Getting a king known for their so-called virginity, Age I’s sexual life is certainly the subject of great speculation. Right here, Dr Anna Whitelock, your readers at the beginning of modern record during the Regal Holloway, School away from London area, examines exactly what extremely proceeded behind brand new finalized doors of one’s so-called Virgin Queen
Historically, plenty of courses, novels, performs and you will video clips possess portrayed Elizabeth I’s matchmaking having numbers such as as the Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester; Robert Devereux, Earl from Essex, additionally the Duke off Anjou. Regarding the absence of definitive evidence one way or another, issue ‘performed it or didn’t they?’ are often linger. Yet , what exactly is obvious is that, one another yourself and you will abroad, rumours in the Elizabeth’s love life – real otherwise imagined – released while in the the girl leadership. From the as the Virgin King, for many hostile perceiver E was the brand new ‘whore’ out-of Europe.
Modern viewpoints concerning the ‘insatiable’ intimate appetites of women, as well as Elizabeth’s inability to get married, fuelled suspicions that king are involved with secret sexual liaisons. Her Catholic rivals confronted her advantage, and you will accused the woman from good “dirty lust” which had “defiled the woman looks while the country”. Brand new queen out-of France joked that one of your higher concerns throughout the day is “whether or not King E is actually a housemaid or no”. New courts out-of European countries was basically abuzz that have rumors about what queen away from England’s habits.
About very basic weeks regarding the lady reign, rumours spread off Elizabeth’s experience of Robert Dudley, this lady “sweet Robin” exactly who she got understood because the childhood. Within this days of the girl accession, E had appointed Dudley because learn of your own pony – the right position you to protected just about every day get in touch with. Brand new Foreign language ambassador stated on the queen from Spain you to “Lord Robert has come much towards the favour which he do whichever the guy enjoys and is also actually asserted that The lady Majesty check outs your inside the chamber day-and-night”.
The fresh new pair’s appeal together is widely said upon, and their flirtatious habits amazed perceiver. When in 1560 Robert Dudley’s partner, Amy Robsart, is receive together shoulder busted at the end out of a beneficial stairways, conjecture are rife about what wedding of one’s check out the post right here queen and the lady favourite. In the ages you to definitely accompanied, the close matchmaking proceeded, however, one lingering possibility of the next matrimony are cast aside.
But Robert Dudley remained new queen’s basic, and probably simply like
Elizabeth’s councillors had been computed to help you safe a favourable matrimony for her, one another as a means out of consolidating England’s reputation for the Europe and you will to incorporate an enthusiastic heir to progress the girl. If you’re there clearly was zero shortage of suitors, and Philip II of Spain; Erik XIV off Sweden and Archdukes Ferdinand and you can Charles out of Austria, no body was able to winnings the queen’s rather have or perhaps the unanimous help from the woman council. When you find yourself international deals continued, Age enjoyed the eye from younger men courtiers instance Thomas Heneage, Christopher Hatton and you will Walter Raleigh, and soon after Robert Devereux, earl out of Essex, each one of exactly who flirted its means into the queen’s go for.
Maybe due to the fact reaction to Dudley’s wedding to Lettice Devereux, dowager countess out of Essex on trip off 1578, next year Elizabeth invited Francois, the newest duke of Anjou, brother of the queen from France, with the English legal presenting their match getting wedding.
It was not an ideal suits. Anjou was a beneficial 20-something tiny and pockmarked Catholic who had been commonly rumoured to be an effective transvestite. Still, E got constantly longed is wooed really of the you to away from her illustrious suitors, as well as for a time she seemed to be genuine within her affections and you may interest in Anjou, exactly who she affectionately titled the lady ‘frog’.
After a couple of days Anjou gone back to France and dealings looked in order to fall apart facing societal resistance on matches, however in October 1581 Anjou gone back to The united kingdomt. As the his prior check out, he previously went on to enter like characters on queen in the which he indicated their desire to be “kissing and you can rekissing all of that The breathtaking Majesty can think of”, as well as to feel “in bed in bed in your stunning palms”.
Abreast of his coming when you look at the London area Elizabeth once again searched enthralled and enraptured by the Anjou’s exposure, as well as on twenty two November, in the event the court is actually put together at the Whitehall to commemorate this new Accession Big date festivities, Age stated in public places one to she designed to get married him. She went on in order to hug him toward mouth and present your her band. Yet , right away, Elizabeth apparently had second thoughts and you will revealed a day later she won’t marry Anjou.
It’s doubtful if Age got extremely intended to proceed on marriage because of the well-known violence so you’re able to it, but once Anjou in the long run departed she produced much of becoming suffering-afflicted during the death of the woman mate “having which she therefore reluctantly parted”.
Robert Devereux, the students earl regarding Essex and you may stepson out of Robert Dudley, was Elizabeth’s history higher flirtation
Into inability of the French matches, expectations you to definitely Age do age to help you an-end, but because she became old and much more separated she continued to help you look for the attention out-of this lady male courtiers. In spite of the decades pit between the two, the nature of your own matchmaking try once again speculated up on. He soon turned learn of your own pony and you can gone to the his stepfather’s accommodations on legal. One of Essex’s servants boasted that “even at night my personal lord was at notes or you to definitely video game or any other together with her, which he cometh never to their own rooms till the wild birds sing in the new early morning.”
But it was an alternate particular relationships versus one to Elizabeth got got which have Dudley, and you can are much more about the will off an ageing lady to be produced feeling more youthful and glamorous from the a good looking younger courtier. Yet , Age is actually never very swept aside because of the the girl ideas you to definitely she destroyed a keen sense of political facts. For the 1601, after that was discovered to be a tried coup up against the girl, she ordered Essex’s performance.
During the 1603 E, then almost 70, passed away unmarried and you may famous just like the England’s higher ‘Virgin Queen’. Yet , the girl dying offered merely to keep speculation on their personal lifestyle. Regarding age you to definitely observed, the fresh new wanting to know away from Elizabeth’s virginity is no further confined to intense Catholic discourse, so there try an expanding experience that Elizabeth’s personal attitude had affected the new stability of her laws.
In daily life, E while the girls of one’s bedchamber had tenaciously defended the latest chastity out-of their body to protect her profile and you can defend the lady crown. In passing, it is absolutely the possibility that she was not chaste that continues to intrigue, and make certain Elizabeth’s enduring prominence and you may notice.
Dr Anna Whitelock is a reader at the beginning of progressive record from the Royal Holloway, University off London, in addition to author of Elizabeth’s Bedfellows: A sexual Reputation for the Queen’s Court (Bloomsbury, 2013).