Before getting started on the House of Dudley, this background:
Wow, what a great day.
So much blogging accomplished with regard to technology over the past two days, but I was also able to complete the scaffolding of the 2023 book of British history by Joanne Paul who provided the definitive biography of the House of Dudley, important during the reigns of the three step-children of King Henry VIII.
I assume in the big scheme of things, this is not a very important story but it connects a lot of dots and fills in a lot of empty spaces in this period of time.
This is the framework / timeline of the period in question:
Three periods:
- the Wars of the Roses, which culminated in the House of Tudor (first, Henry VII, and then Henry VIII)
- preceded by the House of Plantagenet; divided into two rival branches
- the House of Lancaster
- the House of York
- Henry VIII and the transition following Henry VIII's death -- the House of Dudley -- the period of time covered by Joanne Paul in her 2023 biography / history.
- "Queen" Jane Grey (9 days),
- King Edward VI (6 years),
- Queen Mary 1 (five years),
- Queen Elizabeth 1 (44 years -- the Golden Age of Britain -- 1558 - 1603).
- the era of Elizabeth 1 -- the Elizabethan / Shakespeare age) (her namesake Elizabeth II, 70 years, 1952 - 2022)
- On a completely different note but because Elizabeth II was mentioned, let's remind ourselves of the Indian Raj: 1858 - 1947
- Queen Victoria: 1858 - 1901
- Edward VII: 1901 - 1910
- George V: 1910 - 1936 -- WWI
- Edward VIII: small part of 1936
- George VI: 1936 - 1947 -- WWII
Back to Henry VIII and his three kids:
- Henry VIII: 1491 - 1547 (55 y/o)
- Edward VI: 1537 - 1553 (reigned 9 - 15 y/o) (died at 15 years of age, mostly likely tuberculosis)
- Mary I: 1516 - 1558 (reigned 37 - 42 years old) (death, possibly uterine cancer; died during epidemic of influenza)
- Elizabeth 1: 1533 - 1603 (69 years of age when she died; reigned for 45 years -- Golden Age
- James VI / James I: son of Mary, Queen of Scots; a great-great-grandson of Henry VII. Mary Queen of Scots, 1542 - 1587 (44 years of age); reigned 1542 - 1567
So, pretty much an exact contemporary of her "cousin" Queen Elizabeth I who was alive and reigning to the south at the same time as Mary, Queen of Scots.
Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin Mary, Queen of Scots had a tense, rivalrous, and ultimately fatal relationship. They never met in person, and their conflict was driven by religious differences and a competing claim to the English throne, which ended with Elizabeth ordering Mary's execution
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House Of Dudley -- Henry VIII --> Elizabeth 1 -- Joanne Paul, c. 2023.
So this is pretty cool. Three periods:
- the Wars of the Roses, which culminated in the House of Tudor (first, Henry VII, and then Henry VIII)
- preceded by the House of Plantagenet; divided into two rival branches
- the House of Lancaster
- the House of York
- Henry VIII and the transition following Henry VIII's death: "Queen" Jane Grey (9 days), King Edward VI (6 years), Queen Mary 1 (five years), Queen Elizabeth 1 (44 years -- a Golden Age of Britain -- 1558 - 1603)
- the era of Elizabeth 1 -- the Elizabethan / Shakespeare age) (her namesake Elizabeth II, 70 years, 1952 - 2022)
This huge book connects a lot of dots, fills in a lot of gaps.
Period covered: from Henry VIII to Elizabeth 1.
The quick story:
Henry VIII has three stepchildren -- the youngest, a son Edward, the oldest a daughter Mary and the middle a daughter, Elizabeth. All three step-children had their opportunity to reign.
A more distant family member, nephew or cousin was Jane Grey, a granddaughter of another May, Henry VIII's younger sister. Upon his death, Henry VIII chose Jane Grey to be his successor, afraid that Mary would un-do Henry VIII's anti-Catholic policies.
But immediately after Henry VIII's death, the support for Jane Grey shifted and Edward (Edward VI, age 9) becomes king after Jane Grey (Nine Day's Queen; the Disputed Grey) is removed as Queen after just nine days. She and her husband were executed.
Edward VI is crowned king. He dies early, and is succeeded by his older stepsister, Mary 1 (Mary Tudor / Bloody Mary) and she in turn was succeeded by Elizabeth 1.
So, this book covers that period just before Henry VIII dies, Jane Grey is queen for nine days, executed, and Edward VI becomes king. In official history, most show Edward VI succeeded Henry VIII (ignoring Jane Grey).
So, how did Jane Grey become Lady Dudley and from where did the Dudley family come, in the period between Henry VIII and Elizabeth 1?
Making this even more confusing, the "Dudley" family was in fact the "Sutton" family, but deep in past history the Sutton family inherited the Dudley Castle and adopted the Dudley name.
My initial notes:
Part One: 1500 - 1510
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Chapter 1
Great review of how we got here: Henry VII, last man (king) standing from the Wars of Roses and his second (non-royalty) in command, Edmund Dudley -- the House of Dudley.
Really a great chapter, wrapping up Wars of Roses and getting us to King Henry VII and his second son Henry VIII who would become king when first-born Arthur died at age 16. Arthur had just married Catherine of Aragon less than a year earlier (he was 15). Arthur's brother Henry (VIII) would eventually marry Arthur's wife Catherine of Aragon. Wow.
Begins with the death of Anne Windsor, wife of Edmund Sutton Dudley -- Anne Windsor / Dudley has one daughter: "little Elizabeth." See below.
Wars of Roses
- Dudley's grandfather, Sir John Sutton Dudley -- ally of King Henry V
- outbreak of War of Roses -- Sutton Dudley stayed with King Henry VI
- Sutton Dudley wounded in battle against Richard, Duke of York
- King Henry VI captured -- so Sutton Dudley switched sides (1460)
- Sutton Dudley joined the court of the new Yorkist King, Edward IV
- Sutton Dudley is the constable of the Tower of London
- oversaw the imprisonment of whom he formerly served: Margaret of Anjou!!
- Edmund Dudley, his son, watched his grandfather fight and switch sides
- young Edmund Dudley welcomed the reign of Edward V, Richard III, and Henry VI in quick succession, 1483 - 1485!!
- grandfather of Edmund Dudley died two years into the reign of Henry VII
- Edmund's father becomes Lord Dudley -- also John -- like his father John (grandfather of Edmund)
- young Edmund marries the young Anne Windsor (where her death begins the book)
- see this blog -- written just about the same time I'm writing this blog!
- Anne Windsor born in the Windsor Castle, but not royalty and no other connection to the castle or to royalty -- died at age 21 shortly after giving birth to "little Elizabeth"; cause of death unknown but likely due to complication post-partum;
- her husband Dudley had been a close friend of her brother Andrew
- Anne's father appointed Constable of Windsor Castle by Richard III
- died shortly after Henry VII crowned King
Chapter 2
We learn the story of Edmund Dudley, from a lowly commoner to the King's right hand man.
Greatly hated by everyone Dudley was in a very precarious position when his patron and protector King Henry VII died, and 18-year-old son Henry (King Henry VIII) would succeed his father to the throne.
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Chapter 3
The death of King Henry VII and now King Henry VIII. What will happen to Dudley?
Henry VII dies 1509.
Henry VIII has Edmund Dudley arrested -- Edmund confused.
Henry VIII: 17 y/o.
Fox, Bishop of Winchester. Acted like a king.
Warham: Archbishop of Cantebury. Right-hand man of the king.
Dudley executed along with his close-friend.
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Chapter 4
Pentecost: Whitsunday -- end of May
Confusing chapter -- all the names.
Chapter 5
Wolsey, p 79.
p. 80: Elizabeth Dudley --> Elizabeth Grey --> Elizabeth Plantagenet, Viscountess of Lisle!!
A viscount: a European and British title of nobility, the fourth rank below duke, marquess, earl and above a baron.
Lots of "in-the-weeds" stuff -- during reign of Henry VIII and his six wives. Bottom line: Edmund Dudley very involved in all of this.
Several families involved: Dudleys, Guildfords, Greys.
Catherine of Aragon - SPANISH ALLIANCE.
-- no more children after Mary
-- one daughter -- will become Mary I
John Dudley heavily involved in getting that marriage annulled, despite Wolsey fails.
Only one daughter
Thomas Wriothesley: name -- that family name will re-surface 50 - 70 years later with Sir Henry eville
p. 107: Anne's end: treason and adultery -- beheaded
John Dudley's friend has a sister, Jane Seymour. Died a year later, 1537, complications after giving birth. This would eventually be Edward VI -- the third child of Henry VIII.
It looks like Jane Seymour might have been Henry VIII's love of his life had she not died to childbirth complications.
It looks like the book will be leading up to the fight between Mary'a granddaughter Jane Grey (9-days queen) -- Mary was Henry VIII's younger sister and her granddaughter was Jane Grey who had married Guildford Dudley.
p. 112: 3 queens dead and buried; bastard son Edward died age 17. Three queens: annulled, beheaded, childbirth death.
1538: new wife, p. 113 -- diplomatic union (as was his 1st marriage). Anne of Cleves. Small duchy in Germany (HRE). Thomas Cromwell masterminded.
Dudleys remained close to Cromwell.
Wow, wedding night with Anne of Cleves a disaster.
Anne of Cleves
Dudley Castle. 120 miles from London. On border of Staffordshire / Worcestershire.
John Dudley next in line to inherit the title of Viscount Lisle. This would be royalty for John Dudley.
Cromwell period.
Plague that had started in 1348 shows up again.
Anne of Cleves.
1540 time period.
Plague resurfaces.
Henry VIII --> Katherine Howard --> now the last name makes sense -- the Howards were a huge family in the Tudor family universe. Katherine Howard, cousin of Anne Boleyn. So, Katherine knew the risk. Her cousin beheaded.
p. 114: -- Anne moved out of the castle; marriage is over, and Henry VIII marries Katherine Howard. Cromwell pays the price! Beheaded.
Disastrous news for John and Jane. Cromwell had been beheaded.
p. 127 -- wow, wow, wow -- Katherine Howard -- lesbian affair and multiple heterosexual affairs come to light. Dudley given the responsibility to bring the news to the King! Holy mackerel.
Dudley survives!! Dudley escorts Henry's daughter MARY!! p. 129. Two more beheadings -- Dereham and Culpepper -- due to Katherine Howard affair! Howard family decimated. Katherine beheaded!! 13 Feb 1538.
Plantagenent -- still in Tower -- Henry's half-uncle -- 70-year-old bastard of Edward IV -- dies due to excitement of leaving the Tower. John Dudley heir to Viscountcy Plantagenet -- through his mother! Viscount of Lisle. Royalty.
Need to look up genealogy of Arthur Plantagenet: half-uncle through Edward IV of King Henry IV.
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Chapter 8
King of Scots / James V
John Dudley is now Viscount Lisle.
Alnwick Castle: 300 miles north of London.
-- Borderlands / Scotland / Coldstream
-- Alnwick Castle: base of the English Middle March command along the Scottish border
East / Middle / West marches (Yorkshire/)
Percy family --> earls of Northumberland
now owned by Dudley!!
Seymour and Dudley
James -- nephew of Henry VIII
-- sone of Henry VIII's sister Margaret
James V had just dies; no one knew
daughter Mary was just six days old: Mary, Queen of Scots
p. 140
Jane Dudley and Catherine Parr were friends.
Catherine Parr was the widow of John Neville -- third Baron
Latimer -- a member of the old and powerful family.
John Dudley -- think Churchill -- p. 141
Henry VIII -- 52 y/o -- Catherine, 31 y/o and John Dudley's close friend
p. 147 -- John and 19 y/o son -- Henry Dudley -- battle with those revolting;
Henry dies of plague -- about 20 y/0
Chapter 9;
p. 157
John and Jane have at least 13 children. The sixth one is Guildford who marries Jane (Grey).
John (of John and Jane) orchestrate their son Guildford marries Jane Grey and then Jane Grey proclaimed queen -- as distant relative of King Edward VI. Protestant.
Chapter 12
Opens with Queen Jane, nine days queen, and her sister-in-law Mary. Jane is 16; Mary is 18.
Mary 1 wins the fight, and Dudley to prison. Jane, of John and Jane, had been in prison. Now released. Husband Dudley now in prison and Lade Jane Grey stripped of her crown.
I think I have read enough for now. I've got the flavor of the book and clearly it's an in-depth book of the Dudley -- so much in the weeds, I doubt anyone could ever write another book on the House of Dudley.
Absolutely fascinating.
The way folks were executed. Truly barbarians. Truly amazing.
p. 168: Howards beheaded
Henry VIII died January 28, 1545
Part III
1547 - 1555
Chapter 10
New king, 1547 -- 9 y/o
Cranmer archbishop of Canterbury
Edward VI
Henry VIII buried next to 3rd wife and Edward's mother, Jane Seymour.
p. 174: jumps to rebels.
John Dudley, Earl of Warwick
Led the government forces -- Edward, a child -- John Dudley unsuccessfully tried to install Lade Jane Grey -- Lady Jane Grey -- marriage -- and "Nine Days Queen."
Edward VI --> Nine Days Queen --> Mary I --> Elizabeth 1 --
The Kett Rebellion -- Norwich
Edward VI dies, plague (?); 16 years old -- p. 198++
Order of succession. Edward VI dies --> what happens next.
Raised to Duke of Northumberland, 1551; will decide who secedes Henry VI, p. 203. Has his friend Duke of Somerset executed. Wow.
p. 206: Lady Jane Dudley was queen of England. Wow.
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