Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, Queen Elizabeth I's Ambitious Favourite. Wikipedia. Public Domain.
Robert Dudley: The Son and Brother of Traitors
Robert Dudley was the son and brother of the traitors John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, and Guildford Dudley, the husband of Lady Jane Grey, the nine days' queen.
"Sweet Robin" was ambitious and arrogant, and he knew that he was considered to be handsome, so he used this to his advantage. He was the indisputable favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, but he was detested by most courtiers, who felt that he had too much influence over the Virgin Queen.
Robert never achieved his goal of marrying Elizabeth, but he may have arranged the murder of his wife, Amy Robsart, to make himself available to his royal object of scheming affection.
Robert Dudley Imprisoned After Lady Jane Grey's Reign
Robert Dudley was born on 24th June 1532 or 1533, but it was once believed that he was born on the same day as Elizabeth I, the 7th of September, 1533. They knew one another from their childhood days.
He was the fifth son of John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, who rose to prominence during young King Edward VI's reign, and he effectively ruled the country. Northumberland persuaded the king to ignore his half-sisters Mary and Elizabeth's claims to the throne so that his daughter-in-law and King Edward's cousin Lady Jane Grey could succeed him.
When Edward VI died on 6 July 1553, Jane and Guildford were led by John Dudley into a treasonable and shambolic nine-day reign before Mary I took her place as monarch by popular consent. The couple, Northumberland and Jane's father Henry Grey, 1st Duke of Suffolk, were executed.
Robert Dudley was imprisoned in the Tower of London for approximately one year contemplating his own execution, but Mary allowed his release. By 1557, he was fighting for Mary with the English forces in France.
Was Robert Dudley Responsible for Amy Robsart's Death?
Mary I died in November 1558. New monarch Elizabeth I installed "Sweet Robin" as her Master of the Horse and as one of her privy councillors. She gave him the highest chivalric honour when she made him a Knight of the Garter.
Robert was married to Amy Robsart, who normally resided in their Oxfordshire home. Robert seemed not to miss her. Rumours about the queen and her favourite's close relationship caused jealousy, friction and dread at court. No one in high office relished the prospect of Robert Dudley ruling through Elizabeth.
When Amy died suddenly in September 1560, immediate accusations of murder were made. Had Robert Dudley had his poor wife slain so that he could marry Elizabeth? He denied any wrongdoing.
The queen was reluctant to marry anyone. The outcome for her mother, Anne Boleyn, had been dishonour and death. Elizabeth wanted to be the master of her world and feared being subordinated, which she felt was inevitable if she married.
Any slim likelihood of his marriage to Elizabeth disappeared as she protected herself as much as she could from his scandal. He was not willing to give up on her.
Mary, Queen of Scots and Robert Dudley to Marry
In 1563, Elizabeth contrived to unite Robert and Mary, Queen of Scots, so that she had an ally in the enemy camp, but Robert refused. Mary was insulted to be touted as a bride for Elizabeth's devoted commoner cast-off.
In an effort to make Robert reconsider his position, Elizabeth gave him Kenilworth Castle, and the following year she elevated him to 1st Earl of Leicester and Baron Denbigh. He still refused to marry Mary. He had not given up on Elizabeth.
In the early 1570s, Robert Dudley conceded that Elizabeth was never going to make him her husband. He started an affair with the improbably named Douglas, Lady Sheffield (named after Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox), and they had an illegitimate son named Robert. Douglas later claimed without proof that they married.
Lettice Knollys: "The She-Wolf"
After seven years, Robert discarded Douglas Sheffield because he was in a secret relationship with Lettice Knollys, Elizabeth I's cousin and the widow of Sir Walter Devereux, Earl of Essex. Robert and Lettice married without the queen's knowledge on the 21st of September, 1578.
Elizabeth's initial rage at their deception became less vitriolic, but Lettice, "the she-wolf," the 1st Countess of Leicester, was never forgiven; Robert fared better.
In 1585, Elizabeth I sent Robert and an army of over 6,000 soldiers to the Netherlands, then the United Provinces, to help them break free of Spanish rule.
As a commander, he floundered, and he acted against Elizabeth's political advice. Robert offended the Dutch with his arrogance, and he was recalled to England by an incandescent monarch.
Robert Dies, Lettice's Son Robert, 2nd Earl of Essex, Executed
This blemish on his record appears to have been forgotten by Elizabeth in the days leading up to the Spanish Armada in July 1588. Robert, Earl of Leicester, was one of her key advisors and a lieutenant general in the army she amassed at Tilbury Docks.
He delighted in the victory but not for long. Robert died suddenly on 4 September 1588 at his home in Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire. When Elizabeth learned of his death, she locked herself in her chambers to grieve. His last letter to her was placed on her bedside table, where it remained for the rest of her life.
Lettice's son from her first marriage was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex. He almost succeeded in replacing Robert Dudley in Elizabeth's affections, but he grew disenchanted and organised a 1601 rebellion. She ordered his execution for treason in return for his shattering betrayal.
Lettice passed away in 1634. She survived the queen by 31 years.
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