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. But the implicit depiction of them as a couple and of Dudley as consort manqu is unmistakable. Cunning Facts About Robert Dudley, The Dark Favorite - Factinate The fact that Elizabeth would have conceived in the winter of 1560/61, when marriage to Robert Dudley would have been impossible because of the scandal surrounding his wife's death. By this point, even parliament had accepted Dudley if it meant getting the queen down the aisle but she was resolute. Royal History Mystery: What happened to Amy Robsart?. Was Makhunik an Ancient Iranian Lilliput? 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. When pressed to marry Robert Dudley, she flat out refused, and at one point even offered him in marriage to her counterpart Mary, Queen of Scots. He died on 4th September 1588 at his lodge at Cornbury, near Woodstock in Oxfordshire. Robert Dudley the Younger went on to become a famous explorer and cartographer. 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. If they had been lovers while his wife lived then surely now would be the time for Elizabeth and Dudley to marry and make their relationship public. In defiance of Henry VIIIs will, the new kings uncle, Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, had been named lord protector, and was ruling with the authority of a king and the arbitrariness of a tyrant. Even then, there were ways to prevent pregnancy they could have employed. In 1549 that is precisely what he did. Alongside filling the kings coffers Edmund had amassed for himself all the hallmarks of prestige. After Robert Dudley managed to get past the problems caused by his secret second marriage, Queen Elizabeth promoted him and expanded his powers. Sir Robert Dudley (7 August 1574 - 6 September 1649) was an English explorer and cartographer. Don't miss out on the chace to claim your copy of Tracy Borman's latest book when you subscribe today! And access may have been possible. In jest, of course. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. On the other hand, it also exposed Dudleys military and political incompetence, which resulted in his recall to England in 1587. William Cecil, believed marriages should be based on political and economic issues: "marriages of physical desire begin with happiness and end in grief". Thomas Seymour was clearly on the prowl, and, motivated by lust, they could have found ways to sneak around behind his wifes back. No, there is no evidence that Elizabeth I ever had an intimate relationship with Robert Dudley, the First Earl of Leicester. I regularly include it in my concert series on Elizabeth because I find it so moving http://Www.charivari.co.uk. A little over a decade later he was serving this king, joining diplomatic and military missions. Did Elizabeth I sleep with Dudley? She was left alone with Dudley in few and extremely rare circumstances that hardly lend themselves to longevity when conducting an affair. 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. I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds. Dr Joanne Paul is a senior lecturer in early modern history at the University of Sussex. When encouraged to marry a foreign power, Elizabeth flattered, diverted, and dissembled. In spite of this verdict, Dudleys image was already tarnished by the rumors that he had murdered his wife. On the arrest of her husband and children, Jane made a desperate journey to see the new queen; she was refused an audience. 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. This is perhaps most evident in the fact that when Dudley became an active suitor of the queen, he was rejected by Elizabeth. The resentment and anger of those from whom he had extracted funds was palatable. Did this however mean that the Virgin Queen gave up her claim to virginity for him? A Visual Tour (Video), Behind the Scenes of Ancient Greece: Exploring the Daily Life of its People (Video), Trove of Ancient Artifacts Discovered in Paestum Include Dolphin Statuette of Eros, TheiaGreek Goddess of Light, the Sun, the Moon, and Wisdom, Greeces East Attica In Antiquity: Playground Of Gods, Heroes And Heroines, How Leonardo da Vinci Made a "Satellite" Map in 1502 (Video), Cleopatra Selene II: A Survivors Royal Destiny, The Uncharted Horizons of Ibn Hawqal, the Worlds First Travel Writer, Mystery of the Latin Inscribed Artifacts Found in Arizona (Video), Haunting Tales: Exploring 4 of the Most Famous Ancient Ghost Stories. Amy Dudley was not in attendance at court with her husband but she was still very much alive. Her death is rather a mystery. Did they meet while both imprisoned in the Tower under Mary I? In Ferias letter of April 1559, he mentions that Amy was sick with a malady of the breast and likely to die soon. 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. Janes new husband was none other than John Dudleys son, Guildford Dudley. Having put down Ketts rebellion against Seymour, Dudley marched his troops to London and overthrew his old friend. Edward VI grew ill, and by spring 1553 it was clear he would not recover. Day after day they rode and danced together, or whispered in alcoves. He was taken ill at Cornbury and never left. Contemporaries described Dudley as the man who knew Elizabeth best and exercised the greatest influence over her. Over the course of the next 18 or 19 days this message was reiterated in a succession of specially commissioned dramatic entertainments articulating Dudleys true love, together with his desire to give himselfe and all to the queen. Amy Robsart - Wikipedia Visited the tomb of the Dudleys in august, a beautiful memorial. 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. The Arthur Dudley Myth - The Elizabeth Files His last letter moved her more than most other things and he had always held Elizabeth in his heart. 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. The cleverest among the court would begin to gravitate to the woman who must surely be her successor, Elizabeth. If we therefore accept that they hadnt been lovers before 1562, we turn our attention to the years that followed and ask if they were likely to have had sex during that time. Her testimony in 1562 that they hadnt done anything improper can probably be taken at face value. Queer Kings & Queens: Was James I & VI gay? It was also rumored that Elizabeth was waiting for Amy to die, so that she could marry Dudley. So it was that as Henry VIII breathed his last, the Dudley family stood alongside the Seymours, kin to the new king, as one of the realms most powerful houses. 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. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Hi Claire! When considering the question of Elizabeth I's virginity, one name comes to mind immediately and before all others: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. 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. Elizabeth Goldring is an award-winning historian based at the University of Warwick. Hammurabi, the sixth king of Babylon, left an enduring legacy in the ancient world with his famous Code of Laws. When the king died, they would both suffer under his successor, Mary. And, of course, did Dudleys courtship mean the Virgin Queen was perhaps not so virginal? 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. Dudley was a part of her brothers entourage and we know that as children they were friends, possibly even what a modern onlooker might describe as best friends. Borman, T., 2016. Dudley had no official political power having not yet been elevated to the Privy Council but he was still thought to influence Elizabeths decisions. 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. Leicester had been suffering from a recurring stomach ailment and was actually on his way to Buxton to take the waters. If Elizabeth had sex with anyone it would surely have been him. Five days later, on the 4th of September 1588, Dudley died at Combury Park, Oxfordshire. [Online]Available at: https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/royal-history-mystery-what-happened- Kightly, C., 2018. In the same breath in which Elizabeth named Robert protector of the realm, she also insisted that nothing improper had ever occurred between them. The question is why. She was in love with her sweet Robin, but she could never make him hers. These plans changed drastically in 1558, when Mary died in November. When the Spanish Armada threatened England, Dudley was appointed by Elizabeth as Lieutenant and Captain-General of the Queens Armies and Companies. ( Public domain ). Certainly, Jane was a devoted evangelical, like Edward, and could be counted on to continue his religious reforms; Mary was a Catholic and would be sure to reverse them. Robert Dudley was an English courtier who lived during the 16th century. The queen was violently attracted to him, and he to her. Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester | English noble | Britannica Realising that his popularity was predicated on the destruction of the detested Edmund Dudley, he sent the order for Edmunds execution, which was carried out on 17 August 1510. Mary, Queen of Scots Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester Primary Sources Student Activities References Robert Dudley, the fifth son of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland was born on 24th June 1532. [Online]Available at: https://www.historyextra.com/period/elizabethan/robert-dudley-queen-eliz Brown, M., 2014. Love the Tudor era. Katherine busted them together after all. But theirs was also an attraction of opposites: the queen was indecisive; Dudley impulsive. Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of Essex | English Soldier, Courtier I detest them both as they were those who planned and killed Amy Robsart. Significantly, in both sets of portraits Dudley and Elizabeth are shown facing the same direction rather than each other, the latter having been a convention reserved for husbands and wives. They were married on 4 June 1550 in the presence of . The queen was left scarred but alive, and the scars werent so bad that they couldnt be covered by what passed as makeup at the time. Members of the house of Dudley had been sacrificed to build up the house of Tudor. When Edward VI became king, Dudleys father would become one of the most powerful men at court which naturally brought Dudley himself into prominent circles at a court that Elizabeth was welcome at with increasing ceremony. Leicester's brother, Ambrose, is also buried in the chapel. It was suggested at the time that it was a marriage of love. Theirs is a story of passion, ambition, bloodshed and love, with the crown as the highest prize, and the executioners block reward for a fall. He died on 4th September 1588. If Dudley were enjoying the queens physical affections then he probably wouldnt have gone involving himself with other women. But he served her for the rest of his life, to great personal sacrifice. It is a love which captivates us even now, possibly because it could never be. As Jane was proclaimed queen, Robert Dudley another of Johns sons was sent north to collect the Lady Mary and bring her to heel. 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. Around the same time, Amy fell ill. Here, historian Elizabeth Goldring explores Dudley's three-week marriage proposal at Kenilworth his last-ditch attempt, after nearly 15 years of trying, to win the queen's hand. For instance, his military and political contributions to Elizabeths administration, and, interestingly enough, the many portraits of himself that he commissioned. Amy's Death. In service to this Tudor monarch, the Dudleys sacrificed not just another member of the house, but its very continuance. Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, KG, PC (24 June 1532 - 4 September 1588) was an English statesman and the favourite of Elizabeth I from her accession until his death. When Elizabeth heard the news of Dudleys death, she was grief-stricken. Robert Dudley: A Virgin Queen's Great Love, Despite His Many Mistakes Dudley may not have won Elizabeths hand, but there can be little doubt that he won her heart. Part II: Robert Dudley. 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. Amy Dudley's body was found at the foot of the stairs of Cumnor Place in Oxfordshire, on the 8th September 1560. The circumstances of her death could fill a book of their own so for our purposes, well just consider the most basic of implications. Much ink has been spent in trying to work out precisely the relationship between Robert Dudley and Elizabeth I. The question of who that man would be would dominate Elizabethan politics for the first half of her long reign. 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. 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. Robert Dudley, Knight (1574 - 1649) - Genealogy - Geni.com I always find that in that church I am so humbled. Nonetheless, Dudley was undeterred in his pursuit of Elizabeths hand, confessing that he could not contemplate the queens marriage to anyone else without great repugnance. One woman found herself in the Tower for suggesting that Elizabeth had borne Dudleys child. Please, where can I read this letter please? 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. When, in 1588, Dudley died unexpectedly, Elizabeth was so distraught that she spent several days alone in her chamber. Rumours that they were lovers were rife, and not only at court. She may not have wanted to marry anyone because it would mean giving up much of her power to rule. Either way, John and his family supported the new regime with force. The million-dollar question then. Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick, England. 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. 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. [Online]Available at: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/rise-john-dudley-duke-northumberland. Like her future husband, who was almost exactly the same age, she grew up in an "evangelical" (or Protestant) family. 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. Robert Dudley received news of his wifes death a day after it happened, whilst he was with the queen at Windsor Castle. Known as the princely pleasures, the July 1575 festivities have gone down in history as the longest, most expensive party of Elizabeths 45-year reign. Nevertheless, every Tudor monarch had relied on the Dudley family for security, support and popularity. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. On Christmas 1565, Dudley proposed to Elizabeth. The Brilliance of Pre-diluvian Sculpture - Cannot Be Hand Made! Nov 1, 2020 -- 1 Lettice Knollys, Countess of Leicester, was one of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite ladies-in-waiting. In the words of the French ambassador, nothing more magnificent had been seen in England for a long time. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. His jobs included ensuring the queen got to where she needed to go (and being Robert Dudley ensured she did so in style). Nevertheless, there are other aspects of Dudleys life that have received less attention. He was, after all, the great love of her life and those feelings were certainly requited. Through the reign of Henry VIII and his many queens, John and Jane served dutifully. [Online]Available at: https://blog.english-heritage.org.uk/queen-elizabeth-and-robert-dudley/. 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. In 1562 it began circulating that Elizabeth and Dudley had in fact married in secret but there was still no sign of a coronation on the horizon. He was also a great patron of the arts and helped support many artists and musicians during his time. The kings death was an opportunity for sweeping change. The other was Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntington, who had married Katherine Dudley Mary Sidneys sister. In the years that followed, their close relationship continued, but any lingering possibility of a future marriage was cast aside. That said, I wouldnt exactly be surprised to learn that their relationship was entirely innocent. Shed surely have to marry and share the power with a man. [Dramatic Music]. Robert Dudley 3.. The name Tudor has reverberated down the centuries, but another family lurked in the background, helping the dynasty to greatness and sometimes seeking to tear it down. If they hadnt indulged at what was considered the height of their passion then its unlikely they would have fallen into bed together when their relationship and indeed her reign had settled somewhat. The elaborate welcome staged for Elizabeth on 9 July 1575 set the tone, with its assertion that The Lake, the Lodge, the Lord were hers for to command. Beneath monumental stone structures discovered at the archaeological site of Mitla in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. Beautiful atmosphere. Or had the headstrong Edward declared his will, regardless of Johns intentions? Source: Public domain, Beer, B., 1965. 'Simancas: September 1588, 11-20', in Calendar of State Papers, Spain (Simancas), Volume 4, 1587-1603, ed. He was executed in August 1553 and six months later, Guildford and Lady Jane Grey also met their ends on the block. 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. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester - Spartacus Educational Certainly, the new queens decision to appoint Dudley master of the horse raised eyebrows. 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. This was one of the last recorded sightings of the pair together. Dudley did not remarry for many years, leaving himself available for the Queen. 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. The two were obviously very much in love and now they were relieved of the only obstacle to what could be a long and happy marriage. The queen had contracted smallpox, and there was every chance she would not recover. He was at her side at Tillbury as they waited for news of the Spanish Armada and dined with her in the weeks that followed. In 1605 he tried unsuccessfully to establish his legitimacy in court. There was of course the issue that Dudley was in fact already married. Whatever the case, there was undoubtedly a strong and enduring emotional bond. 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. 7.2 million-Year-Old Pre-Human Fossil A Challenge to Out of Africa? 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. Elizabeth I was devastated by the death of the man she referred to as her "Eyes", or as "Sweet Robin". On Saturday 9 July 1575, at about 8pm, Elizabeth I arrived on horseback at Kenilworth Castle, the Warwickshire power base of her long-time favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Today is the anniversary of the death of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. As Elizabeths Master of the Horse, responsible for her mounts, Robert was expected to be in close proximity to the queen. Dudleys marriage was kept hidden from the queen for some time, but eventually, Elizabeth found out. Instead, Elizabeth was offering her would-be husband to her cousin. 4 September 1588 - Death of Robert Dudley - The Tudor Society Unfortunately, he never made it. 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. Both were imprisoned in the Tower of London for offences related to treason. By the time the steward arrived at Cumnor Place, however, an inquest had already started. Did Johns hand guide the young king to change the succession? An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Who do you think caused his wife Amys death? Of particular note, however, is her confession in which she affirmed that she and Dudley had done nothing improper. Though they were friends and close advisors to one another, both of them were aware of the dangers of their relationship appearing too close. Robert Dudley. We dont know if Elizabeth was a guest but she would most certainly have known about the event. I would like to hear peoples opinions. 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. It was no accident that he stood beside her on that day as she publicly commended him: My lieutenant general whom never prince commanded a more noble or worthy general. The words were recorded for posterity, just as he had intended them to be.
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