Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of
Essex
born Nov. 10, 1567, Netherwood,
Herefordshire, Eng.
died Feb. 25, 1601, London
English soldier and courtier famous for his
relationship with Queen Elizabeth I (reigned
1558–1603). While still a young man, Essex
succeeded his stepfather, Robert Dudley, earl of
Leicester (died 1588), as the aging queen’s
favourite; for years she put up with his
rashness and impudence, but their relationship
finally ended in tragedy.
Devereux was a cousin of Elizabeth on his
mother’s side, and when he was nine, he
succeeded to the title held by his father,
Walter Devereux, 1st earl of Essex. Young Essex
first attained prominence by fighting bravely
against the Spanish in the Netherlands in 1586.
The following year Elizabeth made him master of
the horse. Even at this early date he
consistently provoked the queen’s anger while
managing to remain in her favour. Contrary to
her wishes, he took part in the English
operation against Lisbon in 1589 and secretly
married Frances Walsingham, widow of the poet
Sir Philip Sidney, in 1590. In 1591–92 he
commanded the English force in France, which
helped King Henry IV, then still a Protestant,
in his campaign against the French Roman
Catholics.
For the next four years Essex remained in
England, becoming an expert on foreign affairs
in an unsuccessful attempt to challenge the
long-established ascendancy in this field of the
Cecil family. He was made privy councillor in
1593 and in 1594 uncovered an alleged plot
against the queen’s life by her physician,
Roderigo Lopez.
When the revival of offensive operations
against Spain in 1596 opened new opportunity for
military adventure, Essex became one of the
commanders of the force that seized and sacked
Cádiz on June 22. This spectacular but
indecisive action put him at the height of his
fortunes and made him a leading advocate of a
more vigorous strategy against Spain. A force
that he commanded in 1597, however, failed to
intercept the Spanish treasure ships at the
Azores. Next year the possibility of peace with
Spain sharpened his rivalry with the Cecils,
while the growing seriousness of a major
rebellion in Ireland led to bitter differences
between Essex and Elizabeth over appointments
and strategy.
By this time Elizabeth was growing alarmed by
Essex’ importunate ambition, finding him to be
“a nature not to be ruled.” During one of their
disputes, Essex turned his back upon the queen,
who promptly slapped his face. Nevertheless, in
1599 she sent him to Ireland as lord lieutenant.
After an unsuccessful campaign against the
rebels he concluded an unfavourable truce and,
suddenly deserting his post, returned to England
to vindicate himself privately to the queen. She
responded by depriving him of his offices (June
1600). Politically ruined and financially
destitute but confined only to house arrest, he
and 200 to 300 followers tried, on Feb. 8, 1601,
to raise the populace of London in revolt. The
poorly planned attempt failed, and Essex
surrendered. He was executed at the Tower of
London after being found guilty of treason.
Francis Bacon, the scientist-philosopher for
whose advancement in the government Essex had
continually pressed, was one of the prosecutors
at Essex’ trial.
