Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (English nobleman and poet) Add a review

Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (; 10 November 1565 – 25 February 1601) was an English nobleman, courtier and army officer who was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. A prominent figure in late Elizabethan politics, he participated in military campaigns against Spain and Ireland.

A charismatic and ambitious youth, Robert Devereux grew up in a family of courtiers with strong ties to the Queen, who was his first-cousin-twice-removed. Following his father's death in 1576, he succeeded as 2nd Earl of Essex and became a royal ward. He entered court in 1585 as a member of his stepfather Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester's entourage. Essex rose quickly at court and developed a close personal relationship with the Queen. He played a prominent role in England's military campaigns during the Anglo-Spanish War and Eighty Years' War, including expeditions to Portugal and the Azores, particularly a victory at Cádiz, which gave him celebrity status among the London elite.

Towards the end of the 1590s, Essex's position at court was threatened by Robert Cecil. Essex was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland during the Nine Years' War. Despite considerable resources, his 1599 campaign against the Irish confederacy was a military disaster, ruining his reputation and straining his relationship with the Queen. He deserted his post and was subsequently placed under house arrest, resulting in a complete emotional collapse. In February 1601, he led a failed coup against the government and was arrested, tried for treason, and executed by beheading at the Tower of London.

The nature of Essex's turbulent relationship with Elizabeth has been the subject of speculation by both historians and dramatists.