Bess of Hardwick

Elizabeth Hardwick ( Hardwicke ), Countess of Shrewsbury, (* 1527, † 1608) was Bess of Hardwick known as. She was the daughter of a nobleman from Derbyshire.

Marriages

At the age of fourteen years, Bess was married for the first time. Her husband was the only twelve year-old Robert Barlow, heir to a neighboring estate. Probably the marriage was not consummated, as both also was very sick and very young Robert. After his early death Bess inherited a third of his property.

1547 she married Sir William Cavendish, a two-time widower who was more than twice as old as her and brought two daughters into the marriage. The marriage produced eight children were born, of whom three sons and three daughters survived the first few years. Only two children died as infants - a small number in a time of high infant mortality.

William Cavendish died in 1557. 1559 Bess married her third husband, Sir William St. Loe, a landowner and staff of Queen Elizabeth I. Also St. Loe already had two daughters from a previous marriage. 1564 or 1565 William St. Loe died under mysterious circumstances; probably he was poisoned by his younger brother. St. Loe bequeathed his entire estate Bess, who now was in charge of ten children - their own six and two step-daughters of their deceased men.

Bess was now a rich widow, and St. Loes connection to the court gave her the position of a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Elizabeth. She was still an attractive woman and in good health, so that many applicants rallying around her.

With the approval of the Queen Bess married in 1568 her fourth husband, George Talbot, 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, one of the first nobles of the land, who brought seven children into the marriage. A son of Shrewsbury married a daughter of Bess, a subsidiary of Shrewsbury, in turn, a son of Bess.

Bess's granddaughter Arabella Stuart

1574 Bess married her daughter Elizabeth, without the knowledge of the Queen and Shrewsbury with Charles Stuart, the younger brother of Henry Stewart, Lord Darnley and thus brother of Mary Stuart. Charles Stuart's family had a claim to the English throne, and therefore not a member was allowed to marry without the permission of the Queen. Possible descendants constituted a threat to Queen Elizabeth, whose legitimacy was put her whole life into question. Charles Stuart's mother spent some time in the Tower, Bess was ordered also to London, in the invitation but did not return, but waited until the commotion had died down. The arranged by her marriage came a daughter, Arabella Stuart.

Prisoner Maria Stuart

A special awareness reached Bess and Shrewsbury by their "guest" Mary Stuart, the fifteen years (1569-1584) spent her English captivity at the Shrewsbury. Bess and Shrewsbury had for quite some time marital problems, which were exacerbated by the presence of Mary. Bess apparently believed in a relationship of her husband with the prisoners, which, however, in view of Shrewsbury strict morals and his poor health is unlikely. Last but not least the care of the Scottish queen meant a huge financial burden for the Shrewsbury, because Queen Elizabeth demonstrated their accommodation befitting her cousin and so met the accusation of hostility.

1584 Mary Stuart was placed in the care of Amias Paulet. At this time lived Bess and her husband already separated.

Construction projects

Bess became famous for their construction projects, particularly Hardwick Hall ( " Hardwick Hall, more glass than wall" ) and Chatsworth House, the current seat of the Dukes of Devonshire, who wear as descendants of Bess and her second husband, still the family name of Cavendish.

• Noble
• English
• Born in 1527
• Died in 1608
• Woman
• Maria Stuart