Arthur Dudley facts for kids

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 and favorite of the Queen. Many people believed they had a special connection.

Queen Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley's Friendship

Small portraits of Elizabeth and Robert Dudley, made around 1575. Their friendship lasted for more than 30 years.

In 1559, it seemed clear that Queen Elizabeth was very fond of Robert Dudley. He had been her friend since they were children. People whispered that Dudley's wife, Amy Robsart, was unwell. They also said the Queen might marry Dudley if his wife passed away.

By late 1559, many foreign princes wanted to marry Elizabeth. Their representatives reported that a marriage with Robert Dudley was not popular in England. People were upset, saying she would only marry her favorite. Amy Dudley died in September 1560 after falling down stairs. An official investigation said it was an accident. However, some people wondered if Dudley had caused her death. They thought he wanted to marry the Queen.

Elizabeth thought seriously about marrying Dudley for a while. But important advisors like William Cecil and Nicholas Throckmorton strongly disagreed. There were even rumors that powerful nobles would rebel if the marriage happened.

Robert Dudley remained a possible husband for the Queen for almost ten more years. Elizabeth was very protective of his attention. Even when she decided not to marry him, she still cared deeply. In 1564, Elizabeth made Dudley a noble, giving him the title Earl of Leicester.

He finally married someone else in 1578. This was Lettice Knollys. The Queen reacted with great displeasure and disliked his new wife. Still, Dudley was always very important in Elizabeth's life. He passed away in 1588, after England defeated the Spanish Armada. After Elizabeth's own death, a note from him was found among her personal items. She had written "his last letter" on it.

Arthur Dudley's Claim to Be the Queen's Son

People often wondered if Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley had a secret child. In 1559, Elizabeth had Dudley's rooms moved next to hers. In 1561, she was unwell and stayed in bed for a time.

Years later, in 1587, a man named Arthur Dudley was found after a shipwreck. This happened off the Biscay Coast. Spanish officials thought he might be a spy and held him.

Arthur was taken to Madrid, Spain. There, he claimed to be the son of Queen Elizabeth and Robert Dudley. He said he was born in 1561. This timing matched when the Queen had been unwell. Francis Englefield, a Spanish official, questioned Dudley. Three letters still exist today that describe this meeting. They tell Arthur's life story, from his birth in the royal palace to his arrival in Spain.

Arthur said that in 1561, a servant of Elizabeth's governess was told to find a nurse. This nurse was for a new baby at the palace. The servant, Robert Southern, was told to take the boy to London. He was to raise the child as his own. This baby, named Arthur, was to be raised like a gentleman. Arthur said he was indeed raised well. He learned music, fighting skills, old languages, and dance.

When he was a teenager, Arthur tried to run away for an adventure. He was waiting for a ship in Wales. But a very strong letter arrived, demanding his return. He was taken to a palace in London called Pickering Place. There, he met John Ashley. Ashley told him that he, not Arthur's adoptive father, had paid for his upbringing.

Arthur did not go home right away. He traveled between England and France for some years. Later, his adoptive father was very ill. At that time, Robert Southern told Arthur about his royal birth. This made Arthur very worried about their safety. After more travel, Arthur sailed to Spain. On his way back, he claimed his ship was wrecked.

However, the Spanish officials did not believe Arthur's story. Englefield told King Philip II that Arthur's claim was "nothing." But he suggested that Arthur should be "kept very secure." The King agreed. Arthur Dudley was never heard from again.

Today, experts say Arthur's story is "impossible." They explain that Elizabeth's life was watched so closely. It would have been impossible for her to hide a pregnancy.