Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester Worksheets
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Summary
- Early years
- Rise to power and relationships
- Later years and death
Key Facts And Information
Let’s find out more about Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester!
Born to a reputable family, Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, learned at an early age the craft of the courtier. The downfall of his father following the death of Edward VI put the Dudleys in a difficult situation. The family’s status was restored in 1558. From the accession of Elizabeth I until his death, Robert was the queen’s favourite, which made him a key figure in government. His private life, particularly his romantic relationships, often interfered with his court career. Despite a dispute between him and the queen, he remained the latter’s trusted adviser until his death in 1588.
Portrait of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester
Early years of Robert Dudley
- Born in 1532/1533, Robert Dudley was the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and Jane Guildford. Both his parents came from a prestigious family who held important posts in the government. His father also held various posts in the government, while his mother served as a lady-in-waiting at the royal court.
- Robert was tutored along with his siblings by reputable figures of the time such as John Dee, Thomas Wilson, and Roger Ascham.
- At an early age, he learned the craft of the courtier at the courts of Henry VIII, and his heir, Edward VI.
- During the Kett’s Rebellion in 1549 which broke out largely due to the enclosure of land, he joined to crush the rebels.
- It was at this time that he met the daughter of a gentleman-farmer of Norfolk, Amy Robsart, whom he married in June 1550 in the presence of the young Edward VI.
- The young couple relied heavily on their parents’ gifts, especially Robert’s. Northumberland, who was effectively the new regent during this period, was pleased with the union as it strengthened his influence in Norfolk.
- The union also improved Robert’s status and enabled him to serve as a Member of Parliament for Norfolk in the succeeding years whilst his court career flourished.
- Following Edward VI’s death in July 1553, Northumberland attempted to place Lady Jane Grey on the English throne. Lady Jane Grey, who was married to Northumberland’s son, Guildford, was the declared heir of the late king.
- During this takeover, Robert headed a force of 300 men into Hertfordshire to seize Princess Mary Tudor, who was gathering her supporters there. He was able to take several towns for Lady Jane Grey.
- When Princess Mary successfully secured enough support to have herself proclaimed as queen, Robert was seized and sent to Framlingham Castle before the new queen.
- Like his father and four brothers, Robert was imprisoned in the Tower of London, attainted, and condemned to death.
- Northumberland was tried and went to the scaffold before 10,000 people in August 1553. Before his execution, he begged for Mary I’s mercy for his five sons. In February of 1554, Guildford was executed shortly before Lady Jane Grey.
- While Robert was in the Tower, Princess Elizabeth Tudor was also held captive there on suspicion of involvement in Wyatt’s Rebellion in early 1554.
- Robert’s mother worked hard for his and his remaining brothers’ release from prison and befriended the Spanish nobles around England’s new king consort, Philip II of Spain.
- In the autumn of 1554, Robert and his remaining brothers were freed. However, many remained suspicious of the motives of the Dudley brothers and believed that they were involved in a conspiracy against Mary I’s regime.
- The status of the Dudleys began to improve in 1557. In January, Robert and his wife were able to reacquire some of their former lands. In March, Robert was at Calais, where he was chosen to personally inform Mary I that the king consort was to return to England. In August, he, along with his two brothers, served with the English forces in France. He lost one of his brothers in battle. In 1558, Parliament restored all surviving Dudley children “in name and blood”.
Rise to power and relationships
- Elizabeth I succeeded to the English throne in 1558 after Mary I died childless. Robert was able to win the queen’s favour and affection. As a result, his fortunes significantly improved, and he would become one of the queen’s leading statesmen, involved in both domestic and foreign politics.
Procession portrait of Elizabeth I
- Following Elizabeth I’s succession, Robert was immediately appointed as Master of the Horse, a court position that required close attendance on the queen. In 1559, he was made a privy councillor and a Knight of the Garter.
- By the early part of Elizabeth I’s reign, he was considered by many as one of the prominent people who ran the kingdom.
- Owing to the affection he received from the queen, Robert was resented by many at court who noted that he was always with the queen. The queen’s favour, however, did not extend to Robert’s wife.
- Rumour appeared that Robert and Elizabeth I had a romantic relationship. It also did not help that Amy lived in different parts of the country and only saw Robert a few times.
- When Amy died in 1560 at her residence near Oxford, many nobles and politicians believed that Robert was responsible for his wife’s murder as he wanted to marry Elizabeth I.
- Whilst Amy’s demise was ruled out as an accident, there remained apprehensions regarding Robert’s involvement in it.
- After the controversy of Amy’s death, the queen continued to be close to Robert. In fact, Robert became an active suitor of Elizabeth I, with her blessing.
- In 1562, the queen trusted Robert so much that she asked the Privy Council to make him Protector of the Realm when she believed that her life was in danger due to smallpox.
- However, Elizabeth I rejected Robert and instead suggested him as a consort to the widowed Mary, Queen of Scots. This was to maintain her influence over the Scottish affairs. She was willing to acknowledge Mary, Queen of Scots, as her heir only on condition that she wed Robert.
- To further make Robert a suitable match for the Scottish queen, Elizabeth I made him the earl of Leicester and Baron Denbigh in 1564.
- Meanwhile, Robert appeared to be uninterested in wedding Mary, Queen of Scots. In the end, the Scottish queen married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
- By 1564, Robert believed that the prospects of becoming Elizabeth I’s consort were low. The queen had many suitors, and although she spoke about wanting to marry Robert, it was apparent that she would never marry by the mid-1560s.
- Nevertheless, Robert remained the queen’s male favourite and at times acted as her unofficial consort.
- From about the late 1560s, Robert began a serious relationship with Douglas Sheffield, a young widow of the Howard family.
- The affair did not end in marriage but produced a child, who Douglas named Robert Dudley. Robert supported the upbringing and education of his son.
- Apart from the affair with Douglas, Robert also flirted with Lettice Knollys, wife of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, and a first cousin once removed of the queen. This made the queen jealous.
- When Essex died of dysentery in 1576, rumours spread that Robert poisoned the former. With Lettice now a widow, Robert decided to secretly marry her in 1578 in the presence of a few relatives and friends.
- When Elizabeth I learned about the marriage of her favourite, she was deeply hurt and reacted with hostility towards Lettice.
- The couple had a child who died aged three. Robert then proved to be a responsible parent to his stepchildren. He considered his son with Douglas, although illegitimate, as his political heir.
- Aside from his key role in the Elizabethan government, Robert helped to reduce unemployment among the poor. He was also an enthusiastic investor in joint stock and trading companies and took much interest in exploration. Furthermore, he was a principal patron of the Inns of Court, as well as the arts, literature and theatre. He was also a champion of English Puritans and the international Protestant cause. In fact, his zeal made him a target of Catholic exiles in Paris, who published a vindictive book known as Leicester’s Commonwealth (1584).
Engraving of Robert as Governor-General
Later years and death of Robert Dudley
- In the 1570s, Robert formed a close relationship with Prince William of Orange, who held him in high regard. He grew popular in the United Provinces. Political unrest followed when the Prince of Orange was murdered in 1584. Antwerp subsequently fell to Spain. The following year, Robert sailed to the United Provinces with a force of 6,000 troops in order to assist their revolt against Spain.
- Robert received a warm welcome and in 1586, he was offered the title governor-general by the States General of the United Provinces. He accepted the post, despite having not yet received any communications from England.
- This angered Elizabeth I, who commanded Robert to immediately resign his post.
- Robert’s expedition proved to be a failure, both militarily and politically. He was financially devastated by this since he personally funded the war. He was recalled to England in 1587.
- Despite his failure in the United Provinces, Elizabeth I appointed Robert in 1588 as lieutenant general of the army assembled at Tilbury against the Spanish Armada. He arranged for the queen’s visit at Tilbury, where the latter gave her famous speech. After the Armada, Robert died unexpectedly in September 1588. This deeply affected Elizabeth I.
Image Sources
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Robert_Dudley%2C_1st_Earl_of_Leicester%2C_Collection_of_Waddesdon_Manor.jpg/800px-Robert_Dudley%2C_1st_Earl_of_Leicester%2C_Collection_of_Waddesdon_Manor.jpg
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Elizabeth_I%2C_Procession_Portrait..jpg
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/28/Leicester_as_Governor-General_engraving_by_Goltzius.jpg
Frequently Asked Questions About Robert Dudley
- Who was Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester?
Robert Dudley was an English nobleman, courtier, and favourite of Queen Elizabeth I.
- What was Robert Dudley’s relationship with Queen Elizabeth I?
Dudley was a lifelong favourite of Queen Elizabeth I and was widely rumoured to be her suitor. Though their relationship was the subject of much speculation, they never married, partly due to political and personal obstacles.
- What was Robert Dudley’s role in politics?
Dudley was a trusted advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. He served as Master of the Horse, a Privy Councillor, and held various military commands, including leading English forces during the Dutch Revolt and the defence against the Spanish Armada.