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Description

Decorative portrait of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, by Andrian Van Der Werff.

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester (24 June 1532/1533 - 4 September 1588) was the long standing favorite of Elizabeth I of England. He was born a younger son of the 1st Duke of Northumberland, who was executed in 1553 for his part in the attempt to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne of England (Lady Jane was married to Robert's youngest brother, Guilford Dudley). Robert Dudley was temporarily imprisoned, along with his father and brothers Guilford, John, Ambrose and Henry Dudley, in the Tower of London, where his stay coincided with the imprisonment of his childhood friend, Lady Elizabeth Tudor, who had been sent there on the orders of her estranged elder sister, Queen Mary I of England. By this time he was already married to Amy Robsart.

A document titled "Leycester's Commonwealth", banned in England when published in Europe, proposes an elaborate conspiracy regarding Dudley. He is said to have poisoned his first wife Amy Robsart, then later killed the Earl of Essex in order to marry his widow. Several leading aristocrats became suspicious of his machinations, perceived as motivated to place him at the seat of power, and moved to thwart him.

Reference
National Portrait Gallery NPG D19634.