Claire | April 15, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 15th April 1599, Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex, was sworn in as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. Unfortunately, Essex wasn’t at all happy about his appointment. He didn’t want to go to Ireland. Essex had to go and his time there was to be his undoing. […]
Joel | February 25, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 25th February 1570, Pope Pius V issued the papal bull “Regnans in Excelsis”. This bull not only excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I, it also freed her Catholic subjects from their allegiance to her and called on the English people to disobey her orders, mandates and laws. It threatened excommunication for […]
Joel | February 8, 2022
On this day in Tudor history, 8th February 1601, Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex and Queen Elizabeth I’s former favourite, did a rather foolish thing and raised a rebellion against the queen and her council. Spoilers: It didn’t go well and he ended up being executed as a traitor. Find out exactly what happened […]
Joel | October 30, 2021
On this day in Tudor history, 30th October 1600, Queen Elizabeth I refused to renew Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex’s monopoly on sweet wines, saying that “an unruly horse must be abated of his provender, that he may be the easier and better managed.” It may not sound like a major event, but it […]
Claire | September 28, 2011
On this day in history… 1599 – Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex strode into Elizabeth I’s bedchamber unannounced and saw the Queen without her makeup or wig, without her ‘mask of youth’. This was after his unsuccessful campaign in Ireland. He had made a truce with the rebel leader, without the Queen’s permission, and […]
