ABSTRACT
The imaginative diversity of Philip Sidney's writings and the longevity of their popular appeal readily confirm his centrality to the development of English literature during the late sixteenth century. But a definition of the significance of his brief court career and sporadic impact upon international politics is more elusive. Frustrated as a courtier and aware of his aging queen's unpredictable treatment not only of himself but also of his father and his uncle Leicester, Philip was only occasionally entrusted by Elizabeth with modest duties in state affairs and international diplomacy. Even his knighthood, hastily awarded in January 1583 so that he could stand proxy for Count Casimir at his installation as a Knight of the Garter, was more a ceremonial necessity than a personal honour. And yet Philip's lasting reputation as a courtier-knight remains a telling phenomenon, not so much for what he actually achieved but rather for what his family hoped he would achieve.
