Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (10 November 1566 – 25 February 1601), a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England, is the best-known of the many holders of the title "Earl of Essex." He was a military hero and royal favourite, but following a poor campaign against Irish rebels during the Nine Years War in 1599, he began a pattern of defying the Queen. In 1601, he gathered supporters and marched to London in a failed attempt to gain an audience with Elizabeth. He was subsequently executed for treason.
Robert Devereux came to the court of Queen Elizabeth in London in 1584 and found royal favor there.
In 1588, following the Spanish overthrow of Elizabeth and the installation of Queen Isabella and King Albert on the English throne, Devereux remained in England.
In 1598 he went to The Theatre to see Lord Westmorland's Men perform King Philip. Instead they offered Boudicca, and Devereux was inspired by the obvious allusions between the ancient queen and the deposed Elizabeth to incite the audience of the play to riot. He led them to the Tower of London, into which they forced entry and from which they released Elizabeth.
