Queen Elizabeth I Boyfriend?

Question

What was the name of the guy that Queen Elizabeth I had romances with? Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester (7 September 1533 – 4 September 1588) was the long standing favourite of Elizabeth I of England. On Elizabeth's succession, Dudley was appointed Master of the Horse. Rumours about their relationship were rife. Elizabeth often received offers of marriage, but she only seriously considered three or four suitors for any length of time. Of these, her childhood friend Robert Dudley probably came closest.

During 1559, Elizabeth's friendship with the married Dudley seems to have turned to love. Rumour spread through the court that she was sleeping with him. In 1560, Dudley's wife died. She was found near the base of a flight of stairs and the assumption was that she had fallen down them. Some widely believed that he had arranged her murder in order to free himself to marry the Queen. Some said that a secret marriage had taken place. Ironically, Amy's death would put an end to any such ambitions Dudley may have had.

Elizabeth, mindful of public opinion and also doubtful about the desirability of marriage at all, never gave cause to believe that she seriously considered making her favorite her husband. Elizabeth bestowed on him the earldom of Leicester. He was her official protector through life. Queen Elizabeth kept the letter that Robert Dudley sent to her before his death in her treasure box beside her bed, where it was found on the table fifteen years later when she herself died.

Answer 2

Jeremy Irons

Answer 3

Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester.  Always a debate on what they did together, but he always a favorite of hers, and she even forgave him his marriage to her cousin Lettice (eventually--she then shifted the blame onto Lettice).

After he died, she took up with  Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex, Lettice's son from her 1st marriage, but it was never the same thing.

(Other favorites would include Raleigh & Hatton)

Answer 4

There were supposedly a few, but the one most featured lately was Sir Robert Dudley. They were friends from childhood, and had some sort of something going, though he was married.

Answer 5

Robert Dudley, The Earl of Essex

Answer 6

Robert Dudley (later Earl of Leicester) was the man she was closest to during most of her life.  She might possibly have married him if he had been free, but his wife Amy Robsart died in suspicious circumstances, and after that there was no possibility that she could marry him, it would have cast suspicion on her as well. She continued to be very fond of him though. He died in 1588, shortly after the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

There were other men at court who she treated with special effection, though none she was as close to as Dudley.  She had offers of marriage from various foreign princes, and at one time it seemed she was seriously considering marrying the Duc d' Alencon, younger brother of the King of France, but in the end she gave up the plan, there was so much hostility to the idea of her marrying a Catholic.

In the last years of her life she was fond of the Earl of Leicester, the stepson of her old love Robert Dudley.  However, he tried to raise a rebellion against her, so she had him executed.

In her later years she was known as the Virgin Queen, and she said that she was married to her kingdom.  Part of the reason she never married was probably because she didn't like the idea of sharing her power: "I will have in this kingdom but one mistress and no master" she said.

Answer 7

Sir Walter Raleigh