The Essex Rebellion, 1601
Towards the end of her reign in 1601 Elizabeth faced a threat from one of her own A group of senior politicians who advise the monarch., Robert Devereux, the second Earl of Essex.
Causes of the rebellion
Essex was one of Elizabeth鈥檚 closest companions. He became a Privy Councillor in 1593 and led a successful expedition to attack the Spanish port city of Cadiz, returning to England a hero in 1596.
However, their close relationship deteriorated when:
Elizabeth twice promoted her advisor Cecil instead of the Earl of Essex, who was sent to Ireland to defeat a rebellion. Instead, Essex made peace with the rebels against Elizabeth鈥檚 orders. He was then banned from court and financially ruined.
The rebellion
By this point Essex was a desperate man and set out to seize power. He attempted to gather the people of London to start a rebellion and overthrow the government, but failed and was executed for The crime of betraying one's country, sovereign or government. in 1601.