Section 4: The Tudor & Elizabethan Period (16th Century) Flashcards
(18 cards)
Who owned Kenilworth Castle in the mid-1500s?
Robert Dudley, the Queen?s favourite ? part nobleman, part heart-throb, part human peacock.
What was Dudley?s relationship with Elizabeth I?
Complicated. Boyhood friend turned courtly crush ? their closeness caused scandalous whispers across Europe.
Why did Dudley renovate Kenilworth Castle?
To woo the Queen ? literally. Think: Extreme Makeover: Royal Edition.
What was Dudley trying to achieve with his renovations?
Romance and rank. Impress her, bed her (maybe), and marry her if he could seal the deal.
What major structure did Dudley add?
Leicester?s Building ? a four-storey tower of love and longing, complete with royal bedroom.
What was special about Leicester?s Building?
It gave Elizabeth her own luxury lodgings, because a queen needs comfort when being courted.
What was the significance of the 1575 royal visit?
The ultimate royal sleepover ? 19 days of feasts, fireworks, flattery, and flirtation.
How did Dudley entertain Elizabeth during the visit?
Pageants, dancing, bear-baiting, acrobats, music, masques ? basically a Tudor Tinder date stretched over 3 weeks.
What was the garden like at Kenilworth in Dudley?s time?
Designed to seduce the senses ? perfumed air, geometric patterns, glistening fountains… and probably a few stolen glances.
Why are the gardens important historically?
One of the first Renaissance gardens in England ? part pleasure, part propaganda.
Did Elizabeth marry Dudley?
Nope. Politics > passion. She left him with a broken heart and a very expensive garden.
What does the 1575 visit reveal about Elizabethan politics?
Power was performed ? a queen needed loyalty, but also spectacle and control.
What do Dudley?s actions at Kenilworth tell us about ambition in the Tudor court?
It was a cut-throat catwalk ? impress or be ignored. Castles were courtship tools.
What happened to Kenilworth after Dudley?s death?
It faded. His dream died with him. The Queen moved on, and the love-nest lost its sparkle.
How did Dudley change the purpose of the castle?
From fortress to fantasy ? it was no longer about defence, but desire, display, and diplomacy.
What does this period tell us about castles in the 16th century?
They became palatial playgrounds ? where appearance mattered more than armour.
How was Kenilworth?s architecture used to express power?
Through size, symmetry, and spectacle ? ?Look upon my lodgings, ye mighty, and weep.?
What role did gender and image play in this era of the castle?s history?
The castle was a stage for seduction, where masculine ambition met feminine majesty.
