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1600
1596
The young Robert Devereux
(left), 2nd Earl of Essex, is
lauded as a hero of the
Cádiz Expedition. He is one
of the commanders of the
English fleet that attacks
Spanish ships in that port
before capturing the
citadel and plundering the
town. Elizabeth is, however,
critical of his conduct – he
disobeyed orders and failed
to bring home sufficient loot.1603
Elizabeth dies on
24 March after a short
illness. Her principal
secretary Sir Robert
Cecil and his associates
ensure the smooth
succession of James VI
of Scotland to the throne
as James I of England.1601
Failing to return to royal favour, Essex
tries unsuccessfully to raise London
against his enemies, whom he claims
are planning to make peace terms with
Spain that would include the recogni-
tion of Philip III’s sister as Elizabeth’s
heir. Essex is executed in February.1593
The 29-year-old playwright
and poet Christopher
Marlowe is stabbed to death
in mysterious circumstances
at a house (possibly a tavern)
in Deptford, near London. His
plays include Tamburlaine
the Great, The Jew of Malta,
Dr Faustus and Edward II.1599
Essex arrives in
Ireland at the head
of a 17,000-strong
army with instruc-
tions to crush Irish
rebels led by Hugh
O’Neill, Earl of
Tyrone. Against
orders, Essex
negotiates a truce
with Tyrone; on
returning to court,
he is immediately
arrested.Susan Doran is
professor of early
modern British
history at the
University of
Oxford, and author
of Elizabeth I
and her Circle
(Oxford University
Press, 2015)An early 17th-century illustration of the funeral
procession of Elizabeth I to Westminster Abbey
on 28 April 1603A painting
from 1585
believed to
portray
playwright
Christopher
Marlowe as a
young man of 21A 17th-century woodcut depicting the
execution of Robert Devereux, Earl of Essex