Duke Robert Dudley

1572 - 1639  (67 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors and 21 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	Robert Dudley
  Prefix	Duke
  Birth	1572
  Gender	Male
  Death	Sep 1639	Villa Castello, Italia
  Siblings	2 Siblings
  1. William Dudley   d. Yes, date unknown + 2. Duke Robert Dudley,   b. 1572   d. Sep 1639, Villa Castello, Italia  (Age 67 years) ▻ Margaret Cavendish;   Alice Leigh,  m. Abt 1596 ;   Elizabeth Southwell   3. Douglas Dudley,   b. Abt 1576   d. 1649  (Age 73 years)
  Person ID	I101585	Geneagraphie
  Last Modified	20 Sep 2006

  
  

  Father	Earl Robert Dudley,   b. 24 Jun 1533   d. 4 Sep 1588, Cornbury (Age 55 years)
  Mother	Douglas Howard,   b. Abt 1535   d. Abt 11 Dec 1608 (Age 73 years)
  Marriage	1573
  Family ID	F13921	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Margaret Cavendish   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F40776	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Sep 2006

  
  

  Family 2	Alice Leigh   d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	Abt 1596
  Children	1. Alice Douglas Dudley,   b. 1601   d. Yes, date unknown   2. Catherine Dudley,   b. 1603   d. Yes, date unknown   3. Frances Dudley,   b. 1605   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Anne Dudley,   b. 1606   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F40774	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Sep 2006

  
  

  Family 3	Elizabeth Southwell   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. Mary Dudley,   b. 1609   d. Firenze, Toscana, Italia   2. Cosmo Dudley,   b. Jul 1610   3. Anna Dudley,   b. Oct 1611   bur. 1629, St. Pancras Church, London, England (Age ~ 17 years)   4. NN Dudley   d. Yes, date unknown + 5. Charles Dudley,   b. 1614   d. Yes, date unknown   6. Ambrose Dudley,   b. 1616   d. Firenze, Toscana, Italia   7. Giovanni Dudley,   b. 1618   d. Yes, date unknown   8. Anthony Dudley,   b. 1620   d. Yes, date unknown   9. Teresa Dudley,   b. 1623   d. Yes, date unknown   10. Ferdinand Dudley,   b. 1625   d. Yes, date unknown   11. NN Dudley   d. Yes, date unknown   12. Maria Christina Dudley,   b. Jun 1628   d. Yes, date unknown   13. Henry Dudley,   b. 1631   d. Firenze, Toscana, Italia
  Family ID	F40775	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	20 Sep 2006

  
  

• Photos

  Robert Dudley

  
  

• Notes

  Robert petitioned for his fathers' property and rights, but was refused. He left his wife and 4 daughters in England (well cared for) and took his mistress Elizabeth Southwell (disguised as a boy) and went to Italy. Because of the lingering antagonistic attitudes between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, it was easy for Sir Robert to obtain a dispensation from the Pope for a divorce, and he married his mistress there and had 13 children. The Italians loved Sir Robert, and he became very wealthy. He carried the title "Duke of Northumberland," but wether he assumed that title or the Pope granted it to him is still a mystery. One source says it was granted him by "the (Holy Roman Empire) Emperor", Ferdinand II. In 1613 he bought an estate of the Rucellai family in the Parish of St. Pancras. He is credited .for building the Port of Leghorn, inventing "several methods for improving ships," and drawing a large number of English merchants into the port of Leghorn. He died in Florence in September 1649, a well respected man. Upon his death, his son Charles took the title "Duke of Northumberland." Sir Robert's wife Elizabeth was styled "Duchess Dudley," and there is a monument to her in the church of St. Pancratius in Florence.