Ridolfi plot facts for kids
The Ridolfi plot was a secret plan in 1571. It aimed to remove Elizabeth I as Queen of England. The plotters wanted to replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots. An international banker named Roberto Ridolfi created and planned this secret operation. He traveled between different countries to gather support.
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Why the Plot Started
Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk was a very rich and powerful cousin of Queen Elizabeth. He was a Catholic but had a Protestant education. Since 1568, people had suggested he marry Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary was being held captive by Elizabeth. Norfolk liked this idea because he felt Elizabeth didn't value him enough.
Norfolk had been involved in an earlier uprising called the Northern Rebellion. He was put in the Tower of London for a while. He was only released when he promised to behave.
In 1570, the Pope, Pope Pius V, made a special announcement. He said that Queen Elizabeth was no longer a true Christian ruler. This meant that Catholics were allowed to try and remove her from power. Most English Catholics didn't follow this order. But Elizabeth became much stricter with Catholics after it happened.
The Secret Plan
Roberto Ridolfi was a banker from Florence. He was a strong Catholic. He had been involved in planning the Northern Rebellion. He believed that outside help was needed to bring Catholicism back to England. He also wanted to put Mary on the English throne.
Ridolfi started contacting people who might join his plan. Mary's advisor, John Lesley, agreed to the plot. The main idea was for the Duke of Alba to invade England. He would bring 10,000 soldiers from the Netherlands. The plan also included a rebellion by English nobles. They also planned to kill Queen Elizabeth. Finally, Mary would marry Thomas Howard.
Ridolfi thought that many English nobles were Catholic. He believed they could gather over 39,000 men. Both Mary and Norfolk were eager to improve their situations. They both agreed to the plot. With their approval, Ridolfi traveled to Europe. He wanted to get support from the Duke of Alba, Pope Pius V, and King Philip II of Spain.
Who Was Involved?
Many people helped Ridolfi with his secret plan. Here are some of the main people:
- Don Guerau de Espés: He was Spain's ambassador to England. He was sent away from England after his involvement was found out.
- John Lesley: He was the Bishop of Ross and Mary Stuart's main helper. He set up meetings and delivered letters for Mary.
- Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk: He was Queen Elizabeth I's cousin. He was supposed to marry Mary, Queen of Scots. Together, they would bring Catholic rule back to England and Scotland. He was found guilty and executed after the plot was discovered.
- Mary, Queen of Scots: She wanted her freedom. She agreed to the plot in March 1571. Her role was to marry the Duke of Norfolk. The plan was to put her back on the Scottish throne when the soldiers arrived. When the plot was found out, Elizabeth's opinion of Mary changed. Elizabeth never again thought about putting Mary back on the throne.
- King Philip II: He was the King of Spain. He welcomed Ridolfi and discussed the plan. He supported removing Elizabeth. He later even supported the idea of killing her.
- Fernando Álvarez de Toledo, 3rd Duke of Alba: He led the Spanish army in the Netherlands. He was supposed to lead over 10,000 soldiers to England. His army would invade and march to London to put Mary on the throne.
- Pope Pius V: He had made Ridolfi his special agent in England. The Pope knew about the plot. He even gave his written approval for Ridolfi to show to King Philip II.
How the Plot Was Found Out
In 1571, Queen Elizabeth's spies started sending her information. They learned about a plan against her life. A naval commander named John Hawkins gained the trust of Spain's ambassador. He learned the plot details and told the government. This led to the arrest of the plotters.
Elizabeth also received a private warning. Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany had learned about the plot and told her.
Charles Baillie, who was Ridolfi's messenger, was arrested. This happened around April 12, 1571, in Dover. He was carrying secret letters. He was forced to reveal the code for the messages.
On August 29, 1571, Norfolk's secretaries gave a bag to a draper named Thomas Browne. They said it was silver coins. But Browne became suspicious because of the bag's weight. He opened it and found 600 pounds in gold. This money was from the French ambassador and was meant for Mary in Scotland. He also found coded letters.
Because he knew Norfolk was already suspected, Browne told William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, who was a top government official. Norfolk's secretaries were questioned. The letters were partly decoded. A search at Norfolk's house found another coded letter from Mary Stuart. It was hidden under a doormat.
Norfolk's servants were arrested and questioned. They were forced to confess. Norfolk himself denied the charges. He claimed the money was for his own use. But the decoded letters proved he was lying. On September 7, he was sent to the Tower of London. There, he admitted some involvement in sending money and letters to Mary's supporters. In January 1572, Norfolk was found guilty of treason. He was executed on June 2.
The Spanish ambassador, Guerau de Spes, was sent out of England. Ridolfi was still abroad when the plot was discovered. He never returned to England.
Ridolfi's Role in the Plot
Roberto Ridolfi's story is quite interesting. He was a banker, but he ended up at the center of a major plan. He wanted to overthrow the English government. Ridolfi had been jailed earlier because of rumors. People thought he gave money to nobles involved in the Northern Rebellion. The Pope had indeed given him money for that purpose. But Ridolfi was released because there was no proof against him. Even after his arrest, Ridolfi continued to spy for the Pope.
Ridolfi's banking connections helped him meet the Duke of Norfolk. He became a strong supporter of Norfolk marrying Mary, Queen of Scots. If the plot worked, they would rule England and bring back Catholicism.
After Norfolk was released from prison, Ridolfi continued his secret Catholic plans. Ridolfi was in a good position to organize a Catholic rebellion. He worked for the Pope, France, and Spain. He also had connections with Catholics in England. He could use his banking business as an excuse to travel and conspire. It is believed he was still working for Queen Elizabeth even when he traveled to Europe to tell King Philip and the Pope about the plot.
Why the Plot Failed
The Duke of Alba, who was supposed to lead the attack on England, thought Ridolfi talked too much. He didn't think Ridolfi was a good leader for a secret plan. Ridolfi's talkative nature did cause problems. He wasn't very discreet and boasted about his plan all over Europe. His boasting helped lead to the plot's failure. He told Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany about it. Cosimo immediately informed Queen Elizabeth.
What Happened Next
Ridolfi escaped execution, unlike some of his helpers. He lived until 1612.
Why Experts Think It Would Fail Anyway
Historians believe the Ridolfi Plot would have failed even if it hadn't been discovered. Here are some reasons:
- Too few soldiers: The Spanish army was too small. Between 6,000 and 10,000 soldiers would not have been enough to overthrow the English government.
- Unclear invasion spot: The plan was to land at Harwich or Portsmouth. But Ridolfi didn't even know exactly where Harwich was. This was a big problem for logistics.
- Norfolk's leadership: Ridolfi relied on the Duke of Norfolk. But Norfolk was not seen as a good leader. He wasn't even a Catholic. This made him a strange choice for a Catholic plot. However, he was the only Duke in England at the time, which gave him importance.
There were some ironic parts to the plot. Norfolk and Mary, Queen of Scots, had both been married three times before their proposed marriage. The Pope was willing to allow Mary to end her current marriage. But having two royals who had been married three times each lead England back to Catholicism was a bit unusual.
The Plot in Movies
The Ridolfi Plot has been shown in movies:
- Mary Queen of Scots (1971): This film starred Vanessa Redgrave as Mary and Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth.
- Elizabeth (1998): This movie had a changed and fictionalized version of the plot. It starred Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth.
See also
