Elizabeth Stuart, Countess of Lennox
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Cavendish, Countess of Lennox (31 March 1555 – January 1582) was the wife of Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox
. She was the mother of Arbella Stuart
, a close claimant to the English and Scottish thrones.
, Derbyshire
, England on 31 March 1555, the daughter of Bess of Hardwick
and her second husband Sir William Cavendish. Catherine Grey was one of her godmothers. Bess was a Lady of the Bedchamber
to Queen Elizabeth I
and was one of the wealthiest women in England. She would have a total of four husbands. Elizabeth had seven siblings, two of whom died in early infancy.
, the younger brother of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
, and thus a claimant to the English throne. Both sets of parents incurred the wrath of Queen Elizabeth I
for having arranged such a controversial marriage without her permission, and Elizabeth's mother and mother-in-law, Margaret Douglas
, were both sent to the Tower of London
.
The following year 1575, Elizabeth gave birth to her only child, Arbella Stuart
. Her husband died in 1576 of consumption. Elizabeth herself died six years later in January 1582 at the age of twenty-six. Her daughter Arbella, about seven years old at the time became the ward
of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
. In 1611, Arbella was imprisoned in the Tower of London
by King James I of England
for having married William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset
, another close claimant to the throne, without royal permission. Arbella died there on 25 September 1615. She did not have any children.
Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox
Charles Stuart, 5th Earl of Lennox was the second son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox and of Margaret Douglas, daughter of Margaret Tudor....
. She was the mother of Arbella Stuart
Arbella Stuart
Lady Arbella Stuart was an English Renaissance noblewoman who was for some time considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I on the English throne....
, a close claimant to the English and Scottish thrones.
Family
Elizabeth was born in Chatsworth HouseChatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, England on 31 March 1555, the daughter of Bess of Hardwick
Bess of Hardwick
Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (c. 1521 – 13 February 1608, known as Bess of Hardwick, was the daughter of John Hardwick, of Derbyshire and Elizabeth Leeke, daughter of Thomas Leeke and Margaret Fox...
and her second husband Sir William Cavendish. Catherine Grey was one of her godmothers. Bess was a Lady of the Bedchamber
Lady of the Bedchamber
This is an incomplete list of those who have served as Lady of the Bedchamber in the British Royal Household...
to Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
and was one of the wealthiest women in England. She would have a total of four husbands. Elizabeth had seven siblings, two of whom died in early infancy.
Marriage to the Earl of Lennox
In 1574 she was secretly married to Charles Stuart, 1st Earl of LennoxCharles Stuart, 1st Earl of Lennox
Charles Stuart, 5th Earl of Lennox was the second son of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox and of Margaret Douglas, daughter of Margaret Tudor....
, the younger brother of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley
Henry Stewart or Stuart, 1st Duke of Albany , styled Lord Darnley before 1565, was king consort of Scotland and murdered at Kirk o'Field...
, and thus a claimant to the English throne. Both sets of parents incurred the wrath of Queen Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
for having arranged such a controversial marriage without her permission, and Elizabeth's mother and mother-in-law, Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas
Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox was the daughter of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, and Margaret Tudor, Queen Dowager of Scotland...
, were both sent to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
.
The following year 1575, Elizabeth gave birth to her only child, Arbella Stuart
Arbella Stuart
Lady Arbella Stuart was an English Renaissance noblewoman who was for some time considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I on the English throne....
. Her husband died in 1576 of consumption. Elizabeth herself died six years later in January 1582 at the age of twenty-six. Her daughter Arbella, about seven years old at the time became the ward
Ward (law)
In law, a ward is someone placed under the protection of a legal guardian. A court may take responsibility for the legal protection of an individual, usually either a child or incapacitated person, in which case the ward is known as a ward of the court, or a ward of the state, in the United States,...
of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley , KG was an English statesman, the chief advisor of Queen Elizabeth I for most of her reign, twice Secretary of State and Lord High Treasurer from 1572...
. In 1611, Arbella was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
by King James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
for having married William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset
William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset
Sir William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, KG was an English nobleman and Royalist commander in the English Civil War....
, another close claimant to the throne, without royal permission. Arbella died there on 25 September 1615. She did not have any children.