Arthur Dudley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arthur Dudley
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| Born | c.1562 London, England
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| Parent(s) | Ostensibly Queen Elizabeth I, Robert Dudley |
Arthur Dudley was a man from the 1500s. He became known for a surprising claim. Arthur said he was the secret son of Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley. Robert Dudley was a close friend of the Queen. Many people believed they had a special bond.
Contents
Arthur Dudley: A Royal Mystery
Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley's Friendship
In 1559, it seemed clear that Queen Elizabeth was very fond of her childhood friend, Robert Dudley. Many people, including foreign visitors, talked about their close relationship. Some thought Elizabeth might marry Robert. However, many important people in England did not approve. They believed a marriage to Robert Dudley would cause problems.
Robert Dudley remained a possible husband for the Queen for many years. Elizabeth was very protective of him. In 1564, Elizabeth made Robert Dudley an important noble. He became the Earl of Leicester.
Robert Dudley eventually married someone else in 1578. Queen Elizabeth was very unhappy about this. She disliked his new wife, Lettice Knollys, for the rest of her life. Still, Robert Dudley remained a very important person in Elizabeth's life. He died in 1588, shortly after England defeated the Spanish Armada. After Elizabeth died, a note from him was found among her personal items. She had marked it "his last letter."
Arthur Dudley's Claim to the Throne
In 1561, Queen Elizabeth was ill for a time. Her body became swollen. Years later, in 1587, a man named Arthur Dudley was found after a shipwreck. This happened off the Biscay Coast. The Spanish captured him, thinking he might be a spy.
Arthur was taken to Madrid, Spain. There, he told a surprising story. He claimed to be the son of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley. He said he was born in 1561. This was the same time the Queen had been ill.
Arthur was questioned by Francis Englefield. He was an English noble living in Spain. Arthur shared his life story in detail.
Arthur's Story Unfolds
Arthur said that in 1561, a servant of Queen Elizabeth's governess was asked to find a nurse. This nurse was for a newborn baby at the palace. The servant, Robert Southern, was told to take the baby to London. He was to raise the boy as his own child. The baby, named Arthur, was to be raised like a gentleman.
Arthur said he was raised very well. He learned music, fighting skills, and languages. When he was a teenager, he tried to run away for adventures. But a strong letter arrived, demanding his return. He was taken to a palace in London called Pickering Place. There, he met John Ashley. Ashley told Arthur that he, not Robert Southern, had paid for Arthur's upbringing.
Arthur did not go home right away. He traveled between England and France. Years later, his adoptive father, Robert Southern, was dying. At that time, Southern told Arthur the truth about his royal birth. This made Arthur very worried about their safety. After more travels, Arthur sailed to Spain. On his way back, his ship was wrecked.
What Happened Next?
However, Arthur Dudley's story did not convince the Spanish. Francis Englefield told King Philip II that Arthur's claim was "nothing" for now. But he suggested that Arthur should be kept safe and not allowed to leave. The King agreed. Arthur Dudley was never heard from again.
Was Arthur's Story True?
Today, most historians do not believe Arthur's story. They say it would have been "impossible" for Queen Elizabeth to hide a pregnancy. Her life was watched very closely by everyone around her.
See Also
