Elizabeth Raleigh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Raleigh
|
|
|---|---|
Portrait by William Segar, 1595
|
|
| Born |
Elizabeth Throckmorton
16 April 1565 |
| Died | c. 1647 |
| Spouse(s) | Sir Walter Raleigh |
| Children | Damerei Walter "Wat" Carew |
| Parent(s) | Sir Nicholas Throckmorton Anne Carew |
Elizabeth, Lady Raleigh (born Elizabeth Throckmorton; 16 April 1565 – around 1647) was an English lady who worked in the royal court. She was a special assistant to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Her secret marriage to Sir Walter Raleigh caused both her and her husband to lose the Queen's favor for a long time.
Contents
Bess's Early Life and Family
Elizabeth was often called "Bess." Her father was Sir Nicholas Throckmorton, a diplomat who worked with other countries. Her mother was Anne Throckmorton. Bess and her brother Arthur both worked at Queen Elizabeth I's court. A "courtier" is someone who attends the royal court.
A Secret Marriage and Royal Trouble
Bess and Walter Raleigh fell in love and decided to marry. They got married in secret in the autumn of 1591. This was a big deal because courtiers usually needed the Queen's permission to marry. Their first son, Damerei, was born in March 1592. Sadly, he is thought to have died when he was very young.
Queen Elizabeth I found out about the secret marriage and the baby in May 1592. She was very upset. She first put Bess and Raleigh under house arrest. Then, in June 1592, she sent them to the Tower of London. This was a famous prison.
Raleigh was let out of the Tower in August 1592. Bess was released in December 1592. She then joined her husband at Sherborne Castle, their home in Dorset. They stayed very devoted to each other. Because Raleigh was often away on trips or in prison, Bess had to take on many responsibilities. This was unusual for women at that time. Their second son, Walter, was born in 1593 at Sherborne.
Life After Queen Elizabeth I
After Queen Elizabeth I died in 1603, a new king and queen came to power. Many people from the court traveled to meet the new queen, Anne of Denmark. They hoped to gain her favor. Bess also made this trip, but she was disappointed. She did not receive the warm welcome she hoped for.
Their third son, Carew, was born in January 1605. By this time, Raleigh was a prisoner in the Tower of London again. Carew was named after Bess's mother's family. He was christened inside the Tower's church.
Bess's Dedication to Her Husband
After Raleigh was put to death in 1618, Bess worked very hard. She wanted to clear her late husband's name and restore his good reputation. In 1628, she succeeded in getting a special law passed. This law allowed her only surviving son, Carew, to inherit property and titles.
It is said that Bess kept her husband's head with her for the rest of her life. Records show that on the day Raleigh died, Bess and her ladies left carrying his head in a red bag. An old story from 1740 says that after Bess died, Raleigh's head was finally placed in his tomb.
Family Connections to Royalty
Bess had family connections to King Henry VIII. Her father, Nicholas Throckmorton, was a cousin of Henry's sixth wife, Queen Catherine Parr. Bess's mother, Anne Carew, was the daughter of Nicholas Carew. Nicholas Carew had been a close friend of King Henry VIII since childhood.
Bess in Stories and Films
Elizabeth "Bess" Throckmorton has appeared in many fictional stories and films.
- She is a main character in the operetta Merrie England (1902).
- In the film The Virgin Queen (1955), she is played by Joan Collins.
- She is the main character in Rosemary Sutcliff's novel Lady in Waiting (1956).
- She appears briefly in A Dead Man in Deptford (1993) by Anthony Burgess.
- In the film Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007), Bess is played by Abbie Cornish. This film shows her marrying Raleigh before the Spanish Armada (1588), but in real life, they married in 1591.
- She appears in Deborah Harkness' novel Shadow of Night (2012).
- Actress Phoebe Thomas plays Elizabeth Throckmorton in the BBC drama Armada: 12 Days to Save England (2015). The Queen is shown being jealous of Bess and even making Bess taste her food to check for poison.
