= Bess of Hardwick = '''Bess of Hardwick''' was an influential aristocrat in [[UnitedKingdom/Democratization|England]]. She is also variably referred to as '''Elizabeth Cavendish''' (taking her second husband's name) or '''Elizabeth Talbot''' (taking her fourth husband's name). <> ---- == History == Bess was a younger daughter of '''John Hardwick''' and '''Elizabeth''' (same name). They were not wealthy but did hold land. Bess' first marriage was to '''Robert Barlow''' in 1543. He was wealthy and held land in Derbyshire, and left everything to Bess when he died in 1544. Her second marriage was to '''William Cavendish''' in 1547. She convinced him to centralize their holdings to Derbyshire and construct '''Chatsworth House'''. Their lineage was secured by six surviving children by the time he died in 1557. Her third marriage was to '''William St Loe''' in 1559. He was extremely wealthy, held lands across England, and was a confidant of [[UnitedKingdom/ElizabethI|Elizabeth I]]. He had no male heir and left everything to Bess when he died in 1565. She arranged for her daughter '''Frances''' to marry '''Henry Pierrepont''', from whom the '''dukes of Kingston''' descend. Her fourth and final husband was George Talbot, '''earl of Shrewsbury'''. With blessing from Elizabeth I, these families were joined in 1567 by their own marriage, the marriage of Bess' eldest son '''Henry Cavendish''' to George's daughter '''Grace''', and the marriage of George's eldest son '''Gilbert Talbot''' to Bess' daughter '''Mary'''. The '''dukes of Norfolk''' descend from Gilbert and Mary. Bess hosted [[UnitedKingdom/Mary|Mary]] for nearly two decades of her house arrest. Bess conspired with '''Margaret Douglass''' (daughter of '''Margaret Tudor''' and therefore granddaughter of [[UnitedKingdom/HenryVII|Henry VII]]) in 1574. They arranged for Bess' daughter '''Elizabeth''' (same name) to marry Douglass' eldest son, '''Charles Stuart''', '''earl of Lennox'''. Beyond that matrilineal claim to the [[UnitedKingdom/Monarchs#Kingdom_of_England|English]] throne, Charles' late brother '''Henry Stuart''' had been Mary's king consort of Scotland. Both Bess and Margaret were summoned to court to answer for the controversial match. Margaret would be imprisoned in the Tower of London until Charles' death two years later, while Bess convinced Elizabeth I that the match was not in support of Mary's claim. After her older brother '''James Hardwick''' died in 1583, Bess purchased her family's land in her son's ('''William Cavendish''', named for his father) name and constructed '''Hardwick Hall'''. Her marriage with George ended disastrously. Tensions emerged from the mounting costs of hosting Mary and of constructing the new Hardwick Hall. George forcefully seized Chatsworth House until the privy council intervened with fines. This conflict divided the families. Gilbert sided with Bess, while Henry and '''Charles Cavendish''' sided with George. George died in 1590, leaving Gilbert to succeed as earl of Shrewsbury; he notably denied Bess any claim to his father's wealth. Bess raised her granddaughter by Charles Stuart and Elizabeth, '''Arbella Stuart''', after she was orphaned in 1582. Arbella was kept isolated and was briefly considered as an heir to Elizabeth I. Bess died in 1607. William inherited both Hardwick Hall and Chatsworth House. He was created '''baron of Hardwick''' in 1605 and created '''earl of Devonshire''' in 1618; the '''dukes of Devonshire''' descend from him. Charles would go on to marry and have children; the '''dukes of Newcastle''' are descended from him. In all, four ducal houses descend from Bess. ---- CategoryRicottone