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The Duke of Northumberland is a noble title that has been created three times in English and British history. The current holder of this title is Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland, who is a British hereditary peer and rural landowner. The first Duke of Northumberland, John Dudley, was an English politician and soldier, who was the virtual ruler of England from 1549 to 1553. Dudley was an ardent Protestant who unsuccessfully tried to install Lady Jane Grey on the English throne after King Edward VI's death, in an attempt to prevent his Catholic sister Mary from succeeding. Henry Percy, the 9th Earl of Northumberland, was an English Roman Catholic who was imprisoned in the Tower of London from 1605 to 1621 on suspicion of complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. This paragraph introduces the topic of the Duke of Northumberland, specifically addressing the religious affiliations of the various holders of the title.
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What You'll Learn
John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was Catholic
John Dudley, the 1st Duke of Northumberland, was a prominent figure in English politics during the mid-16th century. Dudley's political career spanned several monarchs' reigns, including those of Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. Dudley's religious affiliation is a matter of some complexity and has been the subject of historical debate. While he was executed by Queen Mary I, a Catholic, for high treason, there is evidence to suggest that Dudley may have professed Catholicism at the end of his life.
Dudley was born in 1504 and rose to prominence during the reign of King Henry VIII, serving as Vice-Admiral and Lord High Admiral from 1537 to 1547. He also held the position of deputy governor of the English-occupied port of Calais, France, starting in 1538. Dudley's military career included campaigns in Scotland and France, and he played a pivotal role in the capture of Boulogne in 1544. In 1546, he was conferred the title of Earl of Warwick, further solidifying his noble status.
During the reign of King Edward VI, Dudley became the de facto ruler of England from 1549 to 1553. He led the government and sought to consolidate the Protestant Reformation in England. Dudley's rule was marked by his strong control over the council and his reversal of liberal agrarian policies, which contributed to his growing unpopularity. He also played a role in the execution of the Duke of Somerset, who was acquitted of treason but convicted of felony charges.
Upon King Edward VI's death, Dudley attempted to install his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the English throne. This plot failed, and Dudley found himself facing execution under Queen Mary I, a staunch Catholic who sought to restore Catholicism in England. It was at this point, facing his impending execution, that Dudley renounced Protestantism and professed Catholicism.
Dudley's religious conversion can be seen in his reported words: "the plagues that is upon the realm and upon us now is that we have erred from the faith these sixteen years." This statement, made before taking Catholic communion, suggests that Dudley believed the country's troubles were due to its deviation from Catholicism during the previous sixteen years, which included the reigns of King Edward VI and Henry VIII, both of whom promoted Protestantism.
In conclusion, while John Dudley, the 1st Duke of Northumberland, was primarily associated with Protestantism during his political career, his actions and statements at the end of his life suggest a shift towards Catholicism. This religious conversion, however, may have been motivated by his desire to escape execution rather than a genuine change of faith.
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The current Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy, is not Catholic
Ralph Percy is the second son of the 10th Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy, and Lady Elizabeth Montagu Douglas Scott, the daughter of the 8th Duke of Buccleuch. He has several notable cousins, including Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and Richard Scott, the 10th Duke of Buccleuch, one of the largest private landowners in Scotland. Ralph Percy was educated at Eton College, Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated in modern history, and Reading University, where he studied land management.
Before succeeding to the dukedom in 1995 after the death of his elder brother, Henry, the 11th Duke, Ralph Percy worked in the Arundel Castle estate office for seven years and then moved back to Northumberland to manage the Alnwick estate for his brother. As the Duke of Northumberland, he assists in managing Northumberland Estates, which owns land and property in Northumberland, Scotland, London, Surrey, and Tyneside.
The Duke of Northumberland is also the owner of several castles and other properties, including Alnwick Castle, Warkworth Castle, Prudhoe Castle, Syon House, and Hulne Park. He has shown opposition to certain wind farms but has adopted renewable energy in the restoration of a hydroelectric power generator. In 2003, the Duke's sale of Raphael's Madonna of the Pinks on the open market rather than at a lower price to the National Gallery was criticized.
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Henry Percy, the 9th Earl of Northumberland, was Catholic
Henry Percy, the 9th Earl of Northumberland, was a Catholic. Although he was brought up Protestant, as was his father, he was suspected in later life of being a crypto-Catholic. He was a Catholic sympathiser and suffered under the punitive laws passed by Elizabeth I in the 1580s.
Henry was a patron of the arts and sciences and was known as "The Wizard Earl". He was a patron to Thomas Harriot, Nicholas Hill, Robert Hues, Nathaniel Torporley, and Walter Warner. He was also friends with the astrologer John Dee. He had a large library, one of the largest in England at the time.
Henry was imprisoned in the Tower of London from 1605 to 1621 on suspicion of complicity in the Gunpowder Plot. His kinsman Thomas Percy played a leading role in the plot, and Henry was suspected of misprision (having knowledge of the plot but not notifying the authorities). However, there was insufficient evidence to convict him.
Henry was succeeded by his younger brother, Algernon, the 10th Earl of Northumberland.
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The Duke of Northumberland is a hereditary title
The title of Duke of Northumberland was first created in 1551 for John Dudley, who was the son of Edmund Dudley, a minister of Henry VII who was executed by Henry VIII. John Dudley was an English general, admiral, and politician, and he led the government of the young King Edward VI from 1550 until his execution in 1553. Dudley was convicted of high treason and executed after unsuccessfully attempting to install his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the English throne after King Edward's death.
The title has been created three times in English and British history, twice in the Peerage of England, and once in the Peerage of Great Britain. The second creation of the title in the Peerage of England was in 1551 for John Dudley, who became the 1st Duke of Northumberland. The third creation of the title was in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1766 for Hugh Percy, the 2nd Earl of Northumberland, who had assumed the surname Percy after marrying the daughter of Algernon Seymour, the 7th Duke of Somerset.
The Dukes of Northumberland have held several notable positions and played significant roles throughout history. For instance, Charlotte Percy, the Duchess of Northumberland and wife of the third Duke, was the governess of the future Queen Victoria. Additionally, the current Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy, is a sponsor of the NCEA Duke's Secondary School.
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The Duke of Northumberland owns land and property across the UK
The Duke of Northumberland is a noble title that has been created three times in English and British history. The current holder of this title is Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland. Ralph Percy is a British hereditary peer, rural landowner, and head of the House of Percy. He was born at Alnwick Castle, the fifth child and second son of Hugh Percy, the 10th Duke of Northumberland.
The Duke of Northumberland is ranked 285th on the Sunday Times Rich List 2024, with an estimated wealth of £509 million. In 2015, the Percy family outraged users of allotments in West London by revoking a lease that had existed since World War I, intending to develop the land for profit. However, these development plans were rejected by the planning Inspectorate in 2023 to protect heritage assets.
The Dukes of Northumberland are also associated with other notable properties, such as their former London residence, Northumberland House in the Strand, which has since been demolished. The family's current London residence is Syon House in Brentford. Additionally, the Dukes' traditional burial place is the Northumberland Vault in Westminster Abbey in London, making the Percys the last family to maintain such a privilege.
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Frequently asked questions
The Duke of Northumberland is a noble title that has been created three times in English and British history. The current holder of this title is Ralph Percy, the 12th Duke of Northumberland.
The current Duke of Northumberland, Ralph Percy, is not known to have made his religious beliefs public. Therefore, it is unclear whether he is Catholic or not.
Yes, Henry Percy, the 9th Earl of Northumberland, was an English Roman Catholic. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London from 1605 to 1621 on suspicion of complicity in the Gunpowder Plot.
The Duke of Northumberland assists in managing Northumberland Estates, which owns land and property in Northumberland, Scotland, London, Surrey, and Tyneside. The Duke is also involved in various other businesses and ventures associated with the Percy family's wealth and assets.
The title of Duke of Northumberland was first created in 1551 for John Dudley, who was the virtual ruler of England from 1549 to 1553 during the minority of King Edward VI. The title has changed hands multiple times throughout history, and the current holder, Ralph Percy, became the 12th Duke of Northumberland in 1995.
