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The Essex Rebellion: The Events

            The Essex Rebellion was lead by Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex, on February 8, 1601.  The Earl of Essex had requested that Shakespeare’s company perform Richard II (including its censored scenes of deposition and murder) on the night before the rebellion.  Along with over one hundred men, most of whom were soldiers left over from his expedition in Ireland, he stormed through the streets of London toward Whitehall Palace.  Since the Queen was clearly more popular then Essex, he was captured easily after about 12 hours into the revolt.

           He had been charged, along with the Earls of Southampton, Rutland, and Sandys, to dethrone the Queen and kill her, but he changed his story two days after he was convicted, to that of intent to kidnap the Queen, use her power to transform government and call a parliament that would find his enemies guilty of mismanaging the state.

            The Queen stripped Essex of his titles, and he was originally sentenced to be drawn and quartered, which was the usual punishment reserved for those accused of regicide in that time, but instead was beheaded (a relatively more humane punishment), on February 25, 1601.  He was 34 years old.  The executioner had to strike three times, before the Earl was completely beheaded, and upon returning from the Tower, he (the executioner) was beaten nearly to death by a mob until the Sheriffs of London came to his defense.