Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of
Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd earl of (1566–1601). Courtier. Essex's father, raised to the earldom in 1572, died when his son was 10. Essex served under his stepfather Leicester at Zutphen in 1586 and was knighted for gallantry. From 1587 he was Elizabeth's master of horse and was given the Garter in 1588. After his capture of Cadiz in 1596 his success seemed assured. But a second expedition in 1597 was unproductive, his way of life at Essex House was extravagant, and his short spell as lord-lieutenant of Ireland in 1599 was disastrous. Instead of subduing Tyrone as he had vowed, Essex met him for private negotiations. ‘Perilous and contemptible’ was the queen's terse verdict on his behaviour, and when Essex returned to England in express defiance of her orders, he was disgraced. His half-hearted attempt at a palace coup in 1600 led to his execution. Though personally brave, he was petulant and totally lacking in judgement—a mere shooting star.
J. A. Cannon
Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of
Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of (1566–1601) English courtier and soldier. A favourite of Elizabeth I, he attacked Cádiz, sw Spain, in 1596. Following a quarrel with Elizabeth, he was made a reluctant Lord Lieutenant of rebellious Ireland. He returned in disgrace six months later, attempted a coup d'état, and was executed for treason.
More From encyclopedia.com
Robert Dudley 1st Earl Of Leicester , Dudley, Robert
BORN: 1532 • England
DIED: September 4, 1588 • Oxfordshire, England
English statesman; courtier
Robert Dudley, a close friend of Eliza… John Fries , Elizabeth I (England) (1533–1603; Ruled 1558–1603)
ELIZABETH I (ENGLAND) (1533–1603; ruled 1558–1603), queen of England and Ireland. The daughter of… Sir Walter Raleigh , The English statesman Sir Walter Raleigh (ca. 1552-1618) was also a soldier, courtier, explorer and exponent of overseas expansion, man of letters, a… Elizabeth (Queen Mother) , Elizabeth (1900–2002) ( Queen Mother) British Queen Consort of George VI, b. Lady Bowes-Lyon. Elizabeth married George in 1923. They had two children… Queens , Queens
Queens are female sovereigns. A queen regnant rules a kingdom in her own right (or, in rare cases, by sharing power with a king). A queen cons… Sir Francis Walsingham , Walsingham, Sir Francis
Sir Francis Walsingham (wôl´sĬng-əm), 1532?–1590, English statesman. A zealous Protestant, he went abroad during the reign of…
About this article
Robert Devereux 2d earl of Essex
All Sources -
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Robert Devereux 2d earl of Essex