Robert DUDLEY 1532–1588 – Whos Your Daddy? Wikigenealogy

Who's Your Daddy?
Wikigenealogy

Robert DUDLEY, 1532–1588 (aged 56 years)

Name

Robert DUDLEY

Name: Robert /DUDLEY/
Surname: DUDLEY
Given names: Robert
Also known as: Earl of Leicester

Sex Male

Date differences

Family with parents
father	Links Birth: 1502 40 32 — Of, Warwick, Sussex, England Marriage: 1530 — Of, Holden, Kent, England Death: 22 May 1553 — Tower Hill, London, Middlesex, England Burial: 22 August 1553 — Beheaded Ancestral file number: 97B1-CT Unique identifier: 651CBAB41F1DDF46AD4EDCBBE4C6A1608D00 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Jane (Joan)(Janam) Guldeford GUILDFORD Henry DUDLEY Catherine DUDLEY Thomas DUDLEY Carol DUDLEY John (Earl Of Warwick) DUDLEY Ambrose DUDLEY Guilford DUDLEY Henry DUDLEY Margaret DUDLEY Catherine DUDLEY Temperance DUDLEY Mary DUDLEY Charles DUDLEY Robert DUDLEY John DUDLEY 1502–1553 Birth: 1502 40 32 — Of, Warwick, Sussex, England Death: 22 May 1553 — Tower Hill, London, Middlesex, England
mother	Links Birth: 1504 30 23 — Of, The South Ports, Northumberland, England Marriage: 1530 — Of, Holden, Kent, England Death: 22 January 1555 — Chelsea, Middlesex, England Burial: 1 February 1555 — Chelsea, London, England Ancestral file number: 97B1-L2 Unique identifier: 651CBAB41F1DDF46AD4EDCBBE4C6A1608D00 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse John DUDLEY Henry DUDLEY Catherine DUDLEY Thomas DUDLEY Carol DUDLEY John (Earl Of Warwick) DUDLEY Ambrose DUDLEY Guilford DUDLEY Henry DUDLEY Margaret DUDLEY Catherine DUDLEY Temperance DUDLEY Mary DUDLEY Charles DUDLEY Robert DUDLEY Jane (Joan)(Janam) Guldeford GUILDFORD 1504–1555 Birth: 1504 30 23 — Of, The South Ports, Northumberland, England Death: 22 January 1555 — Chelsea, Middlesex, England
Marriage	Marriage — 1530 — Of, Holden, Kent, England
-6 years elder brother	Links Birth: 1523 21 19 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 4 March 1545 — Boulogne, France Burial: D.s.p. Ancestral file number: 97B1-M7 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Henry DUDLEY 1523–1545 Birth: 1523 21 19 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 4 March 1545 — Boulogne, France
4 years elder sister	Links Birth: 1526 24 22 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1533 Ancestral file number: 97B1-PK Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Catherine DUDLEY 1526–1533 Birth: 1526 24 22 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1533
-11 months elder brother	Links Birth: 1524 22 20 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1526 — London, England, 2 Yrs Ancestral file number: 97B1-ND Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Thomas DUDLEY 1524–1526 Birth: 1524 22 20 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1526 — London, England, 2 Yrs
5 years elder sister	Links Birth: 1528 26 24 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1536 Ancestral file number: 97B1-QQ Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Carol DUDLEY 1528–1536 Birth: 1528 26 24 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1536
2 years elder brother	Links Birth: 1529 27 25 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 21 October 1554 — Penhurst, Kent, England Burial: D.s.p. Ancestral file number: 97B1-RW Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships John (Earl Of Warwick) DUDLEY 1529–1554 Birth: 1529 27 25 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 21 October 1554 — Penhurst, Kent, England
3 years elder brother	Links Birth: 1531 29 27 — Ely Place, London, Middlesex, England Death: 21 February 1590 — Bedford House, Westminster, London, England Burial: 9 April 1590 — Beauchamp Chapel, Warwick, England Ancestral file number: 97B1-S3 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Ambrose DUDLEY 1531–1590 Birth: 1531 29 27 — Ely Place, London, Middlesex, England Death: 21 February 1590 — Bedford House, Westminster, London, England
4 years younger brother	Links Birth: 1534 32 30 — Of Ely Place, London, Middlesex, England Marriage: 21 May 1553 — Durham House, Westminster, Middlesex, England Death: 12 February 1554 — Tower Of London, Tower Green, London, England Burial: St Peter Vincula, London, Middlesex, England Ancestral file number: 97B1-WL Unique identifier: 466EADF56860924D950ACD921FBE3A4E6030 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Jane GREY Guilford DUDLEY 1534–1554 Birth: 1534 32 30 — Of Ely Place, London, Middlesex, England Death: 12 February 1554 — Tower Of London, Tower Green, London, England
2 years younger brother	Links Birth: 1535 33 31 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 4 March 1557 — Siege Of, St. Quintins Ancestral file number: 97B1-XR Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Henry DUDLEY 1535–1557 Birth: 1535 33 31 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 4 March 1557 — Siege Of, St. Quintins
-3 years elder sister	Links Birth: 1531 29 27 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1541 — London, England Burial: 1541 Ancestral file number: 97B1-T8 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Margaret DUDLEY 1531–1541 Birth: 1531 29 27 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1541 — London, England
2 years sister	Links Birth: about 1532 30 28 — Ashby, Leicestershire, Eng Death: 14 August 1620 Burial: 14 August 1620 Ancestral file number: 97B1-ZX Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Catherine DUDLEY 1532–1620 Birth: about 1532 30 28 — Ashby, Leicestershire, Eng Death: 14 August 1620
14 years younger sister	Links Birth: 1545 43 41 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1546 — London, England Burial: 1 Yr Ancestral file number: 97B2-2F Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Temperance DUDLEY 1545–1546 Birth: 1545 43 41 — Of, Atherton, Sussex, England Death: 1546 — London, England
-4 years younger sister	Links Birth: 1540 38 36 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 9 August 1586 Burial: 11 August 1586 — Penshurst, Kent, England Ancestral file number: 97B2-03 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Mary DUDLEY 1540–1586 Birth: 1540 38 36 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 9 August 1586
2 years younger brother	Links Birth: 1541 39 37 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 1549 — London, England Ancestral file number: 97B2-18 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Charles DUDLEY 1541–1549 Birth: 1541 39 37 — Of, Northumberland, England Death: 1549 — London, England
-9 years himself	Links Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Christening: Northumberland, England Marriage: 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Marriage: May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England Marriage: 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England Burial: Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire, England Ancestral file number: 9FXX-75 Unique identifier: 4492C63C5E804C46B17884BBD5536B8DD043 Unique identifier: 9875E44077569E48A4567E941FA97D396E09 Unique identifier: 96BC3A5A34C0B44782F6107104F57C377AD6 Marriage: Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry. Unique identifier: E19684E2F1E75A4FA21EBE67FB0A9AD6B87D Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Amy ROBSART Family with spouse Douglas HOWARD Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Lettice KNOLLES Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND Robert DUDLEY 1532–1588 Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England

Family with Amy ROBSART
himself	Links Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Christening: Northumberland, England Marriage: 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Marriage: May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England Marriage: 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England Burial: Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire, England Ancestral file number: 9FXX-75 Unique identifier: 4492C63C5E804C46B17884BBD5536B8DD043 Unique identifier: 9875E44077569E48A4567E941FA97D396E09 Unique identifier: 96BC3A5A34C0B44782F6107104F57C377AD6 Marriage: Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry. Unique identifier: E19684E2F1E75A4FA21EBE67FB0A9AD6B87D Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Amy ROBSART Family with spouse Douglas HOWARD Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Lettice KNOLLES Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND Robert DUDLEY 1532–1588 Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England
wife	Links Birth: 1532 — Stansfield Hall, Norfolk, England Marriage: 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Death: 8 September 1560 — Sp, Cumnor Place, Berkshire, England Burial: 22 September 1560 — St. Mary, Oxfordshire, England Ancestral file number: 97B2-K1 Unique identifier: 4492C63C5E804C46B17884BBD5536B8DD043 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Robert DUDLEY Amy ROBSART 1532–1560 Birth: 1532 — Stansfield Hall, Norfolk, England Death: 8 September 1560 — Sp, Cumnor Place, Berkshire, England
Marriage	Marriage — 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England

Family with Douglas HOWARD
himself	Links Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Christening: Northumberland, England Marriage: 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Marriage: May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England Marriage: 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England Burial: Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire, England Ancestral file number: 9FXX-75 Unique identifier: 4492C63C5E804C46B17884BBD5536B8DD043 Unique identifier: 9875E44077569E48A4567E941FA97D396E09 Unique identifier: 96BC3A5A34C0B44782F6107104F57C377AD6 Marriage: Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry. Unique identifier: E19684E2F1E75A4FA21EBE67FB0A9AD6B87D Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Amy ROBSART Family with spouse Douglas HOWARD Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Lettice KNOLLES Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND Robert DUDLEY 1532–1588 Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England
wife	Links Birth: about 1538 — Lambeth, Surrey, England Marriage: May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England Death: 11 December 1608 Burial: Effingham Ancestral file number: 9FXG-BQ Unique identifier: 9875E44077569E48A4567E941FA97D396E09 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Robert DUDLEY Robert DUDLEY Douglas HOWARD 1538–1608 Birth: about 1538 — Lambeth, Surrey, England Death: 11 December 1608
Marriage	Marriage — May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England
2 years son	Links Birth: 7 August 1574 42 36 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Death: 6 September 1649 — Florence, Italy Burial: Boldrone, Italy Ancestral file number: 97B2-QV Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Robert DUDLEY 1574–1649 Birth: 7 August 1574 42 36 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Death: 6 September 1649 — Florence, Italy

Family with Lettice KNOLLES
himself	Links Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Christening: Northumberland, England Marriage: 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Marriage: May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England Marriage: 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England Burial: Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire, England Ancestral file number: 9FXX-75 Unique identifier: 4492C63C5E804C46B17884BBD5536B8DD043 Unique identifier: 9875E44077569E48A4567E941FA97D396E09 Unique identifier: 96BC3A5A34C0B44782F6107104F57C377AD6 Marriage: Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry. Unique identifier: E19684E2F1E75A4FA21EBE67FB0A9AD6B87D Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Amy ROBSART Family with spouse Douglas HOWARD Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Lettice KNOLLES Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND Robert DUDLEY 1532–1588 Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England
wife	Links Birth: 1540 — Of, Wanstead, Warwick, England Marriage: 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 25 December 1634 — Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England Burial: Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwichshire, England Ancestral file number: 9SWF-XC Unique identifier: 96BC3A5A34C0B44782F6107104F57C377AD6 Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Robert DUDLEY Robert DUDLEY Lettice KNOLLES 1540–1634 Birth: 1540 — Of, Wanstead, Warwick, England Death: 25 December 1634 — Drayton Bassett, Staffordshire, England
Marriage	Marriage — 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England
2 years son	Links Birth: 1579 46 39 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 1684 Ancestral file number: 97B2-VK Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Robert DUDLEY 1579–1684 Birth: 1579 46 39 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 1684

Family with Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND
himself	Links Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Christening: Northumberland, England Marriage: 4 June 1549 — Sheen Palace, Surrey, England Marriage: May 1572 — Esher, Surrey, England Marriage: 21 September 1577 — Wanstead, Warwickshire, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England Burial: Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire, England Ancestral file number: 9FXX-75 Unique identifier: 4492C63C5E804C46B17884BBD5536B8DD043 Unique identifier: 9875E44077569E48A4567E941FA97D396E09 Unique identifier: 96BC3A5A34C0B44782F6107104F57C377AD6 Marriage: Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry. Unique identifier: E19684E2F1E75A4FA21EBE67FB0A9AD6B87D Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Amy ROBSART Family with spouse Douglas HOWARD Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Lettice KNOLLES Robert DUDLEY Family with spouse Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND Robert DUDLEY 1532–1588 Birth: 24 June 1532 30 28 — Of, Sheen, Surrey, England Death: 4 September 1588 — His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England
wife	Links Birth: 7 September 1533 42 32 — Greenwich Palace, Kent, England Christening: Reign 1558-1603 Marriage: Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry. Death: 24 March 1602 — Unmarried Ancestral file number: 9FQ4-2C Unique identifier: E19684E2F1E75A4FA21EBE67FB0A9AD6B87D Links Ancestors Compact tree Descendants Family book Fan chart Hourglass chart Interactive tree Pedigree Pedigree map Relationships Family with spouse Robert DUDLEY Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND 1533–1602 Birth: 7 September 1533 42 32 — Greenwich Palace, Kent, England Death: 24 March 1602 — Unmarried
Marriage	Marriage — March — Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry.

Events of close relatives
Birth	24 June 1532 30 28 Of, Sheen, Surrey, England
Christening	Northumberland, England
Marriage	Elizabeth I Queen Of ENGLAND — View this family March ( after death) Widely believed to have been lovers although they could not marry.
Birth of a sister	Catherine DUDLEY about 1532 Ashby, Leicestershire, Eng
Death of a sister	Catherine DUDLEY 1533
Birth of a brother	Guilford DUDLEY 1534 Of Ely Place, London, Middlesex, England
Birth of a brother	Henry DUDLEY 1535 Of, Northumberland, England
Death of a sister	Carol DUDLEY 1536
Birth of a sister	Mary DUDLEY 1540 Of, Northumberland, England
Death of a sister	Margaret DUDLEY 1541 London, England
Burial of a sister	Margaret DUDLEY 1541
Birth of a brother	Charles DUDLEY 1541 Of, Northumberland, England
Death of a brother	Henry DUDLEY 4 March 1545 Boulogne, France
Birth of a sister	Temperance DUDLEY 1545 Of, Atherton, Sussex, England
Death of a sister	Temperance DUDLEY 1546 London, England
Marriage	Amy ROBSART — View this family 4 June 1549 (aged 16 years) Sheen Palace, Surrey, England
Death of a brother	Charles DUDLEY 1549 London, England
Death of a father	John DUDLEY 22 May 1553 Tower Hill, London, Middlesex, England
Burial of a father	John DUDLEY 22 August 1553 Beheaded
Death of a brother	Guilford DUDLEY 12 February 1554 Tower Of London, Tower Green, London, England Cause: Executed for Treason
Death of a brother	John (Earl Of Warwick) DUDLEY 21 October 1554 Penhurst, Kent, England
Death of a mother	Jane (Joan)(Janam) Guldeford GUILDFORD 22 January 1555 Chelsea, Middlesex, England
Burial of a mother	Jane (Joan)(Janam) Guldeford GUILDFORD 1 February 1555 Chelsea, London, England
Death of a brother	Henry DUDLEY 4 March 1557 Siege Of, St. Quintins
Death of a wife	Amy ROBSART 8 September 1560 Sp, Cumnor Place, Berkshire, England
Burial of a wife	Amy ROBSART 22 September 1560 St. Mary, Oxfordshire, England
Marriage	Douglas HOWARD — View this family May 1572 (aged 39 years) Esher, Surrey, England
Birth of a son	Robert DUDLEY 7 August 1574 Sheen Palace, Surrey, England
Marriage	Lettice KNOLLES — View this family 21 September 1577 (aged 45 years) Wanstead, Warwickshire, England
Birth of a son	Robert DUDLEY 1579 Wanstead, Warwickshire, England
Death of a sister	Mary DUDLEY 9 August 1586
Burial of a sister	Mary DUDLEY 11 August 1586 Penshurst, Kent, England
Death	4 September 1588 (aged 56 years) His House, Cornbury, Oxfordshire, England
Burial	Collegiate Church, Warwick, Warwickshire, England
Ancestral file number	9FXX-75
Unique identifier	D90C0C9464FFDC4FA3BC296F737545E31A69
Last change	27 May 2005 – 00:00:00

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Note	It is widely believed that Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was the lover of Queen Elizabeth of England, but that she could not marry him because he was married to another woman. This is one of the great questions of history that has often been asked but will never be answered. Leicester, Robert Dudley, earl of , 1532–1588, English courtier and favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. A younger son of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland, he was early brought into the society of Edward VI and Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth. Knighted at an early age, Dudley married Amy Robsart in 1549 and received preferment from the crown. Upon Edward's death (1553), he aided his father in the plot to place Lady Jane Grey upon the throne, was sent to the Tower of London, and condemned to death. He was later released, pardoned, and, after military service in France, restored to his rights (perhaps through the intervention of Mary I's husband, Philip II of Spain). On the accession of Elizabeth (1558), Dudley was made master of the horse and later a privy councillor. Within a year he was acknowledged as her favorite and as her most probable choice for a husband. His wife's mysterious death in 1560 darkened his reputation. He then proposed (1561) to Philip II to restore Roman Catholicism in England in return for Philip's endorsement of Dudley's marriage to Elizabeth. By 1563, Elizabeth seems to have realized the impracticality of marriage with Dudley, but her personal feeling toward him did not change, and he remained in a position of influence at court. She offered his hand to Mary Queen of Scots and, to facilitate this scheme, created him earl of Leicester (1564), but the plan was halted by Mary's marriage to Lord Darnley. Leicester married secretly in 1573 and in 1578 (perhaps bigamously) wed the countess of Essex, an act that led to a temporary estrangement from Elizabeth. From about 1564, Leicester was leader at court of the Puritan party, which desired war with Spain. In 1585 he was named commander of an expedition to help the United Provinces of the Netherlands against Spain. His military efforts were undistinguished, and he enraged Elizabeth by accepting (1586) the title of governor of the Netherlands. He was finally recalled in 1587. Upon the approach of the Spanish Armada (1588), Leicester was appointed captain general of the armies. Leicester was a patron of letters and the drama. The first royal patent for actors was granted to his company. See M. Waldman, Elizabeth and Leicester (1944, repr. 1969); E. Rosenberg, Leicester, Patron of Letters (1955); R. C. Strong and J. A. Van Dorsten, Leicester's Triumph (1964). http://www.metaweb.com/wiki/wiki.phtml?title=Robert_Dudley%2C_earl_of_Leicester http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/RobertDudley(1ELeicester).htm

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Note

It is widely believed that Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was the lover of Queen Elizabeth of England, but that she could not marry him because he was married to another woman. This is one of the great questions of history that has often been asked but will never be answered.

Leicester, Robert Dudley, earl of , 1532–1588, English courtier and favorite of Queen Elizabeth I. A younger son of John Dudley, duke of Northumberland, he was early brought into the society of Edward VI and Princess (later Queen) Elizabeth. Knighted at an early age, Dudley married Amy Robsart in 1549 and received preferment from the crown. Upon Edward's death (1553), he aided his father in the plot to place Lady Jane Grey upon the throne, was sent to the Tower of London, and condemned to death. He was later released, pardoned, and, after military service in France, restored to his rights (perhaps through the intervention of Mary I's husband, Philip II of Spain). On the accession of Elizabeth (1558), Dudley was made master of the horse and later a privy councillor. Within a year he was acknowledged as her favorite and as her most probable choice for a husband. His wife's mysterious death in 1560 darkened his reputation. He then proposed (1561) to Philip II to restore Roman Catholicism in England in return for Philip's endorsement of Dudley's marriage to Elizabeth. By 1563, Elizabeth seems to have realized the impracticality of marriage with Dudley, but her personal feeling toward him did not change, and he remained in a position of influence at court. She offered his hand to Mary Queen of Scots and, to facilitate this scheme, created him earl of Leicester (1564), but the plan was halted by Mary's marriage to Lord Darnley. Leicester married secretly in 1573 and in 1578 (perhaps bigamously) wed the countess of Essex, an act that led to a temporary estrangement from Elizabeth. From about 1564, Leicester was leader at court of the Puritan party, which desired war with Spain. In 1585 he was named commander of an expedition to help the United Provinces of the Netherlands against Spain. His military efforts were undistinguished, and he enraged Elizabeth by accepting (1586) the title of governor of the Netherlands. He was finally recalled in 1587. Upon the approach of the Spanish Armada (1588), Leicester was appointed captain general of the armies. Leicester was a patron of letters and the drama. The first royal patent for actors was granted to his company.

See M. Waldman, Elizabeth and Leicester (1944, repr. 1969); E. Rosenberg, Leicester, Patron of Letters (1955); R. C. Strong and J. A. Van Dorsten, Leicester's Triumph (1964).

http://www.metaweb.com/wiki/wiki.phtml?title=Robert_Dudley%2C_earl_of_Leicester
http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/Bios/RobertDudley(1ELeicester).htm