ON THIS DAY - 03 June 1550

On This Day (03 June) in 1550, John Dudley, son and heir of his father and namesake, the then Earl of Warwick, married Anne Seymour, the eldest daughter of Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset at Richmond Palace (still known colloquially at that time as ‘Sheen’) in the presence of the king, Edward VI.

Richmond Palace from across the Thames Artist: Anthonis van den Wijngaerde; 1562 © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford

This marriage was arranged by the couple’s fathers in an attempt to demonstrate unity between the pair, following Somerset’s initial fall from power in October 1549; he was removed from his role as ‘Lord Protector’ following which he was initially imprisoned in the Tower of London, with his former friend and ally John Dudley being elected as head of the Regency Council, adopting the alternate title of ‘Lord President’. However this harmony did not last long, as there were rumours throughout 1551 that Somerset was plotting to murder John Dudley; he was subsequently tried for treason and executed in January 1552.

Stained glass windows showing coats of arms of John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, and Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford and Duke of Somerset. © Philadelphia Museum of Art

There was an approximately 11/12 year age-difference between the new couple, with Anne only being approximately 12 years-old at the time of the wedding. Whilst Anne would have been around the age of consent, that being twelve for girls, there is no clear evidence of the marriage being consummated at his time. However, their marriage appears to have been legally acknowledged as following John’s arrest with his brothers in July 1553, due their participation in the attempted coup involving Lady Jane Grey, Anne was known to have visited him whilst being held at the Tower of London.

Having succeeded his father as Earl of Warwick, John Dudley died ten days after being released from the Tower in October 1554 after over a year imprisonment; whilst Anne remarried the following year, she continued to style herself as ‘Countess of Warwick’ and ‘Lady Warwick’ throughout her life.