to sneak around behind his wifes back. [Online]Available at: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/rise-john-dudley-duke-northumberland. Amy Dudley's body was found at the foot of the stairs of Cumnor Place in Oxfordshire, on the 8th September 1560. 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. The Enigma of Cleopatra's Death: Was it Suicide or Murder? Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley are childhood friends and grew up together. Did Robert Dudley Murder Amy Robsart? - The Elizabeth Files He was her partner in dancing, hunting, and all manner of courtly activities. Of particular note, however, is her confession in which she affirmed that she and Dudley had done nothing improper. She was very much in love with Robert Dudley and would have married him. Who do you think caused his wife Amys death? Was the Virgin Queen a Virgin? by Jessica Brain If there was ever a man who could win the heart of Queen Elizabeth I, the Virgin Queen, it was Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. It is thought that these gifts were made to further Elizabeths future plans of marriage to Dudley. She had been suffering with a "malady in her breast" (breast cancer) and was thought to be dying and Alison Weir, in "Elizabeth, the Queen", writes of how it is known that Amy was suffering from depression in early September 1560. As Queen of England, she could have ordered her ladies to give her privacy and to remain silent about her meetings with Robert Dudley. https://www.historyextra.com/period/elizabethan/robert-dudley-queen-eliz https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2014/dec/22/robert-dudley-eliza https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/royal-history-mystery-what-happened- https://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-and-robert-dudley/. BBC - History - Robert, Earl of Essex In jest, of course. 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. The fact that they didnt has gone a long way to supporting the idea that the queen and Dudley were not lovers after all. He is best known as being a favorite of Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. 1550 Amy Robsart, daughter of a farmer. Dudley was banished from court when he secretly married Lettice Knollys in 1578 and never regained the Queens favour. She flew into a jealous rage, resulting in Knollys permanent banishment from her court. 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. And, of course, did Dudleys courtship mean the Virgin Queen was perhaps not so virginal? Elizabeth recovered; she and Robert never wed. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Far from quieting the rumours, such punishments only served to enforce the idea that they were entirely true. Please, where can I read this letter please? Members of the house of Dudley had been sacrificed to build up the house of Tudor. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. There was of course the issue that Dudley was in fact already married. That Robert Dudley, the brother, son and grandson of traitors, should stand beside the queen at such a moment would have shocked many. It would be his undoing. Nevertheless, towards the end of his life, Dudley was once more on excellent terms with the queen. Leicester had been suffering from a recurring stomach ailment and was actually on his way to Buxton to take the waters. Scotland's Beheaded Queen, Mary Stuart, Made Immortal by Irish Digital Artist. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. Lord Robert Dudley (1532 - 1588) was one of thirteen children of John Dudley, Earl of Warwick, later Duke of . She pretended to convert to Catholisism during Marys rule and seemed to have a talent for dissembling that got her out of hot water on more than one occasion. In the following year, the inquest, which consisted of a coroner and 15 jurymen, issued a verdict regarding Amys death. According to reports, on the day of Amys death, she had sent all her servants away to a local fair. Yes, and their son Francis Bacon !!! Even then, there were ways to prevent pregnancy they could have employed. As Jane was proclaimed queen, Robert Dudley another of Johns sons was sent north to collect the Lady Mary and bring her to heel. Robert Dudley was buried in the Beauchamp Chapel of the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, as he had requested. 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. Nevertheless, every Tudor monarch had relied on the Dudley family for security, support and popularity. Till this day, it is still uncertain if Amys death was an accident, a suicide, or a murder. He had proven far too hated, as a ragged bear most rank an allusion to the emblem of his earldom, the Warwick bear and ragged staff. In spite of this verdict, Dudleys image was already tarnished by the rumors that he had murdered his wife. The sentiment was shared by most of the court. Also, if they were interested in pursuing a physical relationship then they could have just gotten married and saved themselves the hassle of sneaking around. He arranged the courtly entertainment and festivities, which included a leading role in the coronation, quite literally, and it required constant attendance at court. Henry VIII then burned through the money Edmund had collected in a few short years, his reputation for swift justice and majestic display built on the labour and blood of Edmund Dudley. In the following year, Dudley was made a privy councilor, and a Knight of the Garter . As Elizabeths Master of the Horse, responsible for her mounts, Robert was expected to be in close proximity to the queen. At the top of this list, as the ministers gathered, was one man in particular, a seemingly unimportant lawyer from a lesser branch of a baronial family: Edmund Dudley. ), favourite and possible lover of Queen Elizabeth I of England. Did Elizabeth I sleep with Dudley? Save 70% on the shop price when you subscribe today - Get 13 issues for just $49.99 + FREE access to HistoryExtra.com, Princely pleasures at Kenilworth: Robert Dudley's three-week marriage proposal to Elizabeth I. We dont know if Elizabeth was a guest but she would most certainly have known about the event. With the Dudleys away from London, the council betrayed them. [Online]Available at: https://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-and-robert-dudley/. National Portrait Gallery, 2021. It was particularly hard as his death followed within weeks of the Defeat of the Amarda and Elizabeth must have felt emotionally drained. From the violent coups of the ancient world to the more Excavations in 1998 and 2019 unearthed hoards of ancient stone armor in and around the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang. The tomb of Robert and Lettice Dudley, erected by the Countess. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester was an important figure in the court of Queen Elizabeth I. The duke had wrested power during the minority of Edward VI (who became king aged nine on Henry VIII's death), but was executed for putting his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne after the young king's death in 1553. In the years that followed, their close relationship continued, but any lingering possibility of a future marriage was cast aside. Hes concerned about her health and well-being, rather than his own. The official cause of Dudley's death was malaria but some historians now wonder if he had stomach cancer or a heart condition. And for several days, locked herself in her room. Robert Dudley (7 August 1574 - 6 September 1649) was an English engineer, sailor and cartographer, the illegitimate son of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. The situation became so intolerable for some that Cecil considered resigning his post. By 1504, he had become one of the kings central ministers in the exaction of coin from his subjects. Personally, I think Elizabeth probably had some sort of sexual relations with both Thomas Seymour and Robert Dudley. 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.
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