Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey facts for kids

Christopher Villiers, 1st Earl of Anglesey (born around 1593 – died 3 April 1630), was an English nobleman and important person at the royal court. He was known as Kit Villiers to King James I and his friends. He served the King as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber and later as Master of the Robes. In 1623, he was given the titles of Earl of Anglesey and Baron Villiers of Daventry.

Christopher Villiers became successful mainly because of his older brother, George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. George was a very close friend and trusted advisor to King James I.

Christopher Villiers: A Royal Courtier

Christopher Villiers was the third son of Sir George Villiers and his second wife, Mary Beaumont. Mary later became the Countess of Buckingham. Christopher had two full brothers, George and John. He also had a sister, Susan. His half-brothers were Sir Edward Villiers and William Villiers.

Joining the Royal Court

Even though he was not known for being very clever in his youth, Christopher Villiers benefited greatly from his family's good luck. This good fortune came from his brother George's special position as the King's favourite.

In 1617, Christopher was appointed as a Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King James I. This was an important role, meaning he was a close attendant to the King. In 1618, he was also given a regular payment of £200 each year.

Gaining Influence and Wealth

In 1617, Sir Robert Naunton, who was the Secretary of State, agreed to make Christopher Villiers his heir. This meant Christopher gained estates that brought in £500 a year.

Christopher also had a share in the special right (called a monopoly) to control the making of gold and silver thread. He also earned a lot of money from a special permission (called a patent) related to ale houses. There were some questions raised in parliament about his business dealings, but these issues were later dropped. By 1620, Christopher hoped to become the Master of the Robes, which would make his position at court even stronger.

Marriage and New Titles

Christopher Villiers looked for a wealthy woman to marry. He tried to marry the daughter of a rich merchant and also Elizabeth Norris, a noblewoman. However, these attempts were not successful.

Eventually, Christopher married Elizabeth, the daughter and heir of Thomas Sheldon. She came from Howley, Leicestershire.

On 18 April 1623, Christopher Villiers was given the noble titles of Earl of Anglesey and Baron Villiers of Daventry. This was a very important step up in society.

Life After King James I

After King James I died on 27 March 1625, Christopher Villiers left the royal court. It was said that the new king, Charles I, did not want him there.

The job of Master of the Robes, which Christopher had hoped for, went to Lord Compton under King Charles I. Christopher Villiers was seen by some as a symbol of the less positive aspects of King James I's court.

His powerful brother, George, Duke of Buckingham, died in 1628. Despite this, Christopher Villiers continued to gain some important roles. In December 1628, he became the Keeper of Hampton Court Palace. In March 1629, he also became the Keeper of Bushey Park.

Christopher Villiers died at Windsor on 3 April 1630. He was buried on 12 April in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

At the time of his death, Christopher Villiers lived at Ashley Park in Walton-on-Thames. His wife, Elizabeth, later married Benjamin Weston. Christopher's titles and estates first went to his only son, Charles. Charles died without children in 1661. After Charles's death, many of the family estates passed to Christopher's daughter, Anne.