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Essex's marriage to Frances Howard in 1606, was not successful, and their subsequent divorce made him a laughing-stock, as she alleged that he was incapable of having sexual relations. Essex himself was obliged to give in gracefully in order to obtain his freedom with the minimum of fuss. His former wife proceeded to marry Robert Carr, Earl of Somerset, and was tried for the murder of Sir Thomas Overbury, who had interfered with her ambitions as well as her love life.
Following the accession of King Charles I, Essex became a member of the Parliamentary faction, and led Parliament's army at the beginning of the English Civil War in 1642, though he was ill-equipped for command. His conduct in pursuing Royalist forces in Cornwall, which led to the defeat at the Battle of Lostwithiel, infuriated CromwellOliver Cromwell ( April 25, 1599 September 3, 1658) was an English military leader and politician. After leading the overthrow of the British monarchy he ruled England, Scotland and Ireland as Lord Protector from December 16, 1653 until his death, which i. He eventually resigned his position in 1646 following the passing of the Self-denying OrdinanceThe Self-denying Ordinance was a bill proposed by Sir Henry Vane the Younger to deprive members of Parliament from holding command in the army or the navy of the Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War. It passed the House of Commons on December and died the same year, without an heir. The earldom died with him, until revived in 1661 for Arthur Capel.
| Preceded by: Robert Devereux | Earl of EssexEarl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals, of which the best-known and most closely associated with the title was Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex (1566 1601). It was first created in the twelfth century for Geoffre | Followed by: Extinct |