Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset
- thedudleywomen
- Jul 23
- 12 min read
Updated: Jul 29
In mid-June 1519, a baby boy was born to a young unmarried woman who, for the past few months, had been residing at the Prior's House of St Lawrence's Priory in Blackmore, Essex. This baby, whilst illegitimate, would take the name of his acknowledged father, the king of England: Henry Fitzroy.
The baby's mother was Elizabeth Blount, better known as "Bessie"; born in c.1501, Bessie was the eldest surviving daughter of Sir John Blount of Kinlet, Shropshire, and his wife Katherine Pershall. The Blounts were members of the local gentry, rather than nobility, being distinguished members of their community, who could trace their ancestry back to the Norman conquest. It was from this from this Shropshire manor that Bessie first came to court in March 1512, aged around 14, initially joining the household of Queen Catherine of Aragon as a maid of honour (Norton, 2011).
Within two years, Bessie had made her mark at court, emerging as one of the most accomplished and attractive young women, participating in multiple revels and pageants, in which she was able to display her musical and dancing abilities. She appears to have first come to the attention of both Henry VIII and his best friend Charles Brandon, newly created Duke of Suffolk, in 1514; however, evidence suggests that she did not begin an affair with the king until 1517. The king was known to have engaged in extra-marital affairs during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, in particular during her multiple pregnancies, when she was entering her state of confinement; in 1517, Bessie's father Sir John Blount received a promotion, being appointed as an Esquire of the Body, suggesting an affair, if not at least a significant interest in his daughter, had began. Whilst there is little evidence in the records to confirm their affair, what it known is by 1518, Bessie was pregnant with the king's child (Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011).
Bessie's last appearance at court was in October 1518; however, as she was still early in her pregnancy, she is unlikely to have been showing at this time. It is likely that she was still in the household of Catherine of Aragon in November 1518, when the queen went into labour a month premature, and sadly delivered a baby girl, who was either stillborn or died shortly after birth. However, once her pregnancy could not longer be hidden, the decision was made to remove her from the queen's sight and her household, to a more discreet location. It was decided that Bessie would relocate to Blackmore Priory, an Augustinian priory located in Essex, approximately thirty miles north-east from London. Arrangements had been made by Henry's chief minister Thomas Wolsey, Lord High Chancellor (Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011).
Fitzroy's suggested date of birth has been given as 18 June 1519; Norton (2011) highlights that Wolsey abruptly left Windsor on 19 June 1519, not returning for ten days, giving himself enough time to travel to Essex and back to visit the newborn and attend the baptism, in his appointed role as godfather. Years later, on 18 June 1524, Henry chose to issue a grant to Bessie and her husband, and the following year, 18 June 1525, was the date chosen to elevate Fitzroy to the peerage; the first illegitimate son of the king to be so since the 12th century (Weir, 1991).
As with the beginning of their affair, the exact date of the end of Bessie and Henry's relationship is unconfirmed. It is known that by Spring 1522, Mary Boleyn, wife of courtier William Carey, had assumed the role as mistress to the king, and that by June 1522 Bessie had married Gilbert Tailboys, a member of Wolsey's household; this date is confirmed with a grant issued to the couple, making reference to their marriage (Norton, 2013). However, two years prior, in early summer 1520, Bessie gave birth to another child, a daughter Elizabeth. Whilst Henry did not claim paternity of this baby girl, who took the name 'Tailboys', the estimated date of conception (June-September 1519), only weeks after the birth of her first son, raises suspicions. (Norton, 2011) highlights that there is evidence that Henry visited Essex on his annual 'Summer Progress' in 1519, and therefore potentially visited Bessie and his newborn son at Blackmore Priory, giving the opportunity to have further sexual relations with his mistress. Paul (2022) also notes that throughout his life, Henry granted favours and paid close attention to the interests of Elizabeth.
Henry acknowledged his son's paternity from his birth, with the young boy adopting the name of 'Lord Henry Fitzroy', the traditional Norman-French surname translated to "son of the king" (Weir, 1991). Borman (2018, p.143) highlights that the birth of a healthy boy, following Catherine's multiple miscarriages and stillbirths, "restored his belief, and pride, in his virility". Full details regarding his early years are not known, but it is believed that the young boy was brought up under the care and supervision of Wolsey, his godfather, possibly at Durham Place, the episcopal palace of the Bishop of Durham, located on The Strand, Westminster, although he may have also spent time in the Royal Nursery (Weir, 2011; Borman, 2018).
By 1525, it had become clear to Henry that his wife Catherine would no longer be able to provide him with a legal heir. He had been engaged in an extra-martial affair with Mary Boleyn for the past three years, and during this time, she had given birth to a daughter, Catherine Carey. As with Bessie's daughter Elizabeth, Henry did not acknowledge paternity of the child, likely due to their female gender; however, the favours that were bestowed on Catherine, including her introduction to court and the household of his new queen Anna of Cleves as a teenager, can be interpreted as Henry's private acceptance of her paternity (Weir, 2011). His only surviving child from his marriage with Catherine was daughter Mary, now nine years old; however, the idea of a woman inheriting the throne of England was implausible. Whilst bastard children of kings had assumed positions of power throughout history, no child had been considered in the line of succession. Weir (1991) argues that the events of 1525 was the beginning of Henry's intention of formally legitimising his son, and naming him as his legal heir and successor.
On 28 April 1525, Fitzroy was appointed as a knight of the Garter, being installed at St George's Chapel, Windsor on 07 June. On 18 June, Fitzroy left Durham Place and travelled down river to Bridewell Palace, a royal residence located on the banks of the Fleet. where he was ennobled in a ceremony, in the presence of Wolsey and many members of the nobility, including Suffolk and Thomas Howard, 3rd Duke of Norfolk, much to the chagrin of Catherine and her allies. Kneeling before his father, Fitzroy was initially granted the Earldom of Nottingham, and then immediately after the Dukedoms of Richmond and Somerset - the titles previously held by Henry's own father, Henry VII, reflecting the young boy's Lancastrian ancestry, his double-dukedom thereby elevating him as the highest-ranked peer in the country (Lipscomb, 2009; Norton, 2011; Borman, 2018). Now formally elevated to the peerage, on 25 June Fitzroy was subsequently appointed to The Most Noble Order of the Garter: an exclusive chivalric order, and "most prestigious honour in the kingdom", inclusion to which was saved for the king's closest and most loyal nobleman (Borman, 2018, p. 379). Despite his youth, a number of administrative appointments were subsequently bestowed on Fitzroy, including that of Lord High Admiral and Warden General of the Scottish Marshes, with additional promotions awarded to him during his young lifetime (Hutchinson, 2009)
Following his elevations and promotions, Fitzroy's household was established at Sherrif Hutton Castle in Yorkshire, controlled by Wolsey, and under the daily supervision of Sir William Parr of Hutton. Borman (2018) describes the "full-scale ducal household", reflective of his status, as comprising of 245 attendants, dressed in his yellow and blue livery, which included his Master of Horse, young Edward Seymour. Also joined by contemporaries Henry Grey (later 1st Duke of Suffolk) and Parr's nephew William Parr (later 1st Marquess of Northampton), Fitzroy continued his education, including instruction in French, Latin and Greek. Fitzroy was said to have closely resembled his father in lacking the intellect and skill for great learning, and instead being interested in (and distracted by) outdoor pursuits. Fitzroy remained in Yorkshire until mid-1529, when due to concerns from Henry that his son wasn't applying himself to his studies, his northern household was dissolved and he was called back down to London, being lodged predominantly at Windsor Castle (Norton, 2011; Tallis, 2016).
Shortly after Wolsey's downfall and removal from office, towards the end of 1529 the responsibility of Fitzroy's care and education fell to Norfolk, who by then had been appointed as President of the King's Council. Keen to secure power and influence over his new charge, in spring 1530, Norfolk sent his eldest son and heir, thirteen-year-old Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, to Windsor Castle to join Fitzroy's household (Hutchinson, 2009). Despite the two year age difference, the teenagers would become inseparable, with Childs (2006) describing the platonic relationship between the pair as "kindred spirits" and "soulmate[s]". As he grew up , Fitzroy showed clear similarities to his father, both in appearance (including his infamous red hair) and in character - being easily bored from studies, a preference for outdoor activities and sports, as well as being highly competitive and easy to anger; however, the pair appears to have had a positive influence on each other, maturing "intellectually, emotionally and physically" (Borman, 2018, p.282).
On 26 November 1533, Fitzroy married Mary Howard, one of Norfolk's daughters; another strategy to keep the teenage Fitzroy under his control. This marriage was first proposed in late 1529, when Fitzroy first came under Norfolk's guardianship, with marriage negotiations said to have been completed by March 1531. Henry's new queen, Norfolk's niece Anne Boleyn, was also said to have actively encouraged this match, in a reported effort to effectively neutralise the threat of the illegitimate Fitzroy by bringing him legally under the control of the Howard family; Anne was fully aware of the honours that Henry had bestowed on his son and whispers of him potentially being legitimised, and was eager that her new born daughter Elizabeth would not be overlooked in the line of succession. The marriage of the young couple however raised strong objections from Mary's mother Elizabeth Stafford, Duchess of Norfolk, as having served Catherine of Aragon as a lady-in-waiting for sixteen years, the Duchess continued to openly defy Anne at court, including protesting this marriage. Despite being over the age of consent, both being fourteen, the couple were felt too be too young to consummate their marriage or to co-inhabit following their union; Mary therefore continued to reside with her younger siblings, whilst Fitzroy remained at Windsor Castle, under the supervision of his new father-in-law (Childs, 2006; Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011).
As Fitzroy matured, there became an expectation from his father to be involved in affairs, at home and abroad, with speculation continuing regarding the king's plans for his son. On 19 May 1536, along with the Dukes of Norfolk and Suffolk, Fitzroy was one of a thousand people who witnessed the execution of Anne Boleyn at the Tower of London. He later accompanied his father to the opening of Parliament on 08 June 1536, this session being where The Second Act of Succession was passed, declaring his younger half-sister Princess Elizabeth illegitimate, and removing her from the line of succession. Around the same time, Henry's eldest daughter Mary, signed a document which declared her parents' marriage invalid, and therefore her own birth illegitimate. These measures therefore left Henry with no legitimate heirs, as his new wife Jane Seymour was not yet pregnant, and subsequently many believed Fitzroy was in-line to be shortly nominated as his father's legal heir, as they had done so back in 1525. Another potential candidate as the king's successor was his 20-year-old niece Lady Margaret Douglas, the daughter of his older sister Margaret Tudor. However, in early July 1536, Margaret incurred the wrath of her uncle, when news of her secret marriage to Norfolk's younger half-brother, also named Thomas Howard, became known. An increasingly paranoid Henry, only months after the perceived disloyalty of his wife Anne Boleyn, viewed the couple's actions as a further act of betrayal, and subsequently acted harshly, imprisoning them both in the Tower of London (Childs, 2006; Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011).
Towards the end of June 1536, shortly following his 17th birthday, the previously-active and healthy Fitzroy started to become unwell, presenting with symptoms of pulmonary infection, likely consumption (or tuberculosis), with contemporary documentation noting a rapid decline in his health. Rumours also abounded of intentional slow-working poison, courtesy of the recently executed Anne Boleyn and her brother George Boleyn, Viscount Rochford. A triple wedding celebration organised by Norfolk in an attempt to improve the tarnished reputation of his family following the downfall of his niece Anne Boleyn, and subsequently regain influence at court, was arranged for 03 July 1536. The majority of courtiers and nobles attended, as did the king; however, Fitzroy's absence was conspicuous, and likely due to his illness. Remaining at his apartments at St James's Palace, Westminster, his health continued to deteriorate daily, with ambassadors commenting that Fitzroy was "very ill" and by 22 July there was "no hope" of recovery; the illegitimate but acknowledged son of the king died later that night, in the early hours of 23 July 1536 (Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011; Borman, 2018).
Despite Henry's grief, which was said to rival his distress to that of Anne Boleyn's last miscarriage earlier that year, Fitzroy's death was not publicly announced, with the king viewing his death as another failure to continue his family legacy. Despite Fitzroy's prominant position as a Duke and acknowledged son of the king, Henry made the decision that he should be buried as quickly and discreetly as possible, away from London and the Royal Court. Assigning responsibility to Fitzroy's father-in-law Norfolk, the king ordered that his son should be encased in lead, and be buried without any pomp or ceremony. On 31 July, Fitzroy's leaden coffin was unceremoniously placed on the back of a wagon, and covered in straw, in an attempt to disguise its contents. Accompanied by Norfolk and Surrey, who rode his friend's favourite horse draped in black velvet, the wagon made the eighty-mile journey north-east from Westminster to Thetford, Norfolk, twelve miles west of the Howard family seat of Kenninghall. It was at The Priory of Our Lady of Thetford, one of the largest religious institutions, that Fitzroy was buried, amongst Norfolk's ancestors. Despite his initial orders, by early August, the fickle Henry expressed regret regarding his decision for his son to not be buried with greater ceremony than he had initially instructed. On 05 August, Norfolk was made aware of the king's displeasure, and wrote frantically to Henry's Principal Secretary, Thomas Cromwell, pleading his case, fearing reprisals from his ever-unpredictable monarch. Whilst Norfolk was not arrested or imprisoned, he did find himself out of favour with the king on his return to court (Childs, 2006; Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011, English Heritage, 2025).
Norton (2011, p.261) reflects that Mary Howard commented that her husband's death caused her "sorrow" and "discomfort", but this was nothing in comparison to her older brother Surrey's grief over the loss of his closest friend. However, Mary's difficulties arose due to her ongoing virginal status, due to the lack of consummation of the marriage, despite the couple being over the age of consent and never having resided in the same household. Henry VIII argued the validity of the young couple's marriage, in an attempt to withhold her rightful and generous widow's dower, despite their marriage being legally recognised by the church, including by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury. Despite frustrations, Mary, demonstrating the same personality traits as her mother, showed her resolve and tenacity in continuing to seek her rightful dowry; she never remarried, despite pressures from her family, which contributed to her estrangement from her father and brother prior to their arrests for treason (Hutchinson, 2009; Norton, 2011).
![Tomb of Henry Fitzroy, St Michael's Church, Framlingham © erichardyuk [Flickr]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ed9b82_f3c76ec8d32945e7a87a1f43d5a00c67~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_706,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/ed9b82_f3c76ec8d32945e7a87a1f43d5a00c67~mv2.jpg)
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