What was the deal with the Duke of Essex during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I? (I think Duke is right.)?

Question

I saw the movie with Helen Maran as Elizabeth recently and he was something like a play thing for her until she accused him of treason and was executed, but in the more recent "Elizabeth," in about 1998, he should have been executed for treason, but she let him live. What treason did he commit? It didn't seem very clear to me. Thanks.

Answer 1

The Earl of Essex sort of went off the deep end and got himself executed for it.  he attempted to get an audience with the queen by force after getting himself in trouble by explicitly going against an order from her to remain in ireland where he was supposed to be quelling rebellion.

The Earl of Essex was not in "Elizabeth" in 1998.  Looking at IMDB, there was the Earl of Sussex in that movie.  Perhaps you are thinking of him?  (I have no idea what his part in the movie was)

Answer 2

Helen Mirren played the role of "Queen Elizabeth II" in the 2006 movie titled "The Queen" which is about Elizabeth and her struggles with her reaction to a sequence of events nobody could have predicted after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

It was Cate Blanchett who played the role of "Queen Elizabeth I" in the 1998 movie titled "Elizabeth." Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (10 November 1566 – 25 February 1601), a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I of England, is the best-known of the many holders of the title "Earl of Essex." He was a military hero and royal favourite, but following a poor campaign against Irish rebels during the Nine Years War in 1599, he defied the queen and was executed for treason.

On 19 February 1601, Essex was tried before his peers on charges of treason. Part of the evidence showed that he was in favour of toleration for religious freedom, in his own evidence, he countered the charge of dealing with Catholics. Essex was found guilty and, on 25 February 1601, was beheaded which took three strikes from the executioner on Tower Green.

Answer 3

Rachelle, you're wrong on this one:  Helen Mirren DID play Elizabeth I recently in an HBO miniseries, "Elizabeth".  Excellent show, and I just finished watching it this evening!

You're right about the Earl of Essex, though. :-)  Basically, he was put in charge of quelling the Irish rebels, but he mucked it up pretty badly, and returned to England before he was summoned, to the Queen's displeasure.  He was tried for dereliction of duty and disertion, and was punished by having his source of income (a wine monopoly) withdrawn.  As a result, he became desperate for money, and in his desperation, he tried to force an audience with the Queen (who, by this time, was heartily sick of him) by marching on the palace with a group of rebels.  He was declared a traitor, and Cecil, who wanted him and his influence removed, testified against him at his trial, where he was found guilty and subsequently beheaded.