What is Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex?
[[File:Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger.jpg|thumb|300px|Devereux by Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger]] '''Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, KG''' (10 November 1565 – 25 February 1601) was an English [[nobleman]] and a favourite of [[Elizabeth I]]. He was politically ambitious, and a committed [[General officer|general]]. He was placed under house arrest following a poor campaign in [[Ireland]] during the [[Nine Years' War]] in 1599. In 1601 he led an abortive ''[[coup d'état]]'' against the government and was executed for [[treason]]. His story has been told in art and literature. Two well known examples are the [[opera]] ''[[Roberto Devereux]]'' by [[Gaetano Donizetti]] and the [[movie]] ''[[The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex]]'' starring [[Bette Davis]] and [[Errol Flynn]]. Robert Devereux was one of Elizabeth I’s suitors, meaning he wanted to marry her. {{bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Essex, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl Of}} [[Category:1565 births]] [[Category:1601 deaths]] [[Category:English Earls]] [[Category:Knights of the Garter]] [[Category:People executed by decapitation]] [[Category:Earls and countesses]] [[Category:Executed English people]]