ON THIS DAY - 03 June 1550

On This Day (03 Jun) 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 as ‘Sheen’) in the presence of 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 1549, from his role as ‘Lord Protector’ following which he was initially imprisoned in the Tower of London, with his old friend the Earl of Warwick being elected as head of the Regency Council with 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 tried for treason and executed in Jan 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 approx 11/12 year age difference between the new couple, with Anne only being approx 12yo at the time of the wedding; there is no clear evidence of the marriage being consummated at his time. However following John’s arrest with his brothers in Jul 1553 due their involvement in the attempted coup with Jane Grey, Anne was given permission and 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 10 days after being released from the Tower in Oct 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.