How much have you spent to win someone’s heart?
Robert Dudley spent £10m
Would you believe that Robert Dudley really did spend more than £10M in today’s money to win the heart of Queen Elizabeth the First.
He was one of the Queen’s closest advisors, then Queen Elizabeth gifted him Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire, and, ultimately, made him the Earl of Leicester. He was convinced she fancied him.
Was he on the way to becoming the Queen’s husband?
He thought he was.
To astound her, he transformed Kenilworth Castle, spending £12Million in today’s money.
Once finished, he repeatedly invited her to visit his castle.
Finally, she came.
Eventually, on Saturday 9th July in 1575 she made her grand arrival to the sound of trumpets along with 30 barons and 400 staff.
She stayed for 19 days as Dudley entertained her with banquets, firework displays and well-known entertainers from all over Europe.
This man was really pushing the boat out. They say each day he was spending £200,000 in today’s money! A lot when you realise that the castle itself was only worth £2M.
He was putting everything into winning her hand.
He failed!
She did keep him on as a trusted advisor, but all that money did not win her heart!
He obviously needed something more than money to impress this lady!
Isn’t History Fun?
10 questions to discuss:
- Beyond his extravagant spending, what other qualities or actions did Robert Dudley use to court Queen Elizabeth? How successful were these attempts?
- What evidence supports the claim that Dudley spent £10 million in today’s money on Kenilworth Castle? Are there alternative interpretations of his motivations for renovating the castle?
- How accurate is the portrayal of Queen Elizabeth’s feelings towards Dudley? Was she ever genuinely interested in him romantically, or was their relationship primarily political?
- What were the social and cultural norms of courtship during Elizabeth’s reign? How did Dudley’s approach compare to other suitors, and was it considered excessive or unusual?
- The blog focuses on Elizabeth’s rejection of Dudley’s advances based on his lack of money. Does it consider other potential reasons for her decision, such as political considerations or personal preferences?
- How significant was the financial burden of Dudley’s spending on Kenilworth Castle? Did it have any lasting consequences for him or the castle itself?
- Can this story be interpreted beyond a simplistic narrative of romantic rejection? What does it tell us about power dynamics, gender roles, and the complexities of courtly interactions during the Elizabethan era?
- Are there any parallels or lessons to be drawn from this story that apply to contemporary relationships and the role of material possessions in courtship?
- The blog uses modern monetary figures to emphasize the cost of Dudley’s actions. Are such comparisons historically accurate and helpful, or do they risk distorting the context and motivations of the time?
- What other historical figures or stories could be explored to provide a more nuanced understanding of courtship, power, and gender dynamics in the Elizabethan era?
These questions encourage critical thinking beyond the blog’s surface-level narrative and explore the historical context, motivations, and broader implications of Dudley’s actions and Elizabeth’s response. They also prompt reflection on the role of evidence, interpretation, and cultural comparisons in understanding historical events.
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