The life of Robert Devereux - the Earl of Essex seems like a story. He is the essential tragic hero with the classic good looks and charm. He was in fact so charming that he managed to gain the affections of the Queen herself. Robert however, lacked in common good sense and was often rash and wrong in his judgement and actions that led to his disgrace from the Queen's attention.

Robert Devereux was born of Walter Devereux and Lettice Knollys on 19th November 1566 at Netherwood Herefordshire during Elizabethan era. He graduated from Cambridge in 1581.

In 1585 he went on an expedition to Holland with his stepfather The Earl of Leicester. He proved himself in the battle of Zutphen and after the death of his father he was established in the court and became one of the chief favourite of the Queen.

Due to his vanity over the Queen's interest in him, Robert soon made enemy out of many of the Queen's courtiers including Raleigh and many other prominent personalities of the court. He duelled with Sir Charles Blount, another of the Queen's favourites, and was wounded and disarmed.

Robert was young and restless. He forever wanted to go to foreign countries on expeditions. He was more often than not denied by the Queen because he was extremely rash on wars and instead of discretion and technique he depended on valour and impetuousness.

However, he did manage to go on some expeditions without the Queen's consent. He went on an expedition against Spain with John Norris but was called sternly back to return.

Robert married Phillip Sidney's widow and the Queen was intensely angry with him for a very long time. He however, managed to get back into her good books with his charm and tactics. He was later on sent on many expeditions of humour on the Queen's behalf. He was partially successful in some of them.

It was during this time that he kind of started falling out of the Queen's favour. He was advised by Francis Bacon to heed these changes and try to prevent them. However, patience was not one of Robert's virtues. He failed to act timely to prevent it.

In fact he probably added to it by some of his foolish acts and during the expedition against Ulster he even left his post without notice and failed in his work. This led to his arrest and conviction in which he was removed from court.

He tried on many occasions to return his position in court but in failing to do so he incited a revolution on the streets with 300 retainers. This was an unsuccessful revolt but it led to Robert's conviction and he was punished with the death sentence.

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