Granny Bess & Princess Arbella: Creating an Heir (ep 57)

Making secret marriages, creating the right image, navigating
court politics, and escaping in disguise—just another Tudor
family story!

From her birth in 1575, Arbella had a claim to the throne. As
Queen Elizabeth was in her 40s with no plans to marry, the
chances of her giving birth were rapidly diminishing. That
represented the end of Henry VIII’s descendants. Then there were
the descendants of Henry’s elder sister, Margaret Tudor.
Margaret’s son had been James V of Scotland; at his death, his
daughter Mary became Queen of Scotland. Now she was an
essentially a prisoner in England with her son James VI reigning
in her stead. Many in England dismissed all these claimants as
they had been born in Scotland and therefore were not eligible
for the English throne. But Margaret Tudor’s daughter, Margaret
Douglas, had been born in England. So had her two sons, Henry and
Charles. Henry, Lord Darnley had been murdered in Scotland (where
he had become King by marrying Mary Queen of Scots) in 1567.
Charles, Earl of Lennox, died a year after Arbella’s birth.

So from the death of her father in 1576, Arbella was considered
by some to be the descendant of Henry VII with the best claim to
the throne. 

No one had made a better career of marrying her way to wealth and
influence than Bess of Hardwick. The Queen could insist on a
single life, demanding her court have but one mistress and no
master. But for the rest of the country, a favorable marriage was
a woman’s greatest path to wealth and security. With her
perceived nearness to the English throne, Arbella was seen as a
prime target for men all over England and Europe. For more than
10 years, her name was at the center of potential marriage
alliances with the major single princes of Europe. Arbella’s
family was determined to create the most profitable alliance for
her and for themselves.

Bess of Hardwick commissioned the portrait to raise Arbella’s
profile at court and on the continent. Queen Elizabeth even said
of Arbella, “Look to her; she will be one day even as I am.” But
it’s possible Bess had overplayed her hand. Perhaps the ongoing
presence of the young, lovely, marriageable Arbella, who was
expecting to be named as heir, was too much for Elizabeth to
bear. Bess and Arbella were sent away from court from time to
time.

As the years went on, Arbella’s chances of succeeding Elizabeth
began to fade. She felt exiled at Hardwick, away from court and
repeatedly denied the chance of marriage. Her favor with the
Queen was diminishing. Could Bess and Arbella clear the path to
Elizabeth's throne?


History shows us what's possible.