King+James+Favorites

According to an article about King James' favorites: "Faction at the Early Stuart Court" by Kevin Sharpe, patronage served as a provider of strength to the monarchy in controlling power and manipulation of courtiers. James I gave favor to many but several did not hold much influence to the crown or control over who James I communicated with until Buckingham. Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, was a favorite of James I in the beginning of 1607 until his death. George Villiers, the first Duke of Buckingham was to serve as his replacement. Until 1621, James’ favorites didn’t enjoy the luxuries of being in favor; Buckingham changed this. Buckingham proved to be the first to successfully control the others with his use of appointing titles to those without estates and locality influence. Not to mention his manipulation in James’ bedchamber. He is known to treat his supporters as “creatures” instead of “clients”. This tactic proved to contribute to Buckingham’s power.[| Faction at the Early Stuart Court article]

There is some indication within Robert Sidney's writing that he was also one of James Favorites. One indication of this is through the subtle hints about syphilis in Roberts poems, this sexually transmitted disease spread through James' court. For example, there are references to becoming blind which is one cause of syphilis. This is shown through Sonnet 75: "So glides a long the wanton Brook / With gentle pace into the main, / Courting the Bans with amorous look, / //He never means to see again//, / And so does Fortune used to smile / Upon the short liv'd //Favorite's face//." The line, he never means to see again, implies blindness. And later in this sonnet he even uses the word favorite: short lived favorites face. These two subtle references can be interpreted as a connection between Robert and the King.

Stephanie Demkowski