Robert Radcliffe (also Radclyffe, Ratcliffe), 1st Earl of Sussex, KG (1483–1542) was a prominent English courtier and soldier of the time of Henry VIII. He became Knight of the Garter in 1524.[1]
The 10th Baron FitzWalter, he was created 1st Viscount FitzWalter in 1525 and 1st Earl of Sussex in 1529.[2]
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In his youth he served in the household of Prince Arthur of Wales, the elder brother of Henry VIII who died at the age of 15.
After obtaining a reversal of his father's attainder in 1505, Robert was summoned to parliament in 1511. He accompanied King Henry VIII on the expeditions of Tournai and Therouanne in 1513, and was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. In 1522, he served as admiral of the squadron and chief captain of the vanguard in an expedition to France in 1522.
His father was John Radcliffe, 9th Baron FitzWalter.[3] who, in 1475, married Margaret Whetehill, the widow of Thomas Walden. Aside from Robert, they had five daughters, Mary ( wife of Sir John Darrell ), Bridget, Ursula, Jane and Anne ( wife of Sir Walter Hobart ). In 1495, John was attainted of high treason and beheaded at Calais after a unsuccessful prison break. His widow is believed to still have been living in late 1516.
In July 1505, Robert married his first wife Elizabeth who was a daughter of Henry Stafford, 2nd Duke of Buckingham. Either she, or her sister, Anne Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon, was the mistress of Henry VIII in 1510. This relationship ended with the lady being carried off to a convent by her angry husband and their brother, Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, was banished from court for confronting the King.
Elizabeth and Robert were parents to four known sons:
He became a widower in May 1532 following the death of his wife Elizabeth, and in September of the same year, Robert married his second wife, Margaret Stanley, daughter of Thomas Stanley, 2nd Earl of Derby. They were parents to:
When Margaret died in January 1534, Robert remained a widower until in January 1536/7 he married his third wife, Mary Arundell (courtier), daughter of Sir John Arundell of Lanherne, Cornwall.[4] They were parents to:
| Peerage of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| New creation | Earl of Sussex 1529–1542 |
Succeeded by Henry Radclyffe |
| Viscount FitzWalter 1525–1542 |
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| Preceded by John Radcliffe |
Baron FitzWalter 1506–1542 |
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