Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux entered the world on the 10th of November 1565 at Netherwood in Herefordshire. He was the eldest son of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, and his wife Lettice Knollys. From birth, the young boy had a strong association with Queen Elizabeth I. Lettice served as her Maid of the Privy Chamber and was a close friend to the monarch. Robert was presumably named after his godfather Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. This man held the position of queen's favourite for many years. Additionally, Devereux's maternal great-grandmother Mary Boleyn was a sister of Anne Boleyn. This connection made him a first-cousin-twice-removed of the queen.
Devereux grew up at the family seat at Chartley in Staffordshire alongside two older sisters and a younger brother. His father spent much time in Ireland from 1573 due to a disastrous scheme to colonise Ulster. Walter died in September 1576 when Robert was only ten years old. The young earl became a ward of the Crown immediately following this death. Prominent minister Lord Burghley took on chief responsibility for his welfare. He also lived under the care of leading courtiers Thomas Radclyffe and Henry Hastings.
A report from November 1576 described him as very courteous and modest. It noted he was disposed to hear rather than answer and given greatly to learning. By that time he could speak both Latin and French. His late father had left the family £18,000 in debt. Richard Broughton oversaw the estate while the boy remained a minor. In January 1577 Essex left Chartley to travel to London. He stayed briefly at Cecil House before moving to Theobalds.
In 1585 Essex came under pressure from his mother to establish a career as a courtier. He joined the entourage of his new stepfather Leicester and visited the royal court in September 1585. Leicester became a significant patron who instilled a sense of unity with fellow Protestants across Europe. Despite later status as a royal favourite, Essex went unnoticed by the queen in early visits. She was preoccupied by both the Anglo-Spanish War and the Eighty Years' War.
Essex received permission to accompany Leicester on a military apprenticeship in the Spanish Netherlands. He was appointed colonel-general of the English cavalry there. This prestigious position signified his status as Leicester's new protégé. In September 1586 Essex and his horsemen successfully attacked a much larger Spanish force. They won the Battle of Zutphen for which Leicester made him a knight-banneret. Leicester's nephew Philip Sidney was mortally wounded at Zutphen. Sidney bequeathed one of his best swords to Essex.
Sidney transferred to Essex his dual roles as England's champion of Protestantism and Leicester's right-hand man. Essex returned to England as a war hero in late October 1586. The handsome noble quickly caught the queen's eye. Leicester backed Essex at court to further his own interests and weaken Walter Raleigh. Essex was appointed Master of the Horse in December 1587. Five months later he was elected a Knight of the Garter.
By May 1587 he was a constant companion of the queen. Elizabeth relished Essex's lively mind and eloquence. She enjoyed his skills as a showman and in courtly love. In June 1587 he replaced the Earl of Leicester as Master of the Horse. After Leicester's death in 1588, the queen transferred the monopoly on sweet wines to Essex. This provided revenue from taxes. In 1593 he became a member of her Privy Council.
In the 1590s the Nine Years' War broke out as a confederacy of Irish lords resisted Tudor conquest. Hugh O'Neill led this resistance against English rule. The war cost Queen Elizabeth I £2,000,000 to suppress. This amount was eight times more than spent on all continental wars during her reign. The confederacy achieved their greatest victory at the Battle of the Yellow Ford in 1598. After much hesitation Elizabeth selected Essex as Lord Deputy of Ireland in December 1598.
Essex boasted that he would beat Tyrone in the field. He departed London to cheers from the queen's subjects. It was expected the rebellion would be crushed instantly. He landed in Ireland on the 15th of April 1599 with an expeditionary force of 17,000 troops and 1,500 horses. This represented the largest English army dispatched to the country. Essex had declared to the Privy Council that he would confront O'Neill in Ulster.
Instead he led his army into southern Ireland where he fought inconclusive engagements. He wasted funds and dispersed his army into garrisons while rebels won two important battles elsewhere. Despite resources available to him the campaign proved to be a disaster. Many royal soldiers died from sickness and battle. In late August Essex left for Ulster after being heavily berated by the queen. His numbers dwindled to only 4,500 men when approaching Ulster borders.
Tyrone refused to give battle since his army far outnumbered Essex's forces. Tyrone sent an envoy on the 5th of September to request a parley. Essex stubbornly agreed only after Tyrone asked three times. The queen told him that if she wished to abandon Ireland it would scarcely have been necessary to send him there. In all campaigns Essex secured loyalty by conferring knighthoods. By end of time in Ireland more than half knights in England owed rank to him.
Relying on general warrant to return to England Essex sailed from Ireland on the 24th of September 1599. He reached London four days later despite explicit orders forbidding his return. The queen was surprised when he presented himself in her bedchamber one morning at Nonsuch Palace before she was properly wigged or gowned. On that day the Privy Council met three times. It seemed disobedience might go unpunished but the queen confined him to rooms with comment about stopping an unruly beast.
Essex appeared before full Council on the 29th of September during five-hour interrogation. The Council compiled report declaring truce with O'Neill indefensible and flight tantamount to desertion duty. He committed to custody of Sir Richard Berkeley. Essex blamed Cecil and Raleigh for queen's hostility. Walter advised Cecil to ensure Essex did not recover power. Essex appeared to heed advice to retire from public life despite popularity with public.
In August freedom granted but source of basic income sweet wines monopoly not renewed. Situation became desperate shifting from sorrow and repentance to rage and rebellion. In early 1601 he began fortifying Essex House town mansion on Strand gathering followers. On morning of the 8th of February he marched out with party nobles entering city attempting force audience with queen. Cecil immediately had him proclaimed traitor. A force under John Leveson placed barrier across street at Ludgate Hill.
When Essex men tried forcing way through stepfather Christopher Blount injured resulting skirmish. Essex withdrew with men back to Essex House. Crown forces besieged house leading surrender. On the 19th of February 1601 Essex tried before peers charges treason. Evidence showed favouring toleration religious dissent. He countered charge dealing Catholics swearing papists hired suborned witness against him.
Essex returned to Tower begging private execution rather front mob on Tower Hill. This was granted. Morning of the 25th of February 1601 taken courtyard within Tower small audience present. Walter Raleigh witnessed execution. After praying Essex doffed cap coat indicating readiness. It took three strokes executioner Thomas Derrick complete beheading. Derrick held head aloft proclaiming God save Queen. Previously Derrick convicted rape pardoned Earl condition becoming executioner Tyburn.
In same trial Raleigh denied standing window during sentence disdainfully puffing tobacco smoke sight condemned man. Essex shocked many denouncing sister Penelope Lady Rich co-conspirator. Queen determined show clemency ignored charge. Buried chapel St Peter ad Vincula Tower Green. When Elizabeth informed death playing virginals paused news continued playing. Some days before execution Captain Thomas Lee apprehended keeping watch door queen chambers. Plan confined her until signed warrant release Essex.
Lee served Ireland Earl acting go-between Ulster rebels tried put death next day. Conviction treason meant earldom forfeit son did not inherit title. However after queen's death King James I reinstated earldom favour disinherited son Robert Devereux 3rd Earl Essex. The Essex ring widely repeated romantic legend about gift from Elizabeth. Possible reference story John Webster play Devil's Law Case suggesting known time first printed version 1695 romantic novel Secret History most renowned Queen Elizabeth Earl Essex Person Quality.
Version David Hume history England says Elizabeth gave Essex ring expedition Cádiz send trouble. After trial tried sending Countess Nottingham kept ring husband enemy Essex result executed. On deathbed countess confessed Elizabeth angrily replied May God forgive Madam never can. Queen Diamond Jubilee Galleries Westminster Abbey possess gold ring claimed one.
Like many other Elizabethan aristocrats Essex competent lyric poet participated court entertainments. He engaged literary political feuds principal enemies including Walter Raleigh. Poem Muses no more but mazes attacks Raleigh influence over queen. Other lyrics written masques including sonnet Seated between old world new praise queen moral power linking Europe America supports world oppressed like mythical Atlas.
During disgrace wrote several bitter pessimistic verses longest poem Passion Discontented Mind beginning silent night penitential lament probably written imprisoned awaiting execution. Several poems set music English composer John Dowland set Can she excuse wrongs virtue cloak 1597 publication First Booke Songs lyrics attributed Essex largely basis dedication Earl Essex Galliard instrumental version same song.
Dowland also sets opening verses Passion Discontented Mind From silent night 1612 collection songs Orlando Gibbons set lines poem same year Settings Change thy minde Richard Martin To plead my faith Daniel Bacheler published A Musicall Banquet 1610 collection songs edited Robert Dowland. Essex secretly married Frances Walsingham daughter Francis Walsingham widow Philip Sidney 1590 having several children three survived adulthood. Frances experienced stillbirths 1596 1598.
One best known literary works about Essex Lytton Strachey book Elizabeth and Essex Tragic History. At least two fencing treatises dedicated Robert Earl Essex Vincentio Saviolo His Practice 1595 George Silver Paradoxes Defence 1599. Robert Devereux death confession subject popular 17th-century broadside ballads set English folk tunes Essex Last Goodnight Welladay.
Numerous ballads lamenting death praising military feats published throughout 17th century. Gaetano Donizetti 1837 opera Roberto Devereux libretto Salvadore Cammarano based mainly François Ancelot play Elizabeth England. Gloriana 1953 Benjamin Britten based Strachey Elizabeth and Essex. German legal theorist Carl Schmitt suggests elements Essex biography final days last words incorporated William Shakespeare Hamlet dialogue characterisation level.
Essex briefly alluded Shakespeare Henry V 5.0.22, 34 said editor David L Stevenson alluded Much Ado About Nothing 3.1.10, 11. Gauthier de Costes seigneur la Calprenède Le Comte d'Essex 1639 Thomas Corneille Le Comte d'Essex 1678 Claude Boyer Le Comte d'Essex tragedie Par Monsieur Boyer Academie françoise 1678 John Banks The Unhappy Favourite Or Earl Essex Tragedy 1682 Jacques-François Ancelot Elizabeth England 1829 night execution dramatised Timothy Findley play Elizabeth Rex.
Love interest La Reine Elizabeth play Émile Moreau 1912 starring Sarah Bernhardt. Elizabeth the Queen 1930 Maxwell Anderson dramatises queen relationship Essex ends execution. Lou Tellegen Les Amours reine Élisabeth 1912 French silent film featuring Sarah Bernhardt Elizabeth Errol Flynn Private Lives Elizabeth Essex 1939 starring Bette Davis based Anderson play Strachey biographical account Elizabeth and Essex Sam Reid Anonymous 2011 historical fiction film posits Edward de Vere 17th Earl Oxford true author William Shakespeare plays both Essex Earl Southampton Elizabeth illegitimate sons.
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Common questions
When and where was Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex born?
Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex entered the world on the 10th of November 1565 at Netherwood in Herefordshire. He was the eldest son of Walter Devereux 1st Earl of Essex and his wife Lettice Knollys.
What military role did Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex hold during the Spanish Netherlands campaign?
Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex received permission to accompany Leicester on a military apprenticeship in the Spanish Netherlands. He was appointed colonel-general of the English cavalry there and won the Battle of Zutphen in September 1586.
Why did Queen Elizabeth I send Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex to Ireland in 1599?
Queen Elizabeth I selected Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex as Lord Deputy of Ireland in December 1598 to suppress Hugh O'Neill's resistance during the Nine Years War. The war cost £2,000,000 to suppress and represented eight times more than spent on all continental wars during her reign.
How did Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex die after his failed rebellion in February 1601?
Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex surrendered to Crown forces on the 19th of February 1601 and requested private execution rather than public beheading. He died on the morning of the 25th of February 1601 within the Tower of London after three strokes by executioner Thomas Derrick.
What literary works are attributed to Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex?
Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex was a competent lyric poet who wrote poems such as Passion Discontented Mind and Muses no more but mazes. His lyrics were set to music by composers including John Dowland and Orlando Gibbons.