What is a fanlisting?

"A fanlisting is simply an online list of fans of a subject, such as a TV show, actor, or musician, that is created by an individual and open for fans from around the world to join. There are no costs, and the only requirements to join a fanlisting are your name and country. Fanlistings do not have to be large sites (although some are); they are just a place where you can sign up with other fans. TheFanlistings.org is the original (but not official) web directory for fanlistings, dedicated to uniting the fans." - TFL.org's definition of a fanlisting

About "Kindred Spirits"

Kindred Spirits is the TFL-listed fanlisting for the relationship between Elizabeth I and Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester. If you are a fan of their relationship as friends, or as, perhaps, more than that. The name was chosen because of the strong bond between the two, due to their shared experiences. I feel that they truly were "kindred spirits," and that is one of the reasons they were so devoted to eachother.

Elizabeth & Robert

Elizabeth I, regarded by some as the greatest monarch England has ever had, was known as the "Virgin queen." She once told her people she was married to England. However, since her early years, she was always close to the dashing Robert Dudley. Her dear "Robin," as she familiarly referred to him, was almost exactly the same age as she was. His father, John Dudley, was Protector of England during Elizabeth's younger brother, Edward VI's reign. The Dudleys were devout Protestants, and John and Robert were both central in the plot to push Mary Tudor, Elizabeth's older sister, out of the succession and make Lady Jane Grey queen.

When the plot to put Lady Jane on the throne failed, Robert was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Mary I was a Catholic, the daughter of Katherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. Since Elizabeth refused to convert fully to Catholicism, Mary sent her to the tower. Elizabeth and Robert probably both stayed there at the same time, although it is unlikely they were able to meet during their stay. At any rate, this experience formed a bond between Elizabeth and Robert. They had already been friends, but now they were both persecuted Protestants in a violently Catholic England.

When Mary died and Elizabeth came at long last to the throne, Robert was made Master of the Horse at Elizabeth's court. Elizabeth and Robert quickly became very close. It cannot be known if they were lovers--that they were in love is certain. They had many things in common, and had shared many experiences. In just twenty-some years of living, Robert and Elizabeth had swung dangerously in and out of royal favor, almost simulataneously. During the early years of her life, Elizabeth had been a princess of England, and accorded all the respect that came with the position.Then, suddenly, when she was only three, her mother was accused of multiple adultery and incest. Within a few weeks, Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth's fiesty and glamorous mother, was beheaded and little Elizabeth was bastardized.

Towards the end of Henry VIII's reign, Elizabeth regained her father's favor, and enjoyed the pleasures of court along with her older sister and her little brother. At this time, the Dudleys were steadily gaining power at the English court. By the time Edward acsended to the throne, Lord Dudley was so powerful that he was made Protector--he more or less ruled for the boy-king, Edward. However, Robert and Elizabeth's happiness was short-lived. It soon became clear that Edward's health was failing, and he might not live to marry and have children. In a cunning but extremely risky plot, John Dudley and his followers attempted to rearrange the succession so that Lady Jane Grey, a young Protestant noblewoman, was made queen of England. Coincidentally, Lord Dudley's son, Guildford, was married to the teenaged Jane.

Unfortunately for Robert, Mary Tudor managed to push Jane Grey off her unstable throne. Lady Jane had been ruler of England for only nine days--hence her nickname "the nine-days queen." Under the new Catholic regime, Robert and his co-conspirators were thrown in jail or executed. Elizabeth managed to stay safe for the time being, but within a few months Mary became wary of her as well.

It was during this time that Elizabeth was sent to the tower, as her mother had been before her. Elizabeth was only a young woman at this time, and was terribly, terribly afraid. She feared for her life and, perhaps more importantly in her mind, England. The country was being swiftly converted back to Catholicism, and Mary was "forced" to burn many Protestants at the stake.

When Elizabeth was twenty-five, she became Queen of England, and she had longed to be for so many years. With her coronation, she suddenly became very alone. Robert Dudley was one of the few people she allowed close enough to her to comfort her, to advise her, and to truly understand her. The couple really were kindred spirits.

Spotted a factual or grammatical error? Please let me know.