Troublesome Ireland – Tyrone’s rebellion: 1549-1603
Reasons for the Nine Years’ War
Causes of the Nine Years’ War
- Henry VIII broke with Rome but Ireland remained Catholic
- Tudor monarchs didn’t rule Ireland but claimed that they had the right to
- from 1585, English govt used a technique known as composition to increase hold on Ireland
- old English families that ruled Ireland from Dublin opposed the clans. These protestants wanted full English control –
commutation: anyone who failed to keep their side of the agreement with English could be charged – had to accept
English law `
- 1574: 200 members of O’Neill clan massacred at a feast and in 1575 500 members of O’Donnell clan killed in a surprise
raid
- Mary’s reign – English Lord Deputy (Sussex) encouraged English settlers to move into the territory just outside Pale.
Idea to civilise the Irish by introducing English customs and practices – plantations. By 1592: 775 English settlers in
Munster – these settlers saw Ireland as backward due to the settler’s commitment to the protestant faith
- Henry Bagenal – increase power and influence in Ulster at expense of O’Neill’s drove O’Neill into open warfare
- rivalry between the clans – Ulster controlled by O’Neil’s but power traditionally from O’Donnell’s
- Hugh O’Neill claimed headship over the whole O’Neill clan and lordship. Not satisfied with the title of Lord Dungannon
– sought to persuade Elizabeth to make him Earl of Tyrone and supported by O’Donnell
- Sir Turlough Luineach O’Neill aspired to take the O’Neill clan and lordship. Rivalry: Hugh O’Neill and led to political
instability in Ulster
- competing factions within the royal court in London sought to influence the Queen into sponsoring their plans
- English govt tried to establish councils to govern the regions of Connaught and Munster (1569+1571) – led to
rebellions in Munster in 1569 and 1579-83. 2 nd rebellion brutally suppressed
- England and Ireland – different customs – English methods i.e. sheriffs
- Spain attempted to exert control in Ireland, interfering in Irish affairs by bribery and promises of military support for a
native problem
- Crown’s Irish governors (Lord Deputy Sir John Perrot and his successor Sir William Fitzwilliam) pursued an aggressive
policy to exert English control over Ulster – intrigue and conflict. Crown’s plantation cause of resentment
Support for Hugh O’Neill and Hugh Roe O’Donnell
- support enabled them to turn a rebellion into a long war against English
- spread to Connaught in 1595, Leinster and Munster in 1598
- support by other Ulster chieftains – Hugh Roe O’Donnell and Hugh Maguire
- national struggle for independence – charismatic and inspirational leadership of O’Neill
- by 1569: rebels had 6000 foot soldiers and 1200 cavalry vs English 5,732 footmen and 617 cavalry
- coalition of English lords shocked the English – English traditionally relied on the Irish disunity to keep control of
Ireland
- foreign support: Philip II of Spain determined to help the Irish rebels with financial and military aid to help defeat
Protestantism. Opportunity to destabilise English war effort – been at war since 1585
- 1569: Spanish sent 2nd armada to Ireland – 100 ships but dispersed by strong winds = 32 ships lost and rest had to
return
- Jan 1601: troops sent. Problems on voyage. 3400 left out of 6000 when reached Kinsale
Battle of Clontibret 1595 and Yellow Ford 1598
Background to the 9 Years’ War
- plan to raise people of Ulster before extending the league beyond Ulster
- hoped by appealing to other disaffected Irish lords i.e. Fiach McHugh O’Byrne. Rebellion
, - Irish lords of Ulster (Hugh Roe O’Donnell, Hugh Maguire and Brian O’Rourke) suspected that the Crown intended to
reduce their power whilst empowering English sheriffs to apply English law
Outbreak of the 9 Years’ War
- started at English Blackwater fort – attacked by rebels and English commander surrendered
- urged on by Hugh Roe O’Donnell – Maguire was 1 st to revolt – at this stage, Hugh O’Neill not involved
- Crown looked for O’Neill for help in putting down the rebellion but he threw in his lot with the rebels
- after a defeat at Tulsk (led to Clontribret), Maguire went on to raid Monaghan and Enniskillen in May 1594 – after a 9
day siege
- Sep 1593: Bagenal defeated O’Neill’s ally Maguire
- 17th Sep 1595: Tyrone asks Philip of Spain for support
Battle of Clontibret 1595
- English fort at Blackwater attacked and English commander surrendered
- Lord Deputy Russell found his forces were outnumbered – 1,100 men in the defence of English possessions
- withdrew troops from Brittany (been fighting Spanish) – 2000 promised and only 1,616 arrived
- May 1595 Irish captured Enniskillen Castle and began to besiege Monaghan Castle
- witnessed O’Neill’s assumption of power as leader of the rebel forces
- Irish under O’Neill = victory – 13th June
- O’Neill ordered the siege of English garrison at Monaghan Castle
- English = 31 deaths and 109 wounded
- Bagenal made way for Newry – on way ambushed at Clontibret by O’Neill’s force of 4000 – eventually reached castle
but had low supplies
- English responded by sending a relief column under Sir Henry Bagenal, Marshal of the English army of Ireland
- In May, Bagenal’s army of 1,750 men marched from Newry to Monaghan castle
- as Bagenal’s troops approach Monaghan they were ambushed by Tyrone’s men and forced to fight – did reach castle
but had to return on 27th May as little resources
- on return = ambushed by Tyrone’s 4000
- English had to stop just outside Newry – 31 deaths and 101 wounded
- Bagenal and his men rescued by sea
- English responded to Clontibret by taking back Blackwater and reached stalemate
- Elizabeth became keen to negotiate – Mar 1596 Tyrone agreed to submit, to pay damages, to stop demanding
freedom of worship for Catholics and to accept English sovereignty. English agreed to remove their garrisons and
Tyrone could keep control in Ulster
- May 1596 relations had broken down
- rebels and Philip II of Spain began negotiations – summer of 1596. Philip sent representatives to discuss a Spanish
invasion – led to unsuccessful armada in Oct 1596
- spread of rebellion was helped by the use of propaganda distributed by the rebels that encouraged all good Catholics
to join the fight
- Tyrone adopted aggressive tactics – seen as a traitor in 1595 so had nothing to lose – attempted to unite all the Anglo-
Irish chieftains throughout Ireland
- was prepared to give titles to followers – James FitzThomas who had become alienated from the English regime was
created Earl of Desmond by Tyrone
- Lord Deputy, Sir William Russell replaced by Thomas, Lord Burgh
Battle of the Yellow Ford 1598 and the collapse of the Munster Plantation 1598
- after Clontibret, Bagenal spent the next 3 years strengthening English garrison castles in Ulster
- 14th Aug
- Bagenal’s army never reached Blackwater garrison – forced battle in Aug 1598
- Bagenal’s force of 4000 confronted by an Irish army of 5000
- Irish won and killed Bagenal
Reasons for the Nine Years’ War
Causes of the Nine Years’ War
- Henry VIII broke with Rome but Ireland remained Catholic
- Tudor monarchs didn’t rule Ireland but claimed that they had the right to
- from 1585, English govt used a technique known as composition to increase hold on Ireland
- old English families that ruled Ireland from Dublin opposed the clans. These protestants wanted full English control –
commutation: anyone who failed to keep their side of the agreement with English could be charged – had to accept
English law `
- 1574: 200 members of O’Neill clan massacred at a feast and in 1575 500 members of O’Donnell clan killed in a surprise
raid
- Mary’s reign – English Lord Deputy (Sussex) encouraged English settlers to move into the territory just outside Pale.
Idea to civilise the Irish by introducing English customs and practices – plantations. By 1592: 775 English settlers in
Munster – these settlers saw Ireland as backward due to the settler’s commitment to the protestant faith
- Henry Bagenal – increase power and influence in Ulster at expense of O’Neill’s drove O’Neill into open warfare
- rivalry between the clans – Ulster controlled by O’Neil’s but power traditionally from O’Donnell’s
- Hugh O’Neill claimed headship over the whole O’Neill clan and lordship. Not satisfied with the title of Lord Dungannon
– sought to persuade Elizabeth to make him Earl of Tyrone and supported by O’Donnell
- Sir Turlough Luineach O’Neill aspired to take the O’Neill clan and lordship. Rivalry: Hugh O’Neill and led to political
instability in Ulster
- competing factions within the royal court in London sought to influence the Queen into sponsoring their plans
- English govt tried to establish councils to govern the regions of Connaught and Munster (1569+1571) – led to
rebellions in Munster in 1569 and 1579-83. 2 nd rebellion brutally suppressed
- England and Ireland – different customs – English methods i.e. sheriffs
- Spain attempted to exert control in Ireland, interfering in Irish affairs by bribery and promises of military support for a
native problem
- Crown’s Irish governors (Lord Deputy Sir John Perrot and his successor Sir William Fitzwilliam) pursued an aggressive
policy to exert English control over Ulster – intrigue and conflict. Crown’s plantation cause of resentment
Support for Hugh O’Neill and Hugh Roe O’Donnell
- support enabled them to turn a rebellion into a long war against English
- spread to Connaught in 1595, Leinster and Munster in 1598
- support by other Ulster chieftains – Hugh Roe O’Donnell and Hugh Maguire
- national struggle for independence – charismatic and inspirational leadership of O’Neill
- by 1569: rebels had 6000 foot soldiers and 1200 cavalry vs English 5,732 footmen and 617 cavalry
- coalition of English lords shocked the English – English traditionally relied on the Irish disunity to keep control of
Ireland
- foreign support: Philip II of Spain determined to help the Irish rebels with financial and military aid to help defeat
Protestantism. Opportunity to destabilise English war effort – been at war since 1585
- 1569: Spanish sent 2nd armada to Ireland – 100 ships but dispersed by strong winds = 32 ships lost and rest had to
return
- Jan 1601: troops sent. Problems on voyage. 3400 left out of 6000 when reached Kinsale
Battle of Clontibret 1595 and Yellow Ford 1598
Background to the 9 Years’ War
- plan to raise people of Ulster before extending the league beyond Ulster
- hoped by appealing to other disaffected Irish lords i.e. Fiach McHugh O’Byrne. Rebellion
, - Irish lords of Ulster (Hugh Roe O’Donnell, Hugh Maguire and Brian O’Rourke) suspected that the Crown intended to
reduce their power whilst empowering English sheriffs to apply English law
Outbreak of the 9 Years’ War
- started at English Blackwater fort – attacked by rebels and English commander surrendered
- urged on by Hugh Roe O’Donnell – Maguire was 1 st to revolt – at this stage, Hugh O’Neill not involved
- Crown looked for O’Neill for help in putting down the rebellion but he threw in his lot with the rebels
- after a defeat at Tulsk (led to Clontribret), Maguire went on to raid Monaghan and Enniskillen in May 1594 – after a 9
day siege
- Sep 1593: Bagenal defeated O’Neill’s ally Maguire
- 17th Sep 1595: Tyrone asks Philip of Spain for support
Battle of Clontibret 1595
- English fort at Blackwater attacked and English commander surrendered
- Lord Deputy Russell found his forces were outnumbered – 1,100 men in the defence of English possessions
- withdrew troops from Brittany (been fighting Spanish) – 2000 promised and only 1,616 arrived
- May 1595 Irish captured Enniskillen Castle and began to besiege Monaghan Castle
- witnessed O’Neill’s assumption of power as leader of the rebel forces
- Irish under O’Neill = victory – 13th June
- O’Neill ordered the siege of English garrison at Monaghan Castle
- English = 31 deaths and 109 wounded
- Bagenal made way for Newry – on way ambushed at Clontibret by O’Neill’s force of 4000 – eventually reached castle
but had low supplies
- English responded by sending a relief column under Sir Henry Bagenal, Marshal of the English army of Ireland
- In May, Bagenal’s army of 1,750 men marched from Newry to Monaghan castle
- as Bagenal’s troops approach Monaghan they were ambushed by Tyrone’s men and forced to fight – did reach castle
but had to return on 27th May as little resources
- on return = ambushed by Tyrone’s 4000
- English had to stop just outside Newry – 31 deaths and 101 wounded
- Bagenal and his men rescued by sea
- English responded to Clontibret by taking back Blackwater and reached stalemate
- Elizabeth became keen to negotiate – Mar 1596 Tyrone agreed to submit, to pay damages, to stop demanding
freedom of worship for Catholics and to accept English sovereignty. English agreed to remove their garrisons and
Tyrone could keep control in Ulster
- May 1596 relations had broken down
- rebels and Philip II of Spain began negotiations – summer of 1596. Philip sent representatives to discuss a Spanish
invasion – led to unsuccessful armada in Oct 1596
- spread of rebellion was helped by the use of propaganda distributed by the rebels that encouraged all good Catholics
to join the fight
- Tyrone adopted aggressive tactics – seen as a traitor in 1595 so had nothing to lose – attempted to unite all the Anglo-
Irish chieftains throughout Ireland
- was prepared to give titles to followers – James FitzThomas who had become alienated from the English regime was
created Earl of Desmond by Tyrone
- Lord Deputy, Sir William Russell replaced by Thomas, Lord Burgh
Battle of the Yellow Ford 1598 and the collapse of the Munster Plantation 1598
- after Clontibret, Bagenal spent the next 3 years strengthening English garrison castles in Ulster
- 14th Aug
- Bagenal’s army never reached Blackwater garrison – forced battle in Aug 1598
- Bagenal’s force of 4000 confronted by an Irish army of 5000
- Irish won and killed Bagenal
