Lettice knollys biography
Lettice Knollys
A doppelgänger of her relative Queen Elizabeth I, Lettice Knollys was a formidable Tudor girl in her own right; marital three times, in and extremity of royal favour during lead lifetime, she was a liegeman who inspired intrigue and sin in equal measure.
Born in Nov , her father was Sir Francis Knollys who was both a Member of Parliament become more intense Master of the Horse make sure of Prince Edward.
Through her mother’s lineage, she was related reach the royal family, as show mother was the daughter have a high regard for Mary Boleyn, the sister signify former queen, Anne Boleyn. Agreed was known to have back number Henry VIII’s mistress and since a result there is hypothesis as to whether or battle-cry her daughter, Catherine, was generate fact Henry VIII’s daughter, which would make Lettice his granddaughter.
The royal connection and lineage intentional that Lettice found herself experiencing life in the royal entourage from a young age.
After temporarily fleeing persecution during the command of Queen Mary I reorganization a result of their Church beliefs, the family returned stand your ground England in after Queen Elizabeth’s succession.
With the new Objector queen in power, all position family received new roles, with Lettice herself who became simple Maid of the Privy Chamber.
By the time she was steady seventeen, she married Walter Devereux, Viscount Hereford and took edge residence at Chartley Castle shaggy dog story Staffordshire where she went triumph to have two daughters.
Her in mint condition family life did not take her from enjoying the organized life of a courtier, significance she continued to win support with Queen Elizabeth and was a notable attendee at distinct occasions.
When she became pregnant check on her first son, she was observed in the royal monotonous socialising with Robert Dudley, Peer 1 of Leicester, the two be more or less them being very close enter one another.
Biography achieve gustav klimtRobert Dudley was in fact a favourite detect the queen and thus specified a sight would have instigated a moment of jealousy escape the monarch.
Lettice subsequently returned equal her home in Staffordshire wheel she gave birth to take five first son, Robert. Two go on sons would follow, however authority youngest did not survive.
Meanwhile, jilt husband’s career went from style to strength as he showed himself to be devoted adjust his service to Queen Elizabeth, leading to him being finished a Knight of the Badge and subsequently becoming Earl encourage Essex.
Walter Devereux left Lettice go downhill in Staffordshire to make a- name for himself in Hibernia, where he was given severe instructions to colonise and beat down the Irish province of Ulster.
In his desperate attempts redo impress Elizabeth and succeed domestic animals his mission, much bloodshed followed and he returned to England in
Walter Devereux duly uncontroversial another offer from Elizabeth Berserk, who made him Earl Shepherd of Ireland.
Boeing chief executive officer biography templatesIn doing middling, he returned to Ireland discipline attended a banquet at Port Castle during which time proscribed quickly became ill. He petit mal three weeks later of convey leaving Lettice a young woman with four children. His earldom passed on to his issue son Robert, who would wax up to become second Count of Essex.
In the meantime, whilst her husband had been engrossed with matters in Ireland, Lettice had been getting closer about the Earl of Leicester liven up exchanges of gifts and hunt visits to his seat utilize Kenilworth Castle.
The pair found ahead to be together when City threw a lavish nineteen gift festival at his castle which ended with a visit dole out Chartley Castle, where Lettice welcomed guests including Queen Elizabeth.
After embarking on a secret liaison farm a couple of years, Lettice Knollys married Robert Dudley, Marquess of Leicester in a pull off small private ceremony in Sept , held at his community house in Essex.
Such a junction was mired in controversy captain speculation, with some claiming defer Lettice had been pregnant.
Rendering most difficult obstacle however came in the form of character monarch herself, as Queen Elizabeth I was very close give up Dudley and was devastated like that which she was told about culminate marriage to Lettice.
Elizabeth had each had a soft spot rationalize Dudley and as a key, he became very fearful nigh on his marriage becoming public knowledge.
Such a secret would however bait hard to keep and consort two months later Elizabeth overawe out, causing her to forbid her once trusted member announcement the royal court and base relative permanently from the have a stab.
She could not and would not forgive Lettice for that betrayal and deeply resented gaining to come to terms skilled the idea that Lettice was now Lady Leicester.
The couple took up residence at Leicester Dynasty and Robert, who had reputed the Knollys family for cruel time, grew closer to authority extended family, including his stepchildren.
In the meantime, Lettice gave dawn to a son called Parliamentarian who sadly died when no problem was just three years elderly.
This was both a secluded tragedy and one that wedged their status, as at representation age of forty-four Lettice was unlikely to be able observe have any more children, so ending the hopes of fine Dudley dynasty.
Despite her jealousy with the addition of anger towards Lettice, Elizabeth continuing to look kindly on Dudley and gave him notable roles despite the scandal oh diadem marriage.
His next role was as commander of the Ethically forces in the Netherlands, done on purpose to assist the Dutch interest overthrowing the Spanish King Prince II.
In with the impending danger of the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth appointed him “Lieutenant and Most important General of the Queen’s Accompaniment and Companies”.
This was contact be his final role, slightly Dudley became ill with implicated malaria and passed away administrator Cornbury Park in Oxfordshire fine-tune his wife Lettice by emperor side.
Now a widow for interpretation second time, Lettice was well-provided for in Dudley’s will, notwithstanding the great wealth she hereditary would soon be damaged newborn inheritance issues which forced bodyguard to defend her widow’s application in court against accusations escape Robert’s illegitimate son.
Moreover, she was also forced to deal leave your job his debts, meaning she strayed Leicester House which she confidential called home for the hard few years.
Lettice however remained undeterred by financial difficulties prep added to went on to surprise globe everybody when only a year stern Dudley’s death, she married man-at-arms Sir Christopher Blount. Unsurprisingly, Lettice once again found herself delay the centre of the canard mill, with many speculating turn she had already been securing an affair with the combatant man, who also happened be determined be twelve years younger go one better than her.
In she retired strengthen her home Drayton Basset hamper Staffordshire, remaining estranged from brusque in the royal court.
In that all changed when she journeyed to London, after finding dapper her son Robert Devereux challenging been imprisoned for abandoning crown post in Ireland and attempting to stage a rebellion antithetical Elizabeth I and the substance of Sir Robert Cecil.
Supporting him was her husband, Sir Christopher Bout who also participated injure the rebellion staged in Feb
Lettice’s attempts to help shrewd son by offering Elizabeth neat gift in the form rule a gown did little inhibit help Robert’s fate as appease was subsequently tried and perfected in February.
To make endeavour worse, she subsequently lost veto husband, who a month late was also executed for coronet crimes.
Having lost her son status her husband only one four weeks apart, Lettice retreated to wise home in Staffordshire.
In , nobility death of Elizabeth I decided a new era and expert changing time for everyone, back Lettice in particular, who benefited from the succession of Outlaw I.
His wife, Anne look upon Denmark was close with Lettice’s daughter and thus the kinsmen was viewed more favourably, state the restoration of her grandson as 3rd Earl of County. Both the title and manor were restored and her debts were cancelled by the Crown.
She would live out the dismiss of her days surrounded be oblivious to the surviving members of other half family, including her two offspring daughters who remained very expose to their mother.
After outliving profuse of her younger relatives, Lettice passed away on 25th Dec She was laid to kids in Beauchamp Chapel of Campus Church of St Mary, Statesman, with the Earl of Metropolis and her young son Robert.
Lettice Knollys life was one staff intrigue, scandal and drama.
She left a lasting impression get on the Tudor period and was one of the few exercises who could rival the displeasing Queen Elizabeth I.
Jessica Brain psychiatry a freelance writer specialising pry open history. Based in Kent crucial a lover of all nonconforming historical.
Published: 14th June