Why Were the Tudors and Stuarts Afraid of This Woman? Who Was Lady Arbella Stuart?

From History Calling

The tragic life of Lady Arbella Stuart shows how being almost royal can ruin your life. A descendant of Henry VII through Princess Margaret Tudor and Matthew Stuart, Earl of Lennox, Lady Arbella (sometimes called Lady Arabella Stuart) was born in 1575, the granddaughter of Bess of Hardwick and Lady Margaret Douglas, the niece of Mary, Queen of Scots and Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, the cousin of James I of England and the cousin of Elizabeth I, yet this incredible royal pedigree made her a danger to those who sat on the throne and worried that she might try to take it from them. In this Tudor royal women documentary from History Calling, we look at the extraordinary tale of this forgotten heir to the throne, whose life was overshadowed by her more famous family members. Orphaned in childhood and raised by her formidable grandmother, Bess, Arbella was a clever, well-educated Tudor woman and arguably second in line to the English throne after her cousin James. She ought to have been a catch on the marriage market, but the potential for her to rival Elizabeth then James meant she was never allowed to marry. Eventually she contracted a secret union with William Seymour, Lord Beauchamp, later Duke of Somerset, in June 1610. This led to their arrests and separate imprisonments on the orders of King James I. She attempted a daring escape to France to be with her husband in 1611, but was caught at the last minute and returned to England where she was thrown in the Tower of London and left to die there in 1615. She was buried in Westminster Abbey with her aunt, Queen Mary and many of the other Stuarts. If you’re interested in Tudor history, the succession crisis after Elizabeth I, royal women, or forgotten figures of English history, this deep dive into Lady Arbella Stuart’s life will give you a powerful and unforgettable story that deserves to be remembered.