Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex

Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex (* 1541, † September 22, 1576 in Dublin) was an English nobleman and holder of the Order of the Garter. Besides the title 1st Earl of Essex, he was also the title of nobility 2nd Viscount Hereford and 10th Baron Ferrers of Chartley.

Life

He was born as the eldest son of Sir Richard Devereux and Dorothy Hastings. His maternal grandparents were George Hastings, 1st Earl of Huntingdon and Anne Stafford, Countess of Huntingdon. His father was the son of the 9th Baron Ferrers of Chartley and the niece of Henry Bourchiers, former 2nd Earl of Essex (→ 5th ceremony of the Earl of Essex ). From his marriage to Lettice Knollys in 1561 closed the daughters Penelope (* 1562) and Dorothy went (* 1564) shows, as well as the sons of Robert ( * 1565) and Walter (* 1570).

Political career

Between 1573 and 1576 Walter Devereux was employed with a private company that works as a business investment, but aimed at the colonization and settlement in Northern Ireland. He met with bitter resistance of the O'Neill clan with the clan leader Turlough O'Neill, as well as the enlisted soldiers of the Scottish clans under Sorley Boy McDonnell McDonnell. After the resistance of the O'Neills was weakened, Devereux turned against the Scots in 1575. This occupied the area between the Northern Irish and Scottish coast Rathlin Island Iceland. The followers of Sorley Boy McDonnels saw the island as a safe haven for their families and had women and children sent there in order to escape the clutches of the British.

The Earl of Essex wanted to set an example. To this end, he had the mercenary leader John Norreys recruited who had to command the military operations. Devereux enlisted as Francis Drake, who was responsible for the transport of troops to Rathlin Iceland. John Norreys brought with the aid of 300 feet and 80 cavalry soldiers and siege equipment for Rathlin Island Iceland. The operation went smoothly. Preparations began on May 1, 1575th The landing on Rathlin Iceland took place on July 22 and the Scottish defenders surrendered after a short time. There was an unworthy and cruel slaughter, in which, with the exception of the sons of some Scottish nobles, who were held as hostages, more than 600 people were killed cruelly. Most of them were women and children. The massacre itself was criticized at that time by no means, on the contrary. Elizabeth I congratulated the Earl of Essex and it may be reasonably ensured that the company was intended as " a deterrent " for potential rebels.

Walter Devereux died of dysentery.

  • Earl of Essex
  • Viscount ( Hereford )
  • Military person (England)
  • Knight of the Order of the Garter
  • History of England in the early modern period
  • English
  • Born in 1541
  • Died in 1576
  • Man
Dorothy Percy, Countess of Northumberland Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex History of Northern Ireland
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