Rodrigo López facts for kids

Rodrigo López (born in 1525 – died on June 7, 1594) was a skilled physician from Portugal. He became famous for working as the main doctor for Elizabeth I, the Queen of England. Later, he was accused of a serious crime against the Queen and faced severe consequences. Some people believe he might have inspired a character in one of Shakespeare's famous plays.

Rodrigo López: Queen Elizabeth's Physician

Early Life and Career

Rodrigo López was born in Portugal. His family had a Jewish background. He studied hard at university and earned a degree in medicine. This allowed him to become a doctor.

After finishing his studies, López moved to England. He quickly became well-known for his medical skills.

Working for the Queen

In 1586, Rodrigo López was given a very important job. He became the chief physician, or main doctor, to Queen Elizabeth I. This was a very respected position.

He met many powerful people at the royal court. Because of his work and connections, he became quite wealthy and highly regarded.

A Difficult Time

Despite his success, López became involved in some complicated situations at the Queen's court. These were often about power and politics. Eventually, he was accused of plotting to harm Queen Elizabeth I.

He was put on trial for this serious accusation. In the end, he was found guilty and punished in 1594.

Inspiration for a Play?

Many writers from that time mentioned Rodrigo López's trial. For example, Christopher Marlowe wrote about it in his play Doctor Faustus. Thomas Middleton also mentioned it in A Game of Chess.

Some people believe that López might have inspired a character in one of Shakespeare's plays. The character is Shylock, from The Merchant of Venice. This shows how famous and talked about Rodrigo López's story was back then.