Henry FitzRoy

The king's illegitimate son

Henry FitzRoy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset (1519 – 1536), the king’s illegitimate son. His mother is Elizabeth Blount.

The story so far…

Week 3: An Occult History of Britain (Part 1)

He is a handsome blond child made in the king’s own image. His father has created him Duke of Somerset and Duke of Richmond; he is not yet ten years old, and the senior nobleman in England.

Week 11: 'Alas, What Shall I Do For Love?' (Part 2) / Early Mass

Cromwell meets Richmond on the journey over to Calais. They have not met since the cardinal came down. He is a “handsome boy of thirteen, fair-haired, tall for his age but slender; Henry as he must have been as a young prince.” He is reading The Courtier and he says “I wish the cardinal were not dead. Because now the Duke of Norfolk is my guardian.”

Richmond is to marry Norfolk’s daughter, Mary. This does not please the thirteen-year-old duke. “I have seen her. She has no breasts.”

Week 14: Devil’s Spit / A Painter’s Eye

Richmond marries Mary Howard. He wants to live with his wife, but the king is keeping them apart. Richmond is the only son of Henry VIII and he thinks he could one day reign. But Lady Rochford is here to disabuse him of his dreams:

‘I fear by summer you will have lost your place, sweetheart. Once he has a son born in wedlock, you may tup to your heart’s content. You will never reign, and your offspring will never inherit.’

Week 17: The Map of Christendom (Part 2) / To Wolf Hall

Richmond stands in for the king at the bloody execution of the Charterhouse monks. The boy asks Cromwell to take his place.

‘If you please sickness, or fall off your horse tomorrow or vomit in front of your father-in-law, he’ll never let you forget it. If you want him to let you into your bride’s bed, prove yourself a man.’

Week 18: Falcons

Some special mechanism may have to be created so Harry Richmond can reign, if anything but good should come to his father.

Week 27: Master of Phantoms (2/5)

Richmond comes to comfort his father. He is now sixteen and almost six foot, but Henry calls him, ‘my little son.’ Outside, he tells Cromwell that ‘had a woman’ and is now a man. ‘I think Norfolk should let me live with my wife.’

‘I’ll speak to the duke for you,’ he says. ‘I think he will now be keen to fall in with your wishes.’
   Richmond flushes: pleasure, embarrassment? The boy is no fool and knows his situation, which in a few days has improved beyond all measure.

He tells Cromwell how he used to think the cardinal was his father. Cromwell assures him that he is the king’s only son, and he gives Richmond fatherly advice about getting a ‘clean’ mistress and not dealing with ‘whores.’

Week 29: The Book of Phantoms (Part 5/5) / Spoils

The Earl of Richmond remains standing when Anne’s head is severed. Cromwell wonders whether he believed the rumours that she wanted to poison him. After her death, Richmond becomes Chamberlain of Chester and North Wales (Brereton country) and replaced George Boleyn as Warden of the Cinque Ports.

Week 30: Wreckage (I)

Gregory asks FitzRoy why he did not kneel at Anne’s beheading. He knows he is in the wrong, so he blushes like his father and defends himself like his father: ‘She is properly punished.’ Cromwell thinks he looks hungover from toasting his fortune.

At Austin Friars, Call-Me tells Cromwell that Norfolk is pressing for Richmond to be made heir, as the only male heir of three illegitimate children.

Week 32: Salvage (Part 2/3)

Cromwell goes to see Richmond at St James’s Palace, where he is convalescing. He talks about how he would have punished Anne ‘more straitly’ and how his father is sick, will soon die, and Richmond will be king.

With every breath he commits treason, and does not hear it.

Cromwell thinks it is Norfolk’s son, Surrey, who has put these ideas into Richmond’s head.

Week 34: Wreckage (II) (Part 1/2)

Richmond leaves early during marriage celebrations. Later, he summons Cromwell and complains that he did not help put him into the line of succession. He is gravely ill.

Week 34: Wreckage (II) (Part 2/2)

The Duke of Richmond dies. Thomas Howard is put in charge of the funeral, but Henry is unhappy about how it is handled. Fitzroy’s death puts the king into a deep depression.